My BIG 5 year goal!

I have decided on my five year goal.

If someone asks me who I want to be in five years, my answer will be an...

Ironman!

(Or is it Ironwoman)?

It is a far away goal, but I think that doing it in five years is definitely doable. I'm thinking that for most people it's probably doable in 2 or 3 but with a full time job and two young boys that require a lot of attention five years is doable but still challenging, especially since I haven't done an actual triathlon yet.

My goal race is the Ironman 70.3 in Muskoka. I chose this race because it's the one closest to home and trying to determine race and travel logistics (even five years out) seems as though it'll just add a whole bunch more stress when I don't really need it and probably won't need it!

I also figure that within five years I can get all the proper equipment to do a triathlon, considering I currently have a large, heavy bicycle, a helmet, a bathing suit and some running shoes. Nothing near what I need to actually complete a high level triathlon very effectively. I'm hoping that the five years will give me time to collect enough money and therefore be able to purchase some better equipment than what I have. I'm also hoping I'll have a lot of "supportive" hometown fans!

I also really need to get my half marathon time down to preferably somewhere under 2:00, which I'm working on and hope to be closer to the 2 hour mark than the 3 hour mark.

I haven't really laid my goals out to my husband yet, but I know that since it's a long way away he'll be supportive and that he'll be there to cheer. If it was next year, he tell me I was crazy and probably admit me to a mental health ward!

STWM - Week #4 recap

No running.

Summer, I give in, you time sucker you!

That's right. Nada.

Between traveling and sleeping in different beds, my back is a total mess.

The week at the cottage was cold and miserable. It was raining when we got up there and remained gray for most of the time. There was one day with sun, but it was so windy that the sun was completely overshadowed.

That being said, no swimming (which was supposed to be my exercise) as it was so cold. My husband even went into town to buy hot chocolate for much more than it is worth because I was so cold.

I suck!

This week:

Monday - 5K

Tuesday - Bike ride

Wednesday - Traveling

Thursday - Unsure

Friday - Who knows

Saturday - Does suntanning count?

Sunday - What about shopping?

My mom and I are taking the boys to Arizona for a week. I honestly don't know if I'll get a chance to run. There are some nice paths where we are staying, but it's Arizona and there are lots of interesting creatures, including these guys:

A javelin (wild pig essentially)

After we get back, it's into the classroom to get it set up for my next round of Kindies, a long weekend with the family and then back to school and hopefully a renewed dedication to my half marathon plan!



STWM - Week #2 & 3 Recap

I'm glad I built in buffer weeks for my training.

This is one of those weeks where things were all over the place.

My husband took the week of work to spend some time with the boys and then to head up to my aunt's cottage.

Monday - Rest

Originally I was supposed to do my long run that I had missed on Sunday on the Monday, but that didn't happen. I ended up going shopping with my mom and then in the evening the rain came along.

Tuesday - 6.5 km

I finally got out for the long run. My husband 'pushed' me out the door. I kept putting it off and putting it off and of course the minute I step out the door, it started to rain but I persevered and made it through my long run. Of course, I came back with my first blister.



Running in the rain led to my first blister!


Wednesday - Sunday
We were away for the weekend so I didn't do any running. I probably could have, but with the two boys at the cottage it's a lot to get out by yourself for more than 15-20 minutes. I did manage to swim a couple times and try to get more comfortable in open water. I have to admit, I was nervous, especially when we kept seeing turtles everywhere and I know that there is a gigantic snapping turtle in there somewhere.

For week three, I only got in two runs. I squeezed my long run on the holiday Monday. I did 8 k (4 miles) at probably the most ridiculous time ever. I went at 10:45 (while my husband took the boys to the park) and felt like I was going to pass out when I got home. I immediately took a freezing shower and had a Gatorade (left over handout from a race) and felt better. I was very proud of myself for doing it. My next long run will be with the running club. I need support to get these long runs done.

I also upped my track workout. I did 6x400m in under 2:18 ech time. The last one was definitely difficult. I felt it big time but man do I love track workouts now!

Upcoming week:

More cottage! Time to work on some more swimming, reading and suntanning!

I'll be back the week after when training really needs to pick up since I've definitely taken a break this last little bit.



Ahhh, sand and sun (and mosquitos but they're worth it)!

It's a long weekend!

A long weekend means heading to a cottage!

I figure I'll try to get in some open water swimming (with fishes and large turtles).

Other than that, time to relax and fish!

Have a great weekend!

I'm actually going to do this!

Last week, I mentioned that I had updated my bucket list.

I added a Ironman 70.3.

Since then, I've been researching and reading all about triathlons and I've set my sights on the Sprint Triathlon in Peterborough next July as my first one.

Eeep!

Something completely changes as soon as you pick a date!

Want to know the coolest part?

My husband said that he might do it too!

The fact that it is in Peterborough is amazing because it's where my in-laws live. My in-laws are amazing people who will watch the boys while we are participating in the event and still watch and cheer for us.

Now, where to begin!?

First, I have to get through my half marathon in October.

I figure I can use my rest and cross training days for 'tri-training'.

