A real run

Since I started this journey, I have been "training to train." I've been up (almost) every day working out, mostly generic stuff like the elliptical machine to train my system to breathe hard for a long time and get used to sustained effort. Not least of all was just getting used to working out all the time.

But now the new year has arrived, so it's time to start Training.

Swim: I've been swimming at the pool for a while already. I was doing drills and resting whenever I needed (wanted) to. Now I will focus more on actual full-stroke swimming and getting used to distance. I'll increase my distance each week without stopping - this week I'll swim 25 yards and rest, next week 50, next week 75, etc. which will get me to the race distance of 400 yards just in time for race day.

Bike: I have my bike now, so I need to get it out on the road. Unfortunately it's January, so it's cold. (Right now it's 18 degrees outside.) I want to set a minimum temperature of 40 degrees for outdoor training, but is that really an option? Do I need to just HTFU (Harden Up) and get over it? There are indoor trainers that attach to your bike but right now I can't spend the money. Spin class? Hmmm.

Run: I found a website (www.podrunner.com) that has free downloads of workout music. One program is the "Couch to 5k", which is a nine-week series of podcasts. Each week is an interval training set. The music is mixed at two tempos, one medium, one fast. This week there was a five minute warmup at medium tempo, followed by alternating periods of 60 seconds of uptempo (running) and 90 seconds of medium tempo (walking), then finally a three minute cooldown. Each week the times increase until finally you're doing a full 5k. I did it last night around the pond at Pellisippi State.

More about yesterday's run: I came home from work, dressed and headed to the track. It was 39 degrees and very breezy. The sun was going down. I brought extra clothes in case I was cold, and after one lap I went to the car and put on everything. I was wearing:
Shoes & socks
Workout shorts under yoga pants under warmup pants
Long sleeve athletic shirt under a windbreaker (with the hood up)
Nylon ski mask with earmuffs
Gloves
(and I wish I had worn another shirt and my wool mittens!)
About twenty minutes in I had a "what the hell am I doing?" moment. I was freezing, breathing hard, wearing a pretty ridiculous outfit, running in the dark dodging goose poop. I knew Cortney was at home making dinner and I could be on the couch in front of the fire. Then it really hit me hard: yes, I could be home, but I wasn't. I was on a damn track, doing something very difficult, just because I wanted to. I knew then that I would complete the triathlon in April, and my eyes teared up (whether from emotion or biting wind, it's hard to say).

Hooray for me! Fierce tortoise!