Swimming... YES!

I used to be a swimmer.  I used to LOVE swimming.  I haven't swam for a very very long time.

Today, I put on my bathing suit and headed to the YWCA at 7:45 to be there to swim for 8:05.  

I was a little reluctant... not because I was nervous about the swim but because I didn't sleep last night.  I didn't sleep first, because a certain teenager forgot to tell me she wasn't coming home and when I got up for the regular 3:30am pee break I discovered the car wasn't here and neither was she... a quick text cleared everything up.  I was just nicely falling back to sleep when all hell broke lose.  We have been trying to integrate a new cat into our house for the past week (we already have 2).   It's not going well.  The beasts decided at about 4:30am to have an all out war ON OUR BED.  I was uninjured but my partner ended up with a fairly deep gash in her cheek just below her eye.   It bled.  Quite a bit.  Once the cat fur settled into the carpet, the blood was cleaned away and the wound sufficiently cleansed... we tried for sleep again (with cats separated in different rooms).  Again, just dozing when the injured cat decided he needed to pee (we have a litter box in our bedroom as the cats are trying to sort this all out - disgusting, I know).  He took the longest, loudest pee in the world and then proceeded to spend the next 15 minutes or so scratching at the litter trying to cover it up.   I was not so much impressed.  Finally, giving up on the desire to sleep, I got up, made some coffee and began to prepare for the day.

Made it to the pool on time.  After a little talk from our lovely leader Michelle, we divided into lanes and started swimming.  Ooooo.. to be back in the water again.  I am a Pisces... a fish.  When I was a kid I lived in the water, either in the swimming pool or at the lake.  Later, I started lane swimming.  I'm a good and confident swimmer and although I haven't done it for quite some time, it felt like I'd never stopped.  The water is SO calming... soothing.  Swimming, I think, is going to be my favorite part of the training.

My anxiety was getting to work on time.  I think I mentioned in a previous post that I am a minister in the United Church.  I work at McClure United Church which is roughly a 12 minute drive from the YWCA.   The swimming was done at 8:40 and I needed to be showered, dressed and present for the worship service which starts at 9:15.  I wasn't sure I could do it.  I arrived at the church at 9:05.  Time to spare.  All of the rushing first thing in the morning was a little stressful though so I'm not sure I'll keep it up.  I'm going to try for a couple of weeks and if it's too much, I will just go lane swimming on my own.  That option would mean missing out on the community aspect of the swim training... but I'm not exactly building community when I'm rushing like a mad woman to get out of there.

Looking forward now to tomorrow's second bike session...

AND... on another note:  does anyone want a cat?

my magic shoes

Put my shoes to the test tonight.

Just came back from running 30 continuous minutes and a total distance of 5.12km.

Could have gone longer!

just sayin'... these shoes are amazing!!!

and run #1... DID IT

Now I'm convinced that my new running shoes really are magic.

Last night was the first run of the Just Tri It program.  I had decided to join the "run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute" group.  Not sure I could do it but really wanting to push myself.

Not only did I do it... I did it with ease.  Didn't even break a sweat.  So grateful to my new running shoes (and also a little grateful to my personal trainer from Goodlife Fitness... Reed-the-amazing... for pushing me so damn hard over the past 7 months).  I knew that my cardio had improved as I've been doing interval training on the treadmill 3 x per week and also other cardio exercises as part of my training sessions (burpees, mountain climbers and other equally torture-like movements).   I did not, however, know how all the training would translate into running outside for a longer period of time (my normal intervals are:  sprint for 90 seconds and walk for 30... for 30 minutes total).

Anyway, now I know that I can do it.  Now I'm curious to know how far I can go... so tonight I'm going to go out on my own and test my new "magic shoe" theory.  I wonder how long I can go?!

And... as well as being magical for their cardio-boost properties, my shoes also gave me the courage to strike up not one.. not two... but three conversations with complete strangers.  Whoa!!!

I continue to really enjoy the leadership of Maryann and Michelle.  They immediately put others at ease with their easy nature and great sense of humor.  Clearly they enjoy what they are doing.. it shows and it helps to think of this training as fun.  I'm really looking forward to getting to know them and the other ladies better.

Next stop.. swimming.  Sunday morning at 8am.  That will be interesting.  Not at all worried about the swimming part.  I used to be a great swimmer and I think it will come back to me quickly.  What worries me is the timing.  I swim from 8:05-8:40 Sunday morning.  I need to be showered, dressed and in the pulpit at my church by 9:15 (for those of you who don't know me... I am a minister at a United Church).  I hope I don't get any speeding tickets along the way.

Successfully finished first bike session...

Okay, so it was an informational session in which no actual riding was involved... but still!  I did it!  YAY.

Who knew there was so much to know about bicycles?  We covered the different styles & sizes and all of the various bits that hold the thing together.  To be honest, I didn't pay too much attention.  I'm pretty content with words like "the thingy majigy" or thewhatchamacallit".   I did learn some valuable stuff though that I might use to impress someone someday.