I'm assuming I'm going to need to start logging more kilometers on my bicycle (even though it's definitely not a great bike for triathlons).

Honestly, I had thought about doing triathlons a long time ago, but knew that running would be my weakness. I think I have it under control now, especially a 5K (I know running at the end is hard though).

I can swim fairly well and can probably handle the swim involved in a triathlon, but the open water will probably be my issue (not a fan of not seeing the bottom). I'll have to figure out where to train come the spring and I'll probably hit up lane swimming during the winter at the community center.

The blogs and websites I've been reading are definitely helping me figure this all out. Luckily, I have about a year to get everything under control.



This chaos scares me!

I'm just really excited that my husband might actually do it with me!


I'm going to try to get myself to an event this summer, either just to watch one or to do a 'try-a-tri'. There is one at the beginning of September that is on my radar but it's the first weekend after the first week of school and is usually when the exhaustion from the first week hits. I really just want to watch a transition and figure out how to do it all and what exactly I need for everything!


I'm completely psyched!!!

I can't let go!

I've been noticing that my legs are much more sore than they probably should be for the amount that I am running.

I probably could should do more stretching and strengthening and plan to, it's just always pushed to the side.
But I'm not sure that even strengthening and stretching can fix it. I'm beginning to think that my shoes might be the culprit!

My babies! Saucony ProGrid Ride 5's!

I've been contemplating bringing in my next pair of shoes. I can't believe how difficult it is!

Why am I so attached to a pair of shoes?

It could be any number of things:

- They led me to losing 30+ pounds after having the two boys

- Got me to love running

- Have gotten me through multiple difficult runs

- Been with me for over 250 miles

- Carried me through my first 5K race, 15K race and Half Marathon

- Traveled to Washington and ran some important streets and around some very historical buildings
- Were the basis of this blog

It's going to be weird to look down (I know, head up) and not see my pink running shoes with fluorescent yellow laces below me.

Here's what the new pair looks like:

They are the exact same shoe, just a different. I do like them and I'm sure if they were my first pair I would also have difficulty letting go of them too! I probably would have even picked them off the wall at the Running Room! Instead, it was the pink ones that stood out and the ones that I wore on my first run!


I know I'm just being silly and it'll be beneficial in the long run (*pun intended*) but I never thought it would be this difficult to change shoes!


How often do you change your shoes?


Did you have trouble giving up your first pair too?

STWM - Week 1 Recap

By the way - STWM is Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

This week's training was fairly easy.

Monday - Rest

This was nice and easy. I ended up taking the boys to a playground/splash pad and now that they're getting bigger I just have to watch and make sure Andrew doesn't break anything. When they went into the splash pad, I was able to relax and get some reading done (with quick glances to make sure the boys were still there).

Tuesday - 5 km (31:39)

Wow! It was hot. I waited until after Andrew went to bed to go for my run and it was definitely still very warm. It felt like I was running through a pile of molasses! It was sticky, slightly sunny and there were lots of people out walking. I almost got hit by a car or two (or three) along the way.


Wednesday - Track (2 sets of 5 x 200m)
The temperature wasn't too bad so the track workout was pretty good. My legs were sore but I decided to push since I have Thursdays as a rest day. All of my 200s were down under 60s except the last one of the second set. I'd just run out of gas. I had a great time and came back home feeling great. I did 8.11 km overall.


Thursday - Rest
The boys and went for a walk to the playground and then through a path in the little forest to another playground. They walked for some of it, but rode in the wagon for the entire way back. They are getting heavy! I also did some abs and stretching in the evening.
Friday - 5 km


I'm going to really try to push runs on Friday nights or at least stay below the 6:15/km pace. I'll have had a rest day between the track and this run. This week, I managed to squeak out another 5K PR of 29:37. It's a PR by 0.02! I'll take it. I did really well in my first 2K but once I turned a corner it became a battle with the wind tunnel I happened to be running in, I slowed down significantly. I had built up a buffer of 30 seconds to keep myself under the 30 minutes and took advantage of it.




Saturday - Cross Training
I didn't do any cross training. I did do some shopping. I always let my husband go bike riding/roller blading first since weekends are really his only time to do when it's decent and sunny outside. Unfortunately, when it was my turn it was rainy. So I went to Chapters and investigated triathlon books instead. I promise the cross training will pick up (eventually)


Sunday - 6.5 km
So this didn't quite happen. The Husband decided to take my youngest to the 'big city' for the day so I ended up having a date at Chuck E Cheese with the older one. After that, he had soccer, then we headed to my parents for a swim (in the 33 degree humidity) and then we ran into a thunderstorm. So , I've moved my long run to today since 6.5 km isn't really that long of a run for me.




Total kilometres in Week #1 - 18km


Here's what's up for this week:

Week #2
Monday - Rest 6.5 km
Tuesday - 5km
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - 5km tempo
Friday - Rest
Saturday - Swim
Sunday - 5 mile (8km) run


We're heading to a family cottage for part of the weekend so I'm going to do some open water swimming (along with some fishing).


My motto for this week:



What's on your plan for this week?