Showing posts with label endurance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label endurance. Show all posts

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Dusting Off

It's been...a couple years since my epic summer of 3 triathlons. I remember sitting with friends that winter, contemplating signing up for the Danskin in Austin in 2010 and saying, "I really don't want to spend $80 on an entry fee just to wind up pregnant and not be able to do it." 

Good thing I saved myself that $80. I pretty much spent the entirety of 2010 not only growing a person but also becoming familiar with each and every acceptable and unacceptable bathroom for puking pretty much every frequented venue in a 10 mile radius. It started with a stomach bug that New Year's Eve and then I didn't STOP barfing, thanks to my sweet daughter, until early December. I had a C-section and struggled with PPD, which kept me from having any strength or motivation whatsoever to do the MS 150, even though I signed up for a team and have a jersey and everything. Then, I heard about this thing called Stroller Strides and in August of this year decided to give it a go.

I have found a marvelous group of moms and babies and more importantly have found a strength in myself I never knew I could achieve. Turns out three days a week every week of consistent, challenging strength and core training can make a difference in your life. Huh.

Today, I rode in a 35-mile bike ride and noticed an incredible difference between my endurance, strength, and overall performance on a bike compared to the events I've done in the past. I'm in fact throwing around the idea of doing a tri next year just to see how it compares. I had originally believed that just doing the exercises themselves would be enough training for the triathlon, but seriously, doing lunges, working with weight bands, and doing a zillion crunches daily has improved me, physically and mentally. Give it a whirl.