Progressing and Learning....(Well, one could hope?)

The training for the 1/2 Iron Man seems to be progressing right along for the most part. I'm almost amazing myself on how far I have come in what is a relatively short amount of time. I'm up to 6 miles running, and 3/4 mile of swimming. I know I have a ways to go but still I can't help but be pleased with the progress. As an added benefit I've lost 8 lbs., and 3.75", and all of this has occurred since I committed to do the 1/2 Iron Man back on June 30th.



Yesterday, I walked 6 miles up City Creek Canyon and then ran the 6 miles down. (Why not take a little advantage of gravity when you can?) But I tell you I forgot what an incline that canyon can get towards the top. I felt like I had ankle weights on for quite a bit of the way up. Oh, but that wonderful downhill when Diane and I turned around and started going down. Now that was nice! So if need be, I can now probably run 6 miles and walk 7 miles of the 13 miles that's in the 1/2 Iron Man. But I'm hoping that I can maybe build up to a little more running yet in the next month before the "Slow Salty Dog" event.

Saturday I managed to swim 3/4 mile and I was pleased. My crawl stroke still needs a great deal of work! OMG! I put this floatation device between my legs so that you can focus on your body rotation and arm movements. I think another gal that was sharing the lane with us(Diane & myself) was ready to smack me! I WAS all over the place. It was like watching a drunk in the pool. I couldn't swim a straight line if my life depended on it! I ran into the poor gal twice. I apologized but, man, if looks could have killed... I would've been fish food! So, I'm going to really try to concentrate and work on my crawl stroke for my next swim training.

But with all of this progressing along, I'm managing to learn a few things. Like don't donate blood while you're training for a triathlon. You do need all of your red blood cells that you can get. Duh?!! I've also learn that just when you think you have figured out the best way to help yourself to recover; your body changes on you, and doesn't cooperate. And never, ever, EVER, trim your toe nails too closely the night before a big run. OUCH!! But in the midst of all of this, I really hope that my learning curve is getting a little better. Though, I will admit to noticing a large amount of "dummy syndrome" after a hard work out. So I might want to hold off on being too hopeful about my learning curve.