holycraplessthan2weeksuntilthetriathlon

so I was recently faced with the realization that my triathlon is in less than 2 weeks. I had been running once or twice a week and swimming less than once a week, although I do bike every day to work and back. even still, these are not adequate amounts of working out to get me in shape for one of the worst (though one of the most satisfying!) mornings of my life. my entire purpose for doing a triathlon was to force myself into good habits of getting in shape because I had something to work for. and yet, that didn't even motivate me enough to really get the move on. but realizing that in less than 2 weeks, I will have to run 5k, swim a quarter mile, and bike 13 miles within one morning has recently proved to be effective.

I have discovered that by only being able to go to Beyer Hall to swim when the pool is briefly open (12-2pm when I am at work, and 7-9pm when I am having a social life) is not effective, and therefore signed up for a membership to Ames Racquet and Fitness Center in Somerset for the month. not too pricey, mostly because I'm a student, but HOLY CANOLI is that place nice. the locker rooms are carpeted and I feel like I'm in some sort of yacht club because of the fancy, wealthy people of Somerset Village that keep this place going. anyway, I only really got the membership so that I can use the pool from nearly anytime between 5am-10pm, which is awesome.

starting today, I got up at 6am to run 3.1 miles down Main Street, around Bandshell Park, over to 13th street, and back up Northwestern. I was hoping it would still be a little bit dark out, but the sun starting to come up is something I can't complain about because it was absolutely beautiful. also, it was only about 60 degrees, in contrast to the 90 degree weather I was running in in the afternoon. as long as I eat something before I run, I am able to get through the 3.1 miles and though I come close to vomiting, I can hold it down. I then hopped into Andre the Malibu and drove over to Somerset to do some swimming. the 4-lane pool was nearly empty, minus the 1 ridiculously fast and in-shape 20-or-30-something dude in the lane next to me, and the 2 old guys chatting it up in the corner. I swim in a sort of pattern, because although I can't swim 8 laps straight through freestyle, I can manage to sort of tread water along so that I'm still moving forward the whole time. so I swim freestyle 1 lap, grab a floaty device and tread 1 lap, and continue doing this pattern for 6 more laps. those 8 laps is the equivalent to a quarter of a mile. so I took a break, and then did it all again, while old ladies started filing in 20 minutes early for their water aerobics class at 8am.

swimming after a vigorous run is really one of the most pleasant and satisfactory things one could do. especially if you get to swim towards the sunrise shining through the big windows on my way back for each lap, which I did. I have to admit, I was pretty nervous initially about the swimming portion of the triathlon, but in all reality, I don't need to swim the freestyle stroke the entire time, as long as I am moving forward. I can keep moving in water, it's just the breathing/stamina part about swimming that I struggle with. but if I don't have to keep my head in the water the whole time, I can just paddle along and be just fine!

although it has taken me all this time to finally start pushing myself to get in shape for this triathlon, now that I have finally gotten into a pattern of things, I think it's one that I can somewhat keep throughout my life. now, I probably won't run and swim every morning after this triathlon is done, but I would definitely like to continue swimming a couple times a week, and heck, maybe even run once or twice a week. it has also opened another area in my life that I can seek help from God in. let's face it, I'm a lazy and unmotivated person, but I have been asking for strength and motivation in prayer, and God has provided. that's all there is to it.

yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah for gettin' in shape!