Dumb Realizations

So I am in Seattle this evening after my first week of consistent exercise/training (call it what you want). I made the decision that I travel way too much to be a candy-ass and not get in a run, or something. I am proud I made the decision to get off my butt....small achievements:)

I had a good jog and came to a realization that I try to run like I grew up riding. When you are in a 30+ mile crit and you had a bad previous night, you can push the bike to speed and recover with little micro-breaks (I like that phrase...). Running sucks because you cannot do this...

Now you may be thinking, "Congrats brain trust!" but this is a big deal to me...I now know why I have always said that running sucks. It is demanding, brutal on your joints, and slow moving (unless you are Ben Johnson on drugs).

On a positive note...it is hurting less and less each day. The schedule that Mary at the PHX Tri Club gave me makes the point that I just do something. That something is a lot in getting my body used to the pounding. But, I still like soft squishy pneumatic tires and and wind in my hair.

Ouch!

So I have a full whopping three days under my belt of running, then swimming and then cycling. My impressions so far are ones of pain. I run like an 80 year old man. I drag my ass throught the water (my kick sucks). I still love to ride, just don't have the stamina I used to have when I raced years ago.

My knees, neck and hips are sore puppies. The weirdest issue I have is numbness and tingling in my feet while running and the same in my hands and feet while riding. I don't remember every feeling that way. It may be my body saying, "now you have to pay for eating all that ice cream!" It is a goofy feel though...and a bit disconcerting.

I keep telling myself to keep going. I have to hit that 21 day mark to set the habit in my noggin'.

Signed-Up and Scared to Death

So at the beginning of this year, I became fascinated with the idea of Tri. Along with that fascination came ideas of grandear that I could become an IronMan Triathlete in a couple of months. I read every book I could find, visited all the local tri stores, and joined the PHX Tri Club. Life was grand with endless possibilities.

Reality hit around March when I blew a water pipe in my house (my fault), that launched me into a kitchen and den remodel. When you couple that with wanting to be a good husband, father of two and planning for company layoffs, the burden became too much. The four weeks that I had put in to get used to riding/running/swimming was pushed to the side to allow more focus of other familial priorities.

Here I am a couple of months later with the same desire to try this sport out and get into shape. The fun starts tomorrow at 5AM. I have the same doubts as to if I will follow through, take too much time away from my kiddos, and have difficulty managing my diabetes during this process.

As a motivator I have already signed up for a Sprint Tri - Nathan's in Tempe on the 27th of September, and the Amica Sprint at Lake Pleasant in November.

Holy Chap what have I gotten myself into...