Another Month gone - Feb/Mar summary

Well I am late in putting up my blog, which goes with the rest of my life right now (just ask my son's teacher - I have been late picking him up almost every day since I started training). I have been working hard on my training until last week when I discovered just how dependent I am on my kids attending school and being healthy in order to have the time I need to train. My daughter was off from school on an early spring break and I was unable to get her into the childcare when I tried, later in the week she was too sick and childcare was no longer an option. My first thought was to simply just try and fit my workout in later in the day but I soon discovered that our days and evenings are full and if I want to be able to put in a quality effort I need to have my morning time. Despite my frustration and disappointment over the past week and a half I have thankfully been able to put in some quality time on the weekends and am hopeful that now school has started up again I will be able to get back on track.

Laurel has scheduled running back in my workout plan again which has been great as I love to use a nice long run as a stress release. On the weekends I have been able to complete my brick workouts (bike/run) along with my husband which has really helped to pass the time and push me as the two of us really like to challenge each other both on the bike and in the run. It has been nice to have some quality time together to chat without the kids around and also have the bennefit of improving our health at the same time. I am confident that if I keep working on things that I will be able to complete the bike and run sections of the event - not without a good mental workout I am certain, but I at least know that I can do it if I try.

Now for the swim. I am still working more on my swim than any other element which for obvious reasons is because I have to. I have had a rocky relationship with the pool over the past month, going from a great swim to being willing to give it all up (except I am too stuborn to quit). Looking back on the month though I have accomplished some of the goals that I had set, small as they may be I can now successfully swim in deeper water without having to psych myself out - all be it by the wall - but that is a goal for next month =0), I was also able to swim a full 50 meter length without stopping. 50 meters is a long ways short of what I need to accomplish but it is also 50 meters further than I could swim when I started everything 6 weeks ago. I have been frustrated with myself as to just how slow things are progressing in the pool with my biggest hangup still being my breathing technique. I am still waiting for my light bulb moment on this. I believe that my overall stroke technique is improving as I can certainly feel a difference in how I am able to move through the water dependent on what I may be doing with my body position and arms.

After a rough week where I was questioning my ability to actually be able to accomplish the goals I have set, I had a long chat with my husband and an encouraging email from Laurel, I am entering into the next month with a renewed sense of energy (both mentally and physically from all my missed workouts) and am hoping to continue gaining ground in all 3 events.