Tri training: Wearing many hats

Swim-bike-run hats

I am kind of digging this tri training thing. While it's super humbling to be so bad rusty at swimming and biking it's also exciting and fun to be doing something different and mixing things up. I mean if I don't feel like running, I can get in the pool and if I don't feel like swimming I can bike or take a spin class. In a weird way it's freeing.

My swimming is getting better (slowly) but better. I'm feeling slightly more confident and I've been focusing on properly tilting my head to breathe. I am sure that when I'm in an open-water situation it's going to be a whole other ball game but I will deal when I get there…

Speaking of which. HOLY freakin' CRAP. I signed up for a sprint tri for July 21st! YIKES. This totally wasn't supposed to pan out that way.  I recently went to root on a friend during her tri and got an ad on my car for a triathlon that's pretty close to home. HERE IS THE TRI.

Pequannock Sprint, NJ

Well, I toyed with the idea of doing the "try-a-tri" because I figured it would be totally doable for me (a 150 meter swim, 6 mile bike and 2 mile run) perfect. I was pretty set to do that and then I told my bff Angela about it and she scoffed, "Come on, you can do the sprint!" (1/4 mile swim, 11 mile bike, 5K). 

And then I ran it by my Moms In Motion coach, Dana, and she agreed. So I did it. I signed up for the sprint. Hopefully I'm not biting off too much too soon. I definitely would've felt a million times more comfortable with the "try/tri" but I guess pushing yourself outside of comfort zones is where you grow… or drown. But whatever. 

Today was actually my very first time on a real life outside bike since February and that ride was a little shaky. So the hat I wore was a helmut. Happy to say the bike went pretty good. I was nervous for a bit and I had to fight quite a bit of people congestion in the park today but I managed 8 miles and felt much better about the bike.  I was really lucky to get a loaner bike from my friend Rox. (Remember her - I ran the NJ half with her!) 

testing out the wheels with son by my side pre-ride

BTW, I found a cool app if you're starting to bike and want to track distance/mph/calories burned called Map My Ride. I downloaded before going and it was pretty handy. 

Map My run stats

I was so relieved and pumped after the ride that I got off and decided to run a mile to test how my legs would feel off the bike... a "brick" as all the cool tri kids would say. It was a pretty fast mile considering - 10 minutes flat. The first quarter of a mile my knees felt funky but after I warmed up I felt strong and proud of myself. So I did finish with my runner's hat on.

I'm enjoying wearing the many hats of tri training. I really am.

Even so, I'll admit I'm a little freaked out about the sprint - It's less than a month away and of-course I'll be going back to KY for another week of work which will make training a bit of a challenge. No guts, no glory or so they say.

Don't forget! If you're interested in doing the IronGirl Tri with me or any of the others around the country then use coupon code IGFINISHLINE to save $10!

Also I'm giving away a cool Armpocket arm band - a great way to carry your smart phone on your runs (or rides!) So click here to enter!

What's your favorite hat to wear?

XO

Jen