From Couch to Coach

I was thinking of changing the name of my blog to "From Couch to Coach". Seems appropriate...I'm a couch jockey by nature and now I'm working with a coach and it's like a 180 for me. I still hit the couch, especially on Sundays after my long runs...in fact sometimes I'm unable to get off the couch after my long run! Whenever I can these days I grab a moment on the couch but mostly I'm busy working and training. I'm on my 2nd month of training and I still feel like this was the best decision I could have made for myself at this time in my life. I'm happy. Tired and happy and learning that I am capable of more than I ever thought. I'm about to turn 30 and am finally getting to know myself. Huh. Wish I could have done this at the age of 20 but I'm a late bloomer I suppose, just starting to grow up now. And I guess it really is about finding something you enjoy, then it doesn't feel like an arduous, painful, mind numbing task (I'm thinking specifically about school here), it's so painful for me, seriously, a fucking drag, each and every moment of it. Training, though it's hard work, is far easier than school ever was. Even when my legs are searing with pain and I'm entirely out of breath and my lungs are screaming or I'm exhausted to the bone from working out, I'd take that any day over writing an essay or reading a textbook and writing an idiotic assignment. This seems to really suit me, I'm enjoying it, all of it.

The highlight of this week so far...actually there are two! On Tuesday I finally had legs fresh enough to enjoy the speed workout at the track. We did a pyramid, 200 metres, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 800, 600, 400, 200 with rests in between each set. My goal time was based on a previous 5km time trial, and that was 1:05/200 metres. I finished each and every set 7-13 seconds faster than my goal time. I'm actually getting faster, for the first time ever. I'm still one of the slowest, but I'm faster. Then to top it off, the next evening I had a kick ass CompuTrainer spin session and my legs, though tired, came through for me. I worked hard and pushed hard and managed to keep my RPMs up and my watts up and I didn't finish even close to last place (a first for me to), in fact I came in 2nd. I've also had a couple of relatively strong long runs over the past month. 

My training is paying off, I'm seeing results, I had no idea I could do this!

return to the real world...postponed for now

Wow, I've been busy since I returned from traveling Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Busy on purpose, but still, not a lot of spare time for stuff like writing blog posts. I'm keeping myself busy busy so I don't have to think about the breakup, and I don't want to think too much about the fabulous beaches of Thailand...ahhh what a sweet 3 months that was. I highly recommend taking 3 months (or more) away from the daily grind, whatever the cost. Best thing I ever did for myself. And I'm currently working on the 2nd best thing I've ever done for myself...

I took up triathlon training with gusto and I'm 'all in' at the moment. I'm working with a coach for the very first time and so far so good. The structure is just what a person like me (lazy!) needs and I must say, I'm enjoying myself so much. Sure, my legs seem to always feel either like they've been pumped full of lead, or they're burning with fire...but I know I'm getting ever so slightly stronger and ever so slightly faster. I realize than an Olympic distance triathlon is no big deal for some, but for me it was. It is. I couldn't do those distances in around 3 hours without some serious training, so that's what I'm doing. It's fun. Really fun! And really hard, but in a fun way!

Tonight though, I'm going to indulge in a Cosmopolitan or five.