The gym in January ...

CROWDED

race plans

Everyone is on top of their game and writing out their race plans for the year ahead. I have been far too lazy and have not sat down to really look at it, but it is on my list of things to do. I finally got around to research vacation plans for us and that took all my planning brain cells I had. 

I did my spin class with my new bike shoes and it rocked !! It was super easy to get the correct clip in and clip out. I think I was clipping ON and stepping as opposed to clipping IN, which made the difference. I felt at one with that spin bike and really enjoyed it. 

Today I ran 3 miles on treadmill, have not run in a while. It was hard and I was at 10 min miles the entire time. Usually I try to do negative splits but not today, today it was about finishing my 30 minutes. I used the mantra I think I can, I know I can.

Tomorrow is swim with ironlady. I am hoping that we have a few less people since it is NYE and I might get a bit more one and one as well as not slowing the fasties down. One of my daughter's appts has changed from wed. am to sat. which means I have another AM open for working out that I did not have prior to this, so I really need to sit down and look at my days and try to stick with getting in at least 2 swims, 2 spins, 2 runs and a strength class - ideally this is what I would like to do and have a day off, which means i have to double up 0n a day.  

What do you do  ?  Do you always run on mondays, spin/bike on tuesd etc OR do you change it up and just plan the week before ??? 

Clip on pedals

So I got clip on pedals and bike shoes today. Hubby held the bike while I tried to clip in. I brought him down on top of me. Not a good start folks.

I am bringing them to spin class and hopefully that will help me get a feel for these things. Get yourself off the rode NOW if you are training near me b/c I am a mess. 

I need to think of my previous mantra, I think i can, i think i can and not, holy shit i will never be able to do this and i am going to fall and break something. 

These are the shoes....Specialized motodiva. 

Seriously, what is the secret, how will I learn to use these and be 150% comfortable with clipping in and out for a tri ??

Swimming

Today, even though I have a major head cold I went to the gym to swim. The reason I went even with cold was b/c I found out about a class that a trainer has (it is on the down low), she is a 3 time ironman and I have never done any instructional swimming. It was great. Great to get feedback on my stroke, great to learn what drills I should be doing and it was great b/c my arms are killing me. She also took my email and plans on sending me workouts for other days. Swimming is my weakest event. I need to improve and that is one of my goals. I love making a step towards that goal. My other goal is to move to clip on pedals for the bike, which is scary b/c I have no coordination WITH the cages - let alone clip ons. 

The swim workout was a 200 warm up (of course I went as fast as I could b/c I had to keep up with rest of ladies), drills of catch ups, 3 x 400's with first 5o a drill, then 5 x 100's building speed, then 2 x 50 sprints (where you were put against someone your pace) and an easy 50 warm down. I survived but felt like I was awful in form, she spoke with me saying that I needed to get the form and then I will be more efficient, enabling me to go longer and faster. I love having a coach, I always push harder and learn something. I am debating the running coach route as well. I also believe this summer I will do sprint tri's only and then next summer attempt my first olympic tri. then in the way future a half ironman is on my bucket list. 

Merry Christmas !!!

I think I can, I think I can

Normally when I am exercising I am very obsessed with looking the clock, if it is a class I am always looking at the time. If I am running, I am always checking how much time has elapsed. Many times as the time ticks away and I get tired my mind starts the old game of quitter. My head says, damn I am tired, I can not wait for this to end, this sucks, ughhh please end, I can't do this anymore....how much more time, i just want to stop, when will it end. You get my drift.

Lately I have actually tried to have a different attitude. Instead of giving in to being tired and thinking I can't do it, I have decided to say, I will do this, I can do this, push harder, not much longer, you can do it, don't give up, kick ass...I think I can , I think I can. It works. It empowers me. 

Crappy day but controlled eating choices

Today was bad. We have some issues with my older daughter and quite frankly getting her dressed and playing in the snow is closest thing to torture that I have come to. It was a day full of up and downs and I felt like I did not get a break. I did however make some better food choices. Instead of escaping to mcdonalds drive thru for some burgers and fries, i stayed home and made a turkey sandwich, instead of ordering pizza for dinner, I had the turkey chili I had made and froze a while back. 

I had my normal oatmeal with some fruit for bfast, YES I had some of hubbie's most delish swedish pancakes but no syrup. 

I could tell I was so upset and just looking for the easy fix. I did have some cookies tonight but that would have happened no matter what so the thing I am most proud of is that I didn't break down and rush to get that easy bad food. 

I did not work out and I am itching to, the priority tomorrow is the gym. 

There were some great parts of the day the girls seeing Santa ANd sledding for a few runs before the next fit. 

How hard on myself should I be ?

So I am really trying to change my eating habits to better ones. Each day is a struggle. Each moment when I realize I could still get McDonald's breakfast b/c it is before 10.30 is a struggle. When I wait on the checkout line and stare at the reese's or twix, it is a struggle. I am not over weight, I would love to lose 10 pounds but my life does not depend on it. When I have a bad day or a bad moment I wonder why I don't have the discipline ? But should I really berate myself and feel guilty or should I move on and realize that life is full of work in process projects. I am trying to eat better but that doesn't mean I won't have a bad day right ? 

What are your thoughts on eating healthy ?