Week 3-4

After the 5k Saturday, I helped some friends move. A truck was backed up to the stairs on the porch so I decided I would just hop off the porch with a heavy box in my arms. After that, I couldn't bear weight on my right foot. I was sure if I iced my foot it would feel better the next day...nope. Ended up getting an X-ray and wearing a boot for a week to 2 weeks. If it was broken I knew I would have to accept I couldn't do the TRI. the X-ray showed stress reaction but not fracture!! Just a sprain. I'm taking 5000u vit D which I really think is helping! Needless to say, last week was very discouraging. I missed a bike to run day and moved swimming up in front of my run days. Still, I did as much as I could and pushed forward to start week 5!

Getting faster on the spin bike! 

Survivors Challenge

The Survivors challenge race is a walk, 5k or 10k. Pepper thought it would be good for me to have race experience so I trained with him a few days and registered for the Survivors challenge. The money goes towards the Reynolds Center Cancer Support house. I worked the day before (bad choice) and was exhausted. Pepper had changed his marathon training and ran 18 miles the day before so compared to that I had nothing I should be complaining about! We started the race off at a whole 41 degrees-it was freezing! 1st mile was kinda hard and my breathing was heavier than normal. Mile 2, I thought "I have to stop." Must've been perfect timing because up the long hill were cancer patients holding signs in the freezing weather. Encouraging us! These are people who are too weak and sick to run but were so thankful for our support that they were pushing us to move forward. I felt like I was going to vomit up that hill then my eyes filled with tears. How can I stop when they may never run again? Then, little kids shouting "thank you for running for us!" My heart was broken and I was humbled. Pepper talked me through the worst part and I kept going. Crossing the finish line was so neat with Aaron and Brooklyn waiting for me! This is how much I know about races: I didn't even know we were racing! I thought it was like a "fun run" race but not for awards or anything. I left to take Aaron to work. Pepper called me to come back because I had placed 2nd in my age group!! We were all so excited! And shocked! Haha!! 

Braids

Decided to braid my hair to see if its good for race day. Brooklyn's teacher, Ms. Dee, braided it yesterday. Only took her about 20 min. Everything counts against my time so putting my hair up 8 different times could really hurt me on race day. Anyway, didn't hurt yesterday but felt weird to sleep on and is itchy and giving me a headache today! About to get into the gym pool and it is freezing out!!!! I'll reward myself with the hot tub or sauna after my 500 meter nonstop swim. -----so the braids were great for the swim. And the hot tub was not so hot! :( However, I feel great about my swim progress because 3 months ago I didn't even know how!

End of Week 1

In Hot Springs for Kristen's birthday. We ran for 40 min. About 3 miles. Did some walking/talking. Started to rain but it felt nice and it was kinda fun to run in the rain. Excited for tomorrow bc it is my day off. Finally!!!! Week 1 completed. Yes, I'm still scared. 

Endurance/Exercise induced insomnia

So, week 2 into training, I couldn't sleep. Like at all. Stayed awake almost all night one night and thought..."surely this can't be normal-I've never worked out so hard in my life...you think I would be exhausted..." I was! I just could not sleep.   So, I drank a Gatorade at 2am and finally slept about 2 hours. The next day, I looked up "insomnia while training" and read lost of information on increased hormone levels, depletion of all kinds of things and the need to eat more carbs and sugar while training. I was excited to have a glass of orange juice or chocolate milk before bed and noticed it helped! Increasing my carbs a lot more this week (never would've said that before!). I've pretty much had pasta everyday. Had spaghetti for breakfast today with whole wheat noodles and ground turkey. I'm still learning to use "goos" and simple sugars, caffeine and carbs to my benefit before workouts. It's so hard to eat different especially when my appetite has been decreased. Today is week 3 day 4 and I missed my first workout yesterday. I slept about 2 hours the night before, had a pulled muscle in my back and my hamstring was real right, was supposed to get up at 4 and do 45min on spin bike, then work 12 hours in the nicu. Yep, not smart. So, I promised myself I wouldn't beat myself up about it (because there were several days I over-trained or did extra), reset my alarm for 6, drank a big cup of chocolate milk and slept maybe an extra hour. Work was miserable, felt like I barely made it through my day. However, because I took a day off and ate appropriately, I slept wonderful last night! It was the best night of sleep I've had in 3 weeks. I feel a little more encouraged today. I have an easy 30 minute run. 5am swim tomorrow and 5k race Saturday. I can do this! I am over halfway there. It's crazy, 3 weeks have flown by. I've had to rearrange everything to train. It's been hard and I'm looking forward to a little break. I feel a lot better about swimming and a little better about the spin bike. Still kills my bottom! Even with a cushion. People say you get used to it...

Week 2 day 4

 I've been so busy, I think this post will be a weeks worth. Trying to log as much as I can so I can see my progress over the next few weeks. I really feel like I've pushed myself this week. Started with spin class Monday and I'm still sore today! Tuesday Bobs class and 500 meter swim, Wednesday ran 3 miles with Pepper at a 9:29 pace. The last mile was 8:30 he said. He tells me this so good so I believe him because I really don't know! I drank a Gatorade at work yesterday. Felt like my body shut down and I needed some electrolytes. I never drink Gatorade because I believe water is enough. However, with what I'm doing I learned quickly it isn't enough! Pepper also introduced me to powerade gels which are simple carbs, sodium, potassium (quick energy). I think that's the only reason I completed the 3 mile run without walking honestly. Started the week with 109rpm average at 6 miles

Didn't take a picture today but I did an average 122rpm to complete 8 miles. Sounds good that I completed an 8 mile spin-except I have to do a 300 meter swim before and 2 mile run after for the triathlon! Still, 122rpm is good in my eyes because I have only even spinning for about a week! By the way, 120-135rpm is competitive for race day. 

