I decided to wait before starting up my little training diary again because last time I did that, the desire and drive fizzled like never before. As of this evening (Merry Christmas, by the way!), I have three days of basic training under my belt. Two days of running, one day of elliptical work and two days of combined weight lifting. Over a year and a half ago, when I first became acquainted with triathlon training, I basically gave up weight lifting. I had been lifting (I don't like calling it bodybuilding because I never did steroids, nor did I ever have the courage to compete - so I just called it lifting - but it was with a definite bodybuilding bent) on and off for over 12 years. My ewige partner has always been Josh. He's the only one I felt most comfortable lifting with because we approached things in a similar manner and (the most important), when I was down, he was up, and vice versa. It always made the days where I didn't want to do anything bearable. But, as I have gotten older, the idea of putting on more weight and being sore more often than not left my desire on a slow, but steady waning slope. Josh then mentioned the idea of doing something quite different, and perhaps, even competitively, and I was hooked.
I somehow hit a serious mental block this year, though, after the triathlon in June. I lost all motivation to do anything sports related. So, I simply stopped.
Around October, I started to notice my midsection grow and other parts of my body shrink. I figured, what the hell, all I need to do is eat less. I'm active enough to keep from continually gaining weight. I was only partially right. While I didn't necessarily gain more weight, my strength continued to fall and mentally I wasn't where I wanted to be. There were rare times of physical exertion and every evening after, I thought of how great I felt. Boy, I really need to get into the gym again. And the voice in the back of my head would respond, for what? I didn't have an answer, because frankly, I didn't really care at that point.
Come December (2006), something changed and I started to actually want to do something physical. But, because the time of year and where we live, there really wasn't much I could or wanted to do outside. The desire started growing again, though, to pick up a few dumbbells and maybe jog a few miles.
By the time Steph and I left for Germany, I was ready to hop in the saddle again. I was nervous, though, what the last six months had done to my body and whether or not I would mentally even keep up with it after running or going to the gym the first time.
Now that I have a few days behind me, I know that the desire is back and the realization of what time without activity does to my body and mind is not something I want to feel again. I know they're will be ups and downs, but for the first time since I first picked up a set of weights, I feel like there's good reason and real motivation to continue.
So, perhaps there will be more entries in the category of training{tri} again.
Can Do:
2-3 mi run at 6.5 mi/hr.
Can't Do:
much weight (for lifting), period...
Kyra (our Rottie):
Run further, longer and faster than me. That's sad.
