Fitness Things.

Here is my obligatory weekly post about how this whole thing we call "fitness" is going.  Almost on a daily basis I battle internally about whether or not I care about being fit.  Ultimately, I continue to hit the gym weekly, so I suppose I do really care.  What I don't want to care about it is fitting a certain model, ideal or shape.  So I go back and forth, convincing myself it doesn't matter, and then deciding it does.  Rinse and Repeat.

This week, it doesn't matter.  It doesn't matter that I am not back to my pre-pregnancy weight.  It doesn't matter that my thighs are a little thick and my belly a little jiggly.  But what does matter is having that endorphin spike each day, sweating a little and feeling good about myself for the effort I put forth.  Perhaps next week will be a different story.  However, I'm going to try really hard to keep this mind frame.  After all I'm going to be 30 soon.  I only have one more year to practice getting it right, because by the time I'm 30 I'm going to be perfect.  Right?

I was inspired this week by an idea Caitlin discussed on her blog.  It's called "Ironman March."  While I have been hesitant to take on challenges lately because it just sets me up for failure and disappointment, I looked this one over and found it to be exciting, encouraging, and like I mentioned inspiring.  It is doable.  It is achievable.  And it is motivation.  How does it go?

image source

I will complete an Ironman in March.  Achievable right?  Ha.  Ok, so broken down over 31 days I will complete the lengths of an Ironman competition: Swim 2.4 miles, Bike 112 miles, Run 26.2 miles.  Caitlin even broke it down into weekly chunks:

image source

Most weeks I will aim to complete 1,000 meter swim, 6 miles running and 26 miles biking (or two cycle classes).  So far this week I have accomplished my swim, 2 runs, each a 5k distance, and 1 cycle class.  It's only Wednesday and I am way above the curve.  I am so excited my first week has been successful thus far and it gives me the encouragement and motivation to keep at it.  I think if I can accomplish this goal for March, perhaps in April I may be ready to put my mind to that triathlon I've been dreaming about for 3 years! 

So far I am excited, not only because of my success thus far, but because it motivated me to get back in the pool and back into cycling.  This week marked my very first post-baby swim sesh and cycle class.  And might I mention that cycle class was at 5:30am this morning!  Having my workout done and showered by 7am puts me on top of the world!

And I will leave you today with another treadmill interval workout from yesterday's run.  I was planning to go for a nice outdoor jog with Jenna, but we got rained in.  I quickly wrote up a plan, otherwise I cannot run on a treadmill.  Intervals always keeps me from getting too bored.  I really enjoyed this run.  I felt that it pushed me but was definitely doable.  Enjoy!