Apparently at an event before the holidays, I agreed to train with two friends for a triathlon. I thought I was agreeing to run a 10k together, but I guess somewhere in the course of that conversation, we escalated to a 5k run, a 20 k bike, and a 800m swim. (This by the way is a MINI triathalon…. Not an ironman / woman type triathalon! Big difference!)
At first I was terrified and thought I should back out, but my friends insisted we could all do it. Even if we came dead last, we could cross the finish line, they said. I still wasn’t sure I could actually cross the finish line, but not wanting to let them down, I thought I’d start training with them and see how it went.
Turns out that that the training is not only fun, but also really useful.
First, having a set schedule (one of my friends is a personal trainer and made a 6 week training plan; apparently there are tons of good starting points on line) is a good way to keep me going to the gym. We do two rounds of each sport (swim, run, bike) each week, and I check them off as I go. It’s kind of like a to do list, and forces me to get “me time” and exercise.
Secondly, the training plan includes short, sprinting workouts, and longer slower workouts, as well as days off (much needed!) Switching up my type of work out between high to low intensity has made me realize how much more I could be getting from my workouts. I used to just do a slow jog for as long as I could last, but incorporating sprints, uses different muscles (or just uses the muscles more!) and really gets the heart rate going, which gives me an extra “feel good” endorphin kick.
Also, three or four of us train together once per week, which is not only good motivation, but makes the workout fun. We gossip while on the bikes, and pant together after sprints. And our competitive spirit comes out, and helps us push ourselves that little bit more than we would on our own.
It’s early days yet, but so far so good. I am able to do the workouts, and have not injured myself. I am still not convinced I will make it over that finish line, but I am going to stick to the training and do my best! And, do I dare to dream it may even help tone my legs and rear? 2014 may just be the year I do finally improve my fitness!