I did a 2.8mile cool down before bobs class which was ridiculous today!! After class, Pepper and I swam 300 meters. It wasn't a real intense swim because my body just can't do it. I am so weak, so sore and feel a little discouraged today. Trying to learn what to eat and sleep is so important. Please pray for me, please love me and support me through this. 

Week 2-day 1 Training

I completed week 1 on Saturday. So exciting, right? Then, I think...5 weeks left. Panic. haha! A trainer tells me this panic is normal for a first time racer so I believe him and will continue moving forward. Today's training agenda says 1.5 hours on a bike. I will do a hour long spin class. Debating on adding 30 min of biking before or after that because the spin class is intense. I may do 15 min before class and 15 min after to space it out. That's a lot for someone who has never biked! I'm realizing I can do these hard things though. I just set out a daily goal and show up at the gym to do it. It has worked for 7 days so I will keep this state of mind for now. P.S I'm getting there an hour early to stretch, warm up, do some abs and to reserve one of the new livestrong bikes. BOOYAH! But seriously, those are the bikes I need to train on because that's what I will use race day. Also, I deserve a good bike, one that doesn't break while spinning...Ugh, that made me so angry last week. Ok, I'm over it. And I want to remind the whole 2 or 3 people that look at this blog 1. Thank you for reading my blog. :) 2. Please text me or comment so that I know I have support. 3. Please pray for me to stay focused and have the courage to complete this.                                                
   

Wk 1 day 4

I've learned a lot in the last 24 hours. The more I know, the scarier a triathlon seems. On the other hand, it feels great to have a goal, something I can be working for. I think I need that. Whether its something small or big! Did seal-fit class today which was probably too much. 4 mile bike before class to try to get a hold on what my basic time is. Also, yesterday was my first time to complete a "real" spin class. I have a lot more respect for people that do spin! It is hard. Did a 350 meter swim after class. I'm pretty sure I won't be able to move in the morning. Even so, I will get up at 4am to be in the gym pool by 5 to do a 650 meter swim. Today I bought an actual training swim suit, good quality goggles, and a bike cushion. Some people wear TRI-suits but I think my swimsuit with thin shorts will work. I'm gonna wear it a couple times and see how I feel. I worried so much about what everyone else thinks for so long. It's refreshing to think, "So what if I look ridiculous in a TRI-suit, it will save about 10 seconds on my time!!" I need this logical thinking in every aspect of my life. Who cares if the other nurses are mad that I'm eating lunch while they're trying to catch up because they've been goofing of for an hour? Who cares if we have less money because we spend it on healthy groceries instead of cable, a second car, etc. Aaron, Brooklyn and I are in our own place. We have our own goals and dreams. This is our life. Everyone else's will be different. That's ok! We should all love and support each other anyway! That's what Jesus would do. I hope that while training for this triathlon, I can also train my mind to love myself and others, forgive, speak up, be courageous, know Christ more and stop wasting so much time on worthless things.                                          Matthew 9:22 is written on my mirror. It is my driving force to push forward. It is the verse that has helped me get a glimpse of God's love; the love of a Father that I never had. 

Daddy/Daughter park time!

While I slept and was sick...so glad they had a fun day! I think they rode the train 4 times. 

Cory and Hannah's Wedding

Week 1 TRI for Roses

Following 10 days of antibiotics and almost 2 weeks of not being the gym, I have decided to compete in a triathlon on  November 16th. I have never even ran a 5k. Seriously. I've ran 3-4 miles a few times but never in a race. This will be a 300 meter swim, 8 mile bike, and 2 mile run. The only thing I am sort of comfortable with is the running. I am absolutely terrified. I will most likely regret this tomorrow. In fact, I'm already regretting it today. However, I want to change. I want to change my heart, my mind, and my huge struggle with depression and self worth. My goal is to complete the triathlon. Not place first, not to be like "hey, I did a triathlon." I'm not going to put a sticker on my car...I just want to keep this promise to myself. I want Brooklyn to see me as a strong woman, a strong mommy, and I want her to know I will do what I say. Most of all I want her to know I love myself. How else can I ever accept Christ's love? How could she? 

Turning in my registration tomorrow. Please pray for me. Please text me weekly, daily, or randomly to hold me accountable, encourage me and let me know I am loved. I can't do this without my friends and family. The trainer told me my age group is the most competitive. Today in my first spin class, our instructor said, "Alicia and Chad are new here. They're good looking people. Only good looking people are allowed in this class." Everyone laughed. I wanted to leave. It makes me so sad and sick that this is how experiences are at a gym. I was also given the oldest bike in the class. I can't imagine doing that to someone new. I would give up my bike in a heartbeat to make someone feel comfortable. P.S. the left pedal broke off while I was spinning. I'm lucky I don't have a broken ankle. I was so embarrassed. Normally, this type of class would've discouraged me. I would have never went back. However, I have a triathlon to train for. Today is only day 1. This is why I need everyone's encouragement. I can't do it on my own. Thank you! Please be with me on this 6 week journey.