showing up

Happy Thursday all.  I hope you are staying cool?  Cuz it's warm here in Sacramento. 

It's my third week of TRI training. I cannot believe I kinda swam a lap and made it to 12 feet. It was scary but I learned something at my half-way point... For a second, I was going to panic. I kept calm and knew that if I just kept my head down, kicked and moved my arms, I would make it. I MADE IT.  It wasn't pretty. But my team (pictured below) kept chanting YOU KAN DO IT.  It was pretty empowering. Love the woman at Kaia Fit.

You have no idea how I feel in the water. My heart is racing like crazy. I feel it in my chest but I know I have to push through it. If it wasn't for this one coach, I probably be holding onto the side of the pool.

I am not sure if I will be anywhere ready to compete come September 21st.  I didn't join the team to compete. I was doing it for the challenge.  I figured by SHOWING UP I might learn something and maybe by some great miracle, I'd learn to swim. 

After Monday's workout, I some how have allowed myself to entertain the idea of actually swimming a 1/2 mile. I've biked 11 miles before and even ran a 5k but I've never done 3 events back to back.  I wake up in the mornings and head to the gym and the thought "paula you are insane... act yoru age woman!" but I push it aside and decide to SHOW UP.  The fact that I'm showing up is awesome enough...  or so I thought. 

Here's the thing. I haven't wanted something so much in a long time. I am working hard.  I want to learn how to swim.  I fight the feeling of being mediocre every time I show up.  But I decide to be present.  I decide to work harder. I have a private swimming lesson tomorrow. I'm committed to using my lunch hour to practice. Who knows, just maybe... just maybe I'm a contender?

The world is full of surprises.

Later gators, I'm off to bike ride... Next up... HILLS.

Stay good.
Paula

Paula

Hola, how was your week? I hope it's been filled with a little adventure. I've been moving office locations.  I work in 2 departments and cover for a 3rd.  The upside to this move is I am back in a small house and I have inherited a wonderful executive desk and a window.  I snapped this picture today and I noticed two things... First, I love that my skin is so brown.  That's from all my outdoor activities. The 2nd is the FAT ROLL ON MY ARM.

See it?  We're never satisfied, are we?  Nope.  Just gonna try and focus on how wonderful I feel.

My workouts are going well.  I've had 3 free-style swim lessons since my last post and  I am making progress. I no longer need the boogie board. I can swim to the 4.5 feet side of the pool.  I'm still scared to go further. I'm pretty sure it's because of my breathing. I need to practice moving my head to the side to come up for air. Every time I do it, my feet sink and then I freak out... SWIMIN IS HARD.

Bike training is going pretty good. I feel more confident on the bike. Not sure why. I learned how to use the gears on my bike.  I practiced going up and down some hills.  Not gonna lie. I was scared. I was careful not to "brake" too much because I don't want to flip over. The speed scares me but I LOVE IT TOO.

I've been doing my regular cross-training workouts, except I missed last night's workout. I arrived there but was late. Tried to bike but then I got so frustrated with putting on my front wheel. Instead, I went straight to the bike shop to have the bike tuned up. Really, like that's going to help me with  my frustration.  I just wanted to make the best use of my evening.  I hate wasting time, don't you?

I'm off early today so I'm going to practice in the pool at work. Again, trying to make good use of my time.  Tomorrow, I swim in open water.

Pray for me okay?  I'm outie. I hope your weekend is awesome.

I kan Tri

Hello, long time no blog... Life  has been really wonderful and busy.  I spent 4th of July with this little one... My daughter woke me up at 4:30 a.m. to work out prior to walking all day at Disneyland. Who does that? Oh, I guess we do.

4th of July--me and Jellybeans

I hope you had a wonderful July.  Did you do anything fun?

I've been knee deep in my Kaia workouts.  Then I caught a cold and was off for 1 week. Don't you just hate missing your workouts when you're sick? Gotta listen to your body and well, I'm back in full effect.  Full effect means something really crazy.  In addition to cross-training, I signed up for a 10 week Triathalon training program. I'm on a team.  Crazy since I don't know how to swim.

Today, was my 2nd day in the water and I floated. I think this is huge since I never thought I would float. I am still using the paddle board but at least now, I know I can float and so maybe this will ease my fear.

I'm not having any huge expectations for the Triathalon. I haven't even registered.  The goal is to do the training. Use the pool time to learn how to swim and then by some great miracle I can swim, I'll sign up but if I don't know how to swim safely enough, I'll sign up for a dualathon in September.  Good enough, right?

I am still so much on the fence about this training.  Can I share a secret with you?  Before C, I was jogging 2-3 miles, doing zumba 5-6 days a week. I was at the top of my game... And then I got sidelined with C.  I hate that there is a BEFORE C and an AFTER C mentality but there it is... always sticking it's tongue at me.  I've made lots of progress in learning how to stay out of fear...  But it holds me back until I'm able to kick it in the butt.  It feels like I'm living on borrowed time and I gotta do all these things before the clock runs out.  It's stupid. I know...

I'm hoping to post some of my workouts. I think this is a major happening in my life and I want to document it... if only for me and to keep a record of how I'm feeling and how I'm progressing.

Anyways, just wanted to share my crazy news. Wish me luck okay?

Blessings,
PWC