Remember Why...

As my workouts get a little longer and life gets a little busier, what keeps me going is the reason why I took on this challenge.  I am so thankful to Joe Krantz for putting this idea in my head in the first place and giving me the idea that I could actually do this.  He's taken this challenge head on, with no apprehension or doubt whatsoever.  It took a little while longer for me to get there.  This journey reminds me a lot of the marathon I signed up for the day after a family friend, Clint Sitzmann died from Ewing's Sarcoma.  Or the 3 Day 60 Mile walk that I've done for the past several years-first in memory of Kris Keene, but then in honor and memory of so many people that have lost their battle to cancer or whose lives have been forever changed because of it.  They, and Bryce are my motivation.  They're the ones nudging me when I just don't feel like doing a workout. 

Sunday was another one of "those" days.  I have been battling a nasty cold/upper respiratory thing for the past two weeks. And while I'm proud to say I haven't missed any training, it has been pretty tough.  I've felt tired more days than not, I've lacked ambition to do much other than sleep when the day is done, but I've kept at it.  Yesterday I was supposed to swim 1400 yards.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day outside, I had a Boot Out Cancer Boot Camp I was running later in the day and we have a garage sale to get ready for this weekend.  And on top of that Dee, one of my swimming buddies, was not going to be able to go.  I had every reason in the book not to go.  It's just one workout right?  

I happened to be scrolling through Facebook when I got home from church-in my mind I wasn't going to go swimming-it wasn't a big deal.  I've been sick, I needed a break...etc, etc, etc....

And then I saw Jenna's post.  It had been 5 months Sunday since Jenna and Kyle lost their precious little boy.  That is all it took.  I grabbed my swimming bag, had a friend willing to go with, and left the house to get it done. It was honestly one of the best swims I have had yet on this journey. He was on my mind as I swam.  Jenna and Kyle were on my mind as I swam.  Jamie, Nikki, Sue, Tom, and so many others whose lives have been forever blessed with Bryce, but also forever changed.  This is so much more than a race.  I attacked my workout this morning with a more focused mindset.  Whatever it takes.  Because I can.  

OVERCOMING FEAR

I faced a big fear this past week.  It's going to sound crazy, because why would someone that is afraid to go biking with a group be entered in a Half Ironman, right??  Well, my fear came from the fear of not being able to keep up with this well-versed group of bikers.  They know what I'm training for and they have encouraged me several times in the past couple of weeks to go biking since the weather has been so nice.  Up until a week ago, I never took them up on their offer.  Not because they are not nice, not because I thought they would be upset if/when I couldn't keep up, but because I didn't want to hold them back.  My fear of holding them back, was what was holding me back.  So finally, after the gentle nudging of a good friend and another good friend's daughter agreed to come watch my boys while rode, I set out for my FIRST road bike adventure with my new road bike (that I got used two years ago....yes, you read that right....).  It's the first road bike I have ever ridden.  In the past it's always been mountain bikes and hybrid bikes. This is a road bike...with skinny tires....

For those of you reading who may be unaware of the biking routes in Southwest WI, let's just say they're hilly.  And that is an understatement.  There are no routes outside of town that are flat.  None. At least none that I am aware of.  I am a chicken going down hills.  I ride the break and cringe as I see the people I'm riding with fly down them.  I've never had a bad fall....not even close.  So again, the fear of what could happen is holding me back. 

I was SO glad that I rode that day.  We went for about 26 miles of a challenging, hilly route.  Almost half of what I will have to ride on race day-on a course that I hear is flat and fast!  Music to my ears.  I went out again later in the week.  This time I was challenged to a really tough hill, but I made it up. No stopping. Another small victory.  I know I will not be the fastest biker or runner out there.  But this past week has shown me that I CAN do it!  I will be fine on the last two legs of this journey.  I am SO grateful for the ladies I biked with those two days.  They were so helpful, so encouraging, just plain AWESOME! I can't wait to train with them some more.  I know they will help me with this leg of the journey.  

Now...I have to figure out the swimming part.  Remember that post a few times back when I was so excited that I swam some freestyle and that because a wetsuit doesn't work real well for breaststroke, I was going to have to learn to swim it? Well, the past few times I have swam, I have felt my shoulder give a little as the yards piled up.  I know if my shoulder sublucts (pops out) on race day, it'll be really nearly impossible to finish.  So, now I'm back to the drawing board on swimming.  My plan this week is to talk to more people who have done the half and see if there is anyway to do it without a wetsuit and swim breaststroke.  Or if there is a type of wetsuit better suited for breaststroke.  That is my last piece to this puzzle that is causing me some anxiety.  I honestly feel really good about the other two pieces.  I won't be fast, but I WILL finish.  I WILL Bstrong!

Motivation

Motivate- (moh-tuh-vate) -verb. To encourage someone to do something. 

On Saturday, I experienced my first REALLY unmotivated day.  Usually I enter into my workouts pretty ready to go...slight nudging needed at times, but usually pretty good.  I consider myself pretty good at motivating people, whether it be with my second graders, my high school basketball players, or the people that come to my SWAT Bootcamp at SUPPZ.  But sometimes, even the best motivators, need someone or something to motivate them! 

I have found it very important during this journey, to surround myself with motivated people.  People that aren't going to tell me "it's ok" to skip my workout if I don't feel like, or it's "ok" to have that Diet Pepsi at the Brewer game because it's a special occasion even though I've committed to this bet of going pop-free for a year.  Also to surround my people that are truly excited for me.  There are always those people out there that can't be happy for other people's success or achievements.  I'm not sure why that is, because I'm always excited when my friends or even acquaintances achieve something-whether it be an award, weight loss goals, buying a new house, whatever.  I think it's important to be happy for people.   So, while I have had to make a few changes and have had to reanalyze some relationships, it's really helped me out a lot. 

