Novice

What I've learned is that I'm novice, not to be self-deprecating but I feel that especially today. It's been almost a month since I last wrote in my blog. I thought to myself at the time of first entry it would be relatively easy to writer down a few thoughts after a work out but what I chose not to remember was that I don't have easy access to Internet at home - I choose that and after a work out all I often feel interested in is sleeping so I can get up and complete my daily routine again. Along with beginning to increase my training I've been pulling some strange shifts at work due to cold weather here in Nashville and my job as an outreach social worker. In the past weeks I've tallied many hours of overtime/comp time, at least I'm earning vacation and enjoying the work but I'm just generally exhausted. 

Maybe also I don't have a lot of interesting things to say about my training? While I'm in the pool I find myself thinking a lot especially as I push off the wall from flip-turning and I find myself being entertained but as soon as I am out of the pool and out of the shower I find myself immediately focused on my sleep and recovery. The moment has passed. 

I've been training on my bike trainer and in spin class regularly, I attend classes at the YMCA (a variety of the gyms here). What I've noticed in class is that I find myself wishing I was alone completing my workout. The up-downs, hills at effort 7, and constant reminders to be powerful and think of speed, although helpful for people looking for motivation, annoy me. If you tell me to increase the gear, constantly and "we don't go down hill" - you're not reasonable. I've been on my bike trainer an increasing amount and have found that I'm willing to spin hard there without the loud club music while I watch Jeopardy. It's a happy place and time for me. 

I also have been running consistently outside, logging few miles when needed on a treadmill or track. Last year I spent much of training with a group East Nasty, they are a supportive group of runners locally, unfortunately the group runs are timed awkwardly for my schedule - 2 hours after work and 8am Saturdays. I haven't been getting to these runs. I've been running as a St Jude Hero, preparing for the Country Music Half Marathon. I've reached my initial fundraising goal and have set a personal goal of doubling this contribution - which would provide one day of cancer treatments to a child. With this opportunity I was allowed access to a training group through Fleet Feet, a somewhat local small business. I've attended several of their Saturday training groups which are more conveniently timed at 7am, but sometimes not so with location (I pick and choose when I attend). I won't run with them when it's a 40minute drive but less then that and I will. The Fleet Feet group also has greater running pace groups allowing me access to a group of runners that are within my true goals. I will most likely begin to run with East Nasty when they hit the actual course in a few weeks. I love to run from LP Field, but I may also just run solo the same path at a time I choose. 

This weekend Will and I opted out of our Saturday training with a plan to be bike marshalls for a 5k/15k, all was according to plan. Last night I replaced my bike trainer tire with my road tire, and although I had some difficulty (#bikemaintenancelevelnovice) was able to do so successfully or so I thought. I was sorely disappointed and my plans for a cold (15degree) morning ride along with some runners was ended early when I stepped onto the pedal, felt the chain jump, but looked behind to find my derailer nearer to the big rings. No riding for me, instead I spent my early morning hours with drunken frat boys in the gear check tent, and an annoyed employee of the company putting on the race. She was quite nice, they boys reminded me a lot of past college experiences and made me thankful that I'm nearly thirty and at a place where I choose one glass of wine at dinner and an early morning alarm to go for a ride.