Training

Here comes the fun stuff!   My training began on Monday the 4th of January.  Although I had read over the training plan, groaned a few times and may have inadvertently rolled my eyes, I consider myself a semi-athletic human, so how hard could it be?   HA.  Oh self of two weeks ago reading the training plan, how I wish you knew how hard it could be. 


First of all, do you realize how expensive even signing up for a triathlon is?  Not that I am mad at the people who run the things, for all they do it should probably be more expensive. It takes a lot to pull off an event this large successfully.  Second of all, do you know how much your gear is going to cost you?  Let me break down the supplies that you are going to need, and these are just the ones that I am purchasing, you can really go all out people.


1) Goggles


2) Swim cap


3) Swim suit (one piece preferred)


4) bike- just want to throw it out there that I got my bike at Mel Trotter Ministries for a miraculous 45 cents. BAM. With that being said I most definitely will need to purchase road tires, and probably some pedals.


5) Triathlon suit-these are expensive, but I have heard it is worth it to buy the thing so your butt doesn't fall off while biking.


6) A helmet, safety first-brain cells are a must to finish the race


7) A watch, in my case I wanted one that tracked my laps in the pool as I suffer from wandering brain syndrome while mindlessly swimming.  (These actually are only about $20, I know! still expensive.)


8) A bag to carry said equipment in


9) If you want to get fancy, which let's face it I do, then you should also purchase a wet suit.  HOLY MOSES, do you know how much these are?  Thankfully I have a gift card to gazelle sports which is a blessing from Jesus.  Otherwise I would be in really good shape while living in a van down by the river, if you think this is a joke, you're wrong.


10) Good running shoes, let's not forget that after swimming, and biking you still have to run a good half marathon.  And with that you’re going to want some fabulously amazing socks as well.


11) A gym membership, and if your gym doesn't have a pool (mine), a pool membership too.


Once you have collected the equipment you need, you can successfully begin your training.  If your interested here is a link to the website I have been using as a training guide. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com




Day 1: Monday


The good news:  I made it, after picking a pool in my area that had a reasonably priced membership, I drove around the parking lot's for a good 10 minutes.  Finally  I landed upon a drive that had an arrow pointing to the "aquatic center" aka pool.  After asking about 5 different elderly women participating in the aqua aerobics where you enter for lap swim, only to find out it is the same locker room as them and none of them knew it,  I made my way to the pool. I want to be positive while talking about my first swim, that’s what I'm calling it- "the first swim," but honestly it was....hmmmm rough.  My beginner triathlete website said


Warm up: 200 swim, 200 kick, 200 pull, 200 swim. - does anyone realize that this warm up is like a full workout?


Main: 1500 swim at medium effort. - Just to be clear, this is supposed to be without stopping, and I stopped about 30 times.


Cool down:  I didn't get to do it, because the other stuff took too long and they were closing the pool...THANK GOD.


And lastly I didn't drown, and I finished the workout, if you were there you would realize that this is seriously good news.


Here comes the bad:  First of all remember, anytime you are doing a strenuous workout you should have water.  Well for some reason I was thinking pretty highly of my superior swimming skills which consist of me living on a lake since I was 6 which clearly makes me Michael Phelps. Wrong. Wrong.  Even Michael Phelps needs water, who did I think I was?  By the end of the workout, I'll tell you who I thought I was and that was the ghost of Kara Tibbe. (Note to self: next time I swim, bring a bucket of water).  Also, I bought a swim cap the week prior to "the training" but while in the locker room I kept thinking, I don't want to be the only wierdo out there wearing a swim cap.  Boy was I wrong again, instead I was the only wierdo not wearing a swim cap, side note a lot of people swim laps, and wear swim caps, I commend them forever.   Important side note:  My hair is so large my husband comments that it has its own area code.  It is not only as long as a horse’s tail, it is also so thick that it adds 6lbs (9 if I ate a lot that day) to my body weight.  So being "cool" and not wearing a swim cap ended me up with a 7 hour long neck and head ache.  Next time I try to be cool, I need to re-think that situation, and take the high road.


Other bad news, remember this is TRIathlon training, meaning not one sport but in fact three....So My day wasn't done...after going home and literally crashing on my couch for a full three hours where I had 4 dreams I was drowning and 6 that I was in a dessert without water, I woke up and had to go to the gym to do my running portion with hubby in tow.  So running is my thing guys, I've been doing it since I was about 2 years old, I even run into Meijer because I hate walking the 20 yards between me and a lot of food.  But running for 40 minutes on this day, after the swim, was...well I can think of a lot of things, and you probably can too...but because I don't want to scare anyone, and I don't want to risk my mom not letting me ever step foot into a workout facility again for fear of my life, we will just stick with rough.  But behold, I finished.  4.30 miles and a whole lot of sweat later, my first full day of training was complete. 


Honestly It was an adventure, a sweaty, thirsty adventure, but at the end of the day when I passed out cold, it was worth it.  Sorry this post was so long, the rest won't be like this but I needed to get a lot out, clearly I'm just glad I'm still amongst the living, so even being able to write anything, let alone a novel is a feat. 


Xo, Kara





This is after my first swim, I'm not sure what I was thinking in this photo but I'm pretty sure my face says it all..(notice hair)

I'm trying to be healthy in all aspects of life now that I'm doing this to my bod, so I've been making these green smoothie drinks in the morning for Brad and I, and then continuing to eat plenty of protein, fruits and veggies thorughout the day. .  Credit Kayla Itsines for this recipe (this one is a double, half the recipe for one person)
1 orange
1 cup fresh pinapple
2 cups coconut water
1 cup baby spinnich


Blend well (I have a ninja...obsessed), unless you want little leafs in your smoothie, which I can't stomach very easily.  Enjoy!