Training for a triathlon, especially an ironman, is a balancing act even on good days. None of us are pros - we all have jobs, spouses, kids, etc. and on top of that we have to fit in the time to train. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. Such was my day yesterday.
Monday night I did weights, jumped on my bike for an hour and then did Paul's advanced swim class. Tuesday morning I felt like I had been hit by a truck but I met up with my Tuesday night run club for a painful 8 km run.
Wednesday morning - when I was supposed to be in the pool - I was headed into my office early. I have worked for the same lawyer for 22 years since I left university. To say he is demanding is an understatement. In the 2 years before I was hired, he had gone thru 14 temps. I am always going 110% at my office.
After another highly stressful day, compiled with guilt over missing my 5:30 a.m. swim class, and my body still aching from the neck down, I went to spin class. Coach Paul just had to ask me why I wasn't at swim class that morning and the tears started. I have been panicking about the fact that there are less than 5 months to Texas and pushing my training too hard and the dam just burst. Poor Paul. He knows how hard I can be on myself. He calmed me down and got me back smiling and on my bike.
Some days my life is a juggling act. If I could clone myself it would be alot easier. When you are training for a triathlon, you have to be a bit selfish and put yourself first. It is so hard for me to do and I continually take on more and more responsibility. My husband Glen says because I am Irish, if I didn't have anything to worry about, I wouldn't be happy.
As a mother, I have the guilt of leaving my children alot and seriously, without my Glen, I would not be able to do triathlons. I waited around 23 years ago for Glen to ask me out and I finally got tired of waiting and asked him out. Smartest move I ever made. The closer to ironman I get, the more responsibility Glen takes on so I can train. You have to let some things slide. For me it is housework because I hate it and am loathe to do it anyway. The month before Texas my house will look like an episode of "Hoarders" without the cat poop and rats.
Some days you just have to take a deep breathe and take a moment to regroup. I wish I actually practiced what I preach. Now I just have to worry about the fact that tomorrow is Friday the 13th.
This is a pic of Ethan doing his first Kids of Steel Triathlon when he was 7. Attitude is everything.
Lisa
Glen is a rock.
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