animal print, (bathing suit) out of control

i found the key to relaxing while swimming.  are you ready for the secret?  okay, it's a real doozy.  ready?  the key to relaxing while you are swimming is being able to laugh at yourself.  yup, it's that easy.  For me i'm generally always laughing at myself for any countless reason(did i really just say that, omg you are such a klutz, what were you thinking), but this time i brought in a prop.  a ridiculous swimsuit.  and by ridiculous i mean "that's how i roll, animal print, pants out of control"

okay, maybe i'm not rocking an awesome speedo tanning my cheeks (WHAT?!?) but my laughter inducing outfit is sorta like a speedo...except it's made by Funkies.  See that amazing animal print one?  the one that is blue with shiny pink print? oh yeah, that's it.  that's my secret suit.  it really is as if this suit was made just for me.  see how ridiculously?  i'm sure that's why it was only $16 on sale, on top of discount, on top of reduced price from Sports Basement.

i'm starting to really like this swimming thing...i'm starting to feel like i'm getting the hang of it a little bit better every time i get in the water.  January is going to be all about getting used to the intensity of training and learning the basics of swimming.  Next month, I want to focus on increasing my strength and stability through more weight training & continue to refine my swimming stroke, loose the nose plug (i know, but it's like my safety blanket right now...i can only really focus on one thing at a time and right now i've just moved beyond the fear of sinking to getting the timing of my arms right).  Then there is working on getting my cycling intensity back up and improving my running speed...and building endurance, and learning how to eat for three sports, and figuring out transitions...but that's just much to much to think about right now.  so in the words of a wise coach i once had, pick one thing and focus on it for a few weeks.  Once you feel like it's starting to come more naturally, tackle the next thing you need to improve on.  Going after it all at once is a sure fire recipe for failure. it's all about being dedicated to being focused.

Rolling out for Saturday's ride

this weekend my roommate told me i was one of the most dedicated people he knows. i guess i hadn't really thought about it that way, but when i do think it through it's dedication that is the essential component needed for any athlete training to complete their goals. it's dedication that gets you out there when you'd rather be in bed. and it's dedication that's needed to keep you going even when you know you've got a long learning curve ahead.

last week was the first week where i initiated my plan of attack to try to stay ahead of everything with this ironman training, do the things i need to do so i stay strong and avoid injury, and so i plain old don't loose my mind trying to balance life, work, and training.  Here's what the week looked like. i realized the more i have on my plate, the more i need to be organized, and the more motivated i am to get stuff done like errands and coordinating getting my stuff planned out so i can have time to relax.  it's going to be a crazy busy year, especially since our coaches have reiterated that this is "Just the Beginning!"  eeep!

Monday

• 5AM:  get up & get going
• 5:45-7AM:  swim lessons
• 7-7:45AM:  commute to work.  ugh! 87 & 101 traffic is the worst...must find a better way
• 7:45-8:15:  shower, get ready, get to my desk
• Work till 5pm, then home and get stuff ready for tomorrow, relax

Tuesday

• 5AM: get up & get going
• 5:30AM:  walk to the gym & weight training
• 7:00AM:  get ready for work, commute
• 8-5PM: work
• 6:30PM:  team workout - spin & core

Wednesday

• 5AM: get up & get going
• 5:45-7AM: swim lessons
• commute, get showered/ready for the day at my work gym, work, commute 
• 7-8:30PM:  team workout - swim practice in menlo park

Thursday

• 5AM: get up & get going
• 6AM:  run 5 miles at campbell track.  it's so early and so cold there is frost!
• get ready for work, commute, work, commute
• thought about getting in an evening swim but opted to relax instead :-)

Friday

• 5AM: get up & get going
• 5:45-7AM: swim lessons
• commute, shower, work from home
• 1:30-3pm:  late lunchtime easy ride
• work, stay in and watch movies night :-)

Saturday

• Sleep in until 6AM: get up & get going
• 8AM:  Team workout - 2 hour rolling hills ride (ouch!), 20 minute run (double ouch!)
• out to lunch for burritos with the boys, relax, watch movies

Sunday

•  Sleep in until 6AM: get up & get going
• 8AM:  Team workout - 1.5 hour swim, core workout, 6 mile run
• take a nap
• out to dinner for tacos with marc - yum!

Sunday's Core Workout