Categories: General

A plan to get my butt in gear!

The new job is going great. I really love it – and I think I’m really good at it – and have thrown myself into it the way I used to throw myself into my tri training.

But now I am getting fat and out of shape because my training has been put on the back burner. I finally stepped on the scale and I weigh 156 lbs. My race weight is 144 lbs. I hate running with those extra 12 pounds of baggage. I am slow and I feel the extra weight on even the slightest incline. And it’s incredibly demoralizing to run my usual 6 miler “to the lake and back” at a 20% slower pace.

I need a plan so that I am motivated to train. So here it is. It includes lots of hills to give me extra incentive to work hard to shed some of those pounds.

Tar Heel 10 miler, April 9th. Hilly run on UNC campus that finishes in Kenan Stadium and includes running up Laurel Hill, yikes!
Bandits Challenge, June 18. Super hilly OLY race.
Kure Beach Double Sprint, June 26, super fun times with Ginger! Do big ocean waves count as hills?
Mayo Lake*, Aug 13, Kinda Hilly sprint
Nuclear Swim*, Aug 28, 1 mile swim in Lake Harris
Bridge to Bridge, Sept ??, 105 miles, 12,000 feet of climbing, ends with climb up Grandfather mountain. Yay!
Washington Half*, Oct 29. Not hilly, but I loved this race course, so I want to do it again!

*I have included three FS Series races this year in my plan. They are a local race production company in North Carolina and put on a super fun race with the best race schwagg! At right is pictured the sweet hoodie that all participants were given at the Washington Half last year. I love that hoodie!

There, now that I’ve written out this plan, I better get my butt in gear!

carolyahoo

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DIY Mom says:

May 10, 2011 at 9:39 pm

Way to go. I find a plan is what I need to stay focused. Therefore, my issue right now is I decided to not do any triathlons until my back problems are dealt with (running makes it worse). So now with no races hanging over my head - no discipline. I am not sure if I would fit into my wetsuit right now.
Noah says:

April 22, 2011 at 12:20 am

Can any experienced triatheletes recommend a wetsuit brand?
Jim says:

April 4, 2011 at 1:15 pm

You know...

I've always had a problem with my weight. I remember watching Bill Rogers win the Boston Marathon and being very envious... the way he "glided" up difficult hills and just flat out sprinted on the flats... and never did he seem to have a exhausted moment.

After college, I ran into a period of time where I was inactive. I felt it everywhere!!! My muscles felt spongy, and just getting around seemed labored. I began running around the block, then doing it several times. I was lucky to have a lake close by and extended myself, in a natural progression, doing longer and longer distances. Finally, I found myself able to run three-to-five-miles a day!!!

It was then I added a "mortality test" to my state of fitness... running 10K's, half-marathons and finally a marathon itself. I loved the training but frequently found beaten-up. I would have some knee problems, ankle swellings, and sometimes even shoulder tightness.

It was either return "to the couch" and vegitate, and lose all I had gained, OR... treat the symptoms. Then began the long litany of solutions that weren't... frozen gel pads, that could burn my skin and were useless outside of my frig... Ace wraps with plastic bags of ice that slipped about and saturated everyt hing... what a mess!

Then I discovered the products of TOTAL ICE THERAPY.COM, a company out of Oakland, California. What they offered was a simple icebag that was generously sized, and could take cubed or crushed ice, from any source (from a 7-11 or my own frig). The Velcro straps held the icebag taut on the specific body part. I could move about the house, take care of my business without worry that it would slip or slide. When my treatment was over, I emptied the bag, dried it out and reused it whenever I needed it. It worked so well that I always travel with it wherever I go... because you just don't know when something will happen... on a hike, on your vacation, or maybe it might happen to somebody whose with you. Since it takes up so little space in your luggage, it's a no-brainer.

Keep up your drive to become a much healthier person. I know you will get there!!! If you punch-it a little too hard... check out TOTAL ICE THERPY.COM... the products will get you back out there quick!!!

Have a good day!!!
Ryan says:

January 29, 2011 at 9:12 pm

:) I'll be at Kure Beach super sprint too... nothing like 1hr of MAX HEARTRATE fun!!!!
Darlene says:

January 27, 2011 at 9:03 pm

I'm doing the 4+ miler version of the Tarheel 10-miler and Kure Beach! Glad to see our schedules overlap a bit. :)
carol says:

January 27, 2011 at 1:47 am

In case I can't get into Bridge to Bridge, this one looks good, too.

http://www.tourdegaps.com/
Heather says:

January 23, 2011 at 10:38 pm

This looks like a great plan! Don't worry - you look great and I am sure those pounds will come off just thinking about the training you will be doing :)
Ginger says:

January 23, 2011 at 4:06 pm

Sounds like a good plan! Looking forward to Kure Beach and Mayo Lake!! Love the FS Series races!!

Ginger