On Saturday I was lucky enough to be surrounded by 2 people who have been really motivating to me when I need it most.  I did NOT want to go swimming on Saturday.  I had gone to this motivating bookcamp on Friday Night, tweaked my hamstring, struggled through a 6 mile run in the morning (that was supposed to be 8) and now all I wanted to do was lay down and take a nap.  They did not allow me to make an excuse.  I almost feel bad they had to listen to my whining the whole way to Platteville.  But I was so happy when I finished my 1200yds.  Once I got into the pool, I was ready to go.  Without those two on Saturday, I'd like to hope that I would have made to to Platteville by myself to get my workout in.  

My next internal struggle is my diet.  How can I motivate others to live a healthy lifestyle when I don't make it a priority?  Why am I busting my butt to get all these workouts in and then eating Combos for lunch? It's ridiculous.  When I meal-prepped with Deanna for those few weeks, it was awesome.  But since we have started training, there is just no time to do that together too or we'd be cheating our families of that important family time, something I promised myself I wouldn't do when I took this challenge on.  So, I have signed up with another very motivated person (Joe's wife) to work on this part of my journey too.  I have felt really tired and sluggish the past few weeks and I'm pretty sure it's the result of my diet.  I'm not fueling my body for the training I'm doing.  

So when people think they are being "lazy" when they skip a workout or don't take the time to meal prep, I always replace the word "lazy" with unmotivated.  The key to success is motivation to make that change.  So I will continue to lean on those people in my life that motivate me, yet remember that is my internal motivation to succeed that is the answer!

This darn foot!

Missy and I have both had very different battles thus far in training, but none the less battles they are! Trying to hurdle these challenges have been proving difficult BUT we shall succeed! This foot of mine has and will continue to slooooow me down. I had my 3rd injection last week and it's still not improving. So what does this mean for me? I'm not entirely sure? Surgery is out for this "running season." If I have surgery done I will not be able to do anything…swim, bike or run for a minimum of 4 weeks. So that will have to wait if it comes to that. My wife can attest that I'm becoming very depressed and very agitated from this injury. For those of you that know me I don't like to be held back.   I tried running last Friday at 5:30 in the morning that way no one would see my wounded deer gait. I had a customer see me and he said "you didn't look very good." I said "that's an understatement!" I ran a 9:30 pace (3 miles) and my goal for this time of year was a 7 minute pace. I know that pace isn't terrible in the realm of things BUT after swimming and biking, running may be out of the picture! BUT I will finish for those that are not able too! I'm stubborn and even without this dam foot….I will finish!

P.S- sorry for the ugly foot picture ;)

Whatever It Takes

This weekend presented itself with a few challenges.  I was heading to Racine, WI for a weekend with family.  I was not sure where I would have an opportunity to swim, I knew I would probably not get my long run in because I'm not comfortable running by myself in Racine, and biking wasn't an option.  So, I got creative.  Plan A was going to be to go to Xperience Fitness in Racine.  It looked like a nice place, had an indoor pool and was right up the street from my house.  So I headed up there shortly after arriving into town only to find out it was $20 a day as a guest to use their facilities and they weren't the friendliest of people. There was NO way I was paying that much.  So I looked online for other options.  There was a YMCA a little outside of town, so that was my next thought.  Then my mom mentioned Razor Fitness.  They are Silver Sneakers members there and so I gave them a call.  With my parents' membership it only cost $10!  Sold!  So, even though my mom was wondering why I had to work out when I was home on vacation, I packed up all my gear and headed for Razor Sharp.

It can be intimidating going to a place you've never been before.  I have to admit, I was a little nervous.  Up until now, Deanna Harding usually accompanied me on these outings.  So, it would have been extremely easy to stay home, eat Easter M&Ms and do nothing.  But I know I need to stay as true to this training as humanly possible-Whatever it takes. So in I went.  It actually reminded me a lot of SUPPZ.  The people were really friendly and helped me out a lot.  I found the pool-I was the only one there.  I had the whole pool to myself.  I got my skimmers on and proceeded to swim 1,000yards.  Next up? The bike!  They had a spinner bike that had an odometer so I hopped on it and for the next hour or so, I pedaled until I got to 30 miles.  It wasn't on a real bike and it wasn't outside in the windy conditions, but it was something! 

Before I headed back to Lancaster, I had to head down to the beach.  I had to remind myself why getting in these swims is so important.  I have to admit that as I stood on the shoreline looking out at the lake, my nerves started getting to me.  Can I really do this? How in the heck will I ever be ready for this?  But then I remember the why behind all this.  There is no time for self-doubt.  I just need to stay as true to my workouts as I can.  It's not easy.  Far from it.  I had to turn down a Girls' Night because I had to swim that night.  I've had some soreness from my super difficult trainings with Justin, but I just have to keep going and stay mentally tough.  It's already been an incredible journey and I'm only 3 weeks in (even though I'm repeating Week 3 because apparently I started my training program too early-right Joe Krantz? I need to learn how to read a calendar).  And because I didn't get my long run in this week.  

This is where I'll be swimming.  A bit intimidating.

I found out last week that HerSuppz is going to be my sponsor for this, which is such an awesome opportunity.  Having a sponsor helps defray some of the costs that go with doing a Half-Ironman.  I am honored and humbled that they would consider this something worth sponsoring.  A huge thank you to Mary and Brent Sheckler for all their support.  I am so blessed with such a great support system.  I couldn't be more grateful.  I was excited to hear that people have already marked their calendars to make the trip down to Racine to support me and the other athletes.  I try to keep these thoughts at the forefront of my mind when doubt creeps in.  This isn't impossible.  Whatever it takes.  #bstrong  #findyourstrength