Yesterday I went shopping for some supplies.  I know we were told to wait for our Just Tri It shopping spree at Brainsport but I just couldn't do it.   I needed new stuff now!   So, I am now geared with some running pants (I honestly really did need these... all I own that currently fit me are jeans and although I'm an unexperienced runner, I was pretty sure that wouldn't do).  I also got a GREAT deal on some new running shoes (Saucony).  The most ridiculous thing I bought is bike shorts.  For the love of God... SERIOUSLY!  I had to think long and hard whether I was prepared to walk around feeling like I have a load in my pants.  I tried on several different pair in several different styles thinking that something was wrong with them.  Hoohoos and butts are NOT supposed to look like that, especially not look like that in public.   If it wasn't for the encouragement of my partner, Jordan, I would have walked away but she assured me that it was well worth it.  (Its a good thing I trust her so much otherwise I'd be thinking she is out to humiliate me).  My privates better enjoy the ride cuz I'm sacrificing a fair bit of dignity on their account.

So, with my new running shoes and running pants I'm all set to go for the first run of the training which starts tomorrow.  Tomorrow we will self-select ourselves into a group based on our fitness level.  I'm tempted to go in the walking group because I KNOW I can do that BUT I have not been training my butt off for the past 7 months in order to take it easy on myself now.  I'm just not sure how the training I have been doing will translate.  For several months now I have been running on the treadmill at the gym for 1/2 hour 3 times per week doing high intensity intervals (I run for 90 seconds at between 6.5 and 8pmh at a 1-2.5 incline and then I walk for 30 seconds).

I think I'm going to try the run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute group.  It's right in the middle.   If I can't do it... no problem, the next week I will move to a different group.  I think I can do it (especially with my new magic running shoes - geez... don't they make plain colored shoes anymore?  What's wrong with black or white?  Mine are florescent green, orange and yellow.  I tried telling the shoe guy that my goal was to NOT stand out...)

So.. tomorrow I run.   If you don't hear from me for a couple of days, it's because I can't move.

Til then..

The time has come - ORIENTATION

I did it!  I actually went!!  Don't think for a moment that I didn't talk myself out of (and back into) going to the Just Tri It orientation session at least 100 times.  Last night I even started to feel sick (physically - as in a sore throat, congestion).  Amazing how much power fear has over our physical selves.  Sadly, I woke up this morning feeling fine.  I had no excuse.  Fortunately, I'd convinced my friend Holly to also sign up for the training and she was picking me up at 12:45.  I'm prepared to let myself down... but not a friend.

I can't even say for sure what the anxiety was (is) about.  I've been working my butt off (literally) for 7 months at the gym getting myself into a somewhat fit condition.  Three times a week working with my fantastic personal trainer at Goodlife Fitness (Reed) and 3 times a week doing interval training on the treadmill.  I also walk to and from work every day (about 45 minutes round trip).  Although all of my training is personal and I have no one to compare my fitness to except me.  What if I only think I'm in good shape?  What if my trainer is only being nice when he says "excellent workout"?  (I should probably mention that I'm slightly neurotic)

Much to my relief and joy, the two fantastic women who are leading this program were incredibly reassuring.   Every single one of my fears was named.  I looked around and saw other women nodding their heads and laughing nervously when they talked about the anxiety of having to put on a bathing suit.   I felt reassured that no matter where I am on the fitness scale, there is a place for me among the Just Tri It women.  

One of my other significant fears relates to meeting other women.  While I am someone who knows many many people, I am not someone who has many friends.  I find meeting people difficult.. awkward.. uncomfortable.  I don't really like putting myself out there.  It's REALLY SILLY and DRIVES ME MAD that at 45 years old I still care so much what people think.  I walk into a room of strangers and I'm instantly 7 years old and walking into my new school for the first time... terrified that no one is going to like me.

So, I reassured myself that I didn't NEED to put myself out there.  I'm doing this for me.  I gave myself permission to hang with my friend Holly, get the info necessary and get out of there.

AND THEN we were invited to play a little "get to know you game" (at which point I begged Holly to shoot me quickly).  However, I remembered another commitment I made as part of a book study group that I was going to risk being more vulnerable in an effort to achieve my personal goal of living in the world more wholeheartedly... with more gregarious love.

So.. I sucked it up and met a lovely women (who's name I now forget).  We had a lovely little chat and as far as I can tell she seemed to like me okay.   The leaders challenged us to take a moment or two at each and every session to meet one new person.   I think I'm going to do it.

So... the truth is that this program is going to help me grow physically and emotionally... also spiritually because I believe a healthy spirit goes hand in hand with a healthy mind and body.

Tomorrow we gather again for our first bike session... but we don't need to bring our bikes yet.  It's informational only.  Can't wait to get going!!!