Training Together

As I mentioned before, I have started training for a mini-triathalon at the end of August. I first became interested in doing the triathalon when our friends did theirs back when we were in seminary. I watched them train (more accurately, I usually watched their little girl while they trained!), and listened to their stories when they had finished, and I was SO impressed. I wondered if I would ever be able to do something that physically challenging, and I knew that if I had the opportunity I would try. More recently, I realized one day that I was in terrible shape. I really want my children to grow up in an environment where a healthy lifestyle (eating right and exercising) is natural, rather than something you have to force yourself to do. I knew that if I didn't set an example by working to get in shape, that desire would never be a reality. So, I started swimming in the morning with a couple that was training for a triathalon. Their excitement and diligence in training started to get me thinking again about the possibility, but I knew I would never be in shape for theirs.

Then Lucas found the MINI-triathalon - 300 yd. swim, 6 mi. bike ride, and 3 mi. run. I knew that this was a far more reasonable goal, and something that I felt I could more realistically achieve in the time I had. Not only that, but it's fairly close! So I recruited a friend, and started training!

Mommy's goggles are a big hit!

I am only in week 3 of official training, but I'm starting to really enjoy it! This week has been the first week where I have seen real signs of progress and improvement - swimming 100 yards past the distance I need to swim for the race without stopping (the biggest challenge was having to swim through an underwater forest of weeds...it lasts for a good 10 yards and you have to go way out to avoid it - farther than it would be worth. It was creepy, but I made it!) and jogging 2.5 mi. of my 4 mi. loop and jogging almost the entire second mile in one stretch (I was so excited when I did it that I almost started crying!). The jogging has been the most difficult part. Because I have issues with my joints, I haven't done any form of running in years. BUT, with each knee supported in a brace it isn't so bad. And I have noticed that the more in shape I get, the less my knees bother me!

I include the twins on as much of my training as possible. Partly because I have discovered that running and biking without them feels SO much easier when I have been running and biking with them! Mostly because even though they will not remember this, I want them to get used to (and enjoy!) this kind of family outing. I don't want it to be out of the ordinary to go jogging with me or Lucas. I want this to be the kind of thing we keep up and do as a family!

The twins and I finishing up my best run yet! Notice I look much more excited than they do...

The more I train, the more excited I get about the whole thing. While I haven't done the triathalon YET (which means I have no clue how much it will actually kill me), having this goal has drastically changed the way I approach exercise. I actually find myself thinking about possibly doing a longer triathalon in the future...