Wednesday, April 10, 2013

What's up Wednesday 4/10



Life is busy right now: understatement of the century.

In order to wrap my own head around everything going on, I'm going to go back to a"What's up Wednesday" Post...Maybe it will help me make sense of it all (probably not.)

What's up with Marathon Training
Marathon #5 (Cleveland) is 38 days away, and at this point I am right on track for my goal: to finish.

In all seriousness, I did go into training for this marathon with the goal of just a solid time and another 26.2 in the books. But throughout the course of training I wavered between wanting to train for a faster time, and taking a conservative approach knowing my first half-iron man is a mere 56 days after the marathon.
I've done it before, I know I can do it again.
Training hasn't been great, it hasn't been horrible, but definitely not great.

My biggest problem right now is my motivation, or lack there of. Hopefully it shows up sometime soon, it did however make an appearance for this past Sunday's 20 miler, so maybe it's not 6 feet under, just 2 or 3 feet. Give me a shovel and some shit-kickers and Ill find that damn motivation if it's the last thing I do.

Realistically my goal for Cleveland has stayed in the "finish within my previous marathon ranges" which is good for me, seeing as my marathon times are in a wide range. Slowest being 3:46 and fastest being 3:21.....That gives me a 25 minute range to finish within, I think I can make that happen. (fingers crossed, oh hell everything is crossed at this point)


Whats up with Triathlon training?
Now that I have a new love of my life bike, I am feeling better heading into the Duathlon in a few weeks and tri's this summer. It's going to be a learning experience no matter what, so my expectations are less than stellar. No I am not selling myself short, or saying I can't do it, I'm just saying this is most likely going to suck time wise, and I am okay with that. John is going to take some time with me soon to help me with transition things, and other triathlon related issues which I know will help make me feel more comfortable.

Here's where things get a little....hectic....
A few weeks ago I announced I was enrolled in a Certified Personal Trainer course through ACE Fitness. At that time, I enrolled because I wanted to be working on something to better myself, and it was something my fiance and I could do together (we are both going through the program). I knew that at some point I was going to be taking some steps to further my career in the financial industry, but I assumed that was going to be down the road.

You know that saying... when you ASSume....(yeah we all know how that one ends)

Well shortly after I had decided to enroll in the CPT course, my boss decided to take me out to lunch. Little did I know I was in for much more than a meal. I knew that he has been wanting to retire but has had a hard time letting the business go. He came up with a solution which he proposed to me. Starting this summer, he is going to be only working 2-3 days a week so he can spend more time with his family (and golfing), which leaves me with a lot to manage. He also told me that he spoke with our affiliate company about sponsoring me to start working towards my Series 7 license. BOOM. For those of you who aren't familiar, a Series 7 license is required to be a registered representative of a broker-dealer, it's also known as the stockbroker exam.

I'll be honest, I took the job in the fall as a way to pay bills, never expecting it to be more than that.  This little old job just turned into a career. ("we're adults when did that happen and how do we make it stop?"-Grey's Anatomy)

I am over the moon about this, it's nothing close to what I EVER thought I would be doing, but I love it and it just so happens I'm good at it and pick up on it easily. It means a lot of changes though. This is a grueling 6 hour exam, which will take me to hell and back. Let's call it another job, because the studying I need to put into this is about as much time as I spend on work or training right now. I know that it will be worth it in the end, it just means the little time I have now is getting even smaller.

This also means that on top of 2 jobs, wedding planning and training...I am studying for my CPT (since I am enrolled in a program I have a certain amount of time in which I need to take the exam), AND studying for my Series 7 exam at the same time. [I'm exhausted just thinking about it all]

I know, I know, there are people with more going on. People with kids, people with more responsibilities. But the fact is, I don't have kids, but I still have a hell of a lot of responsibility right now. My training really is going to be my only "me time" for a while, and let's not even talk about the impact this is going to have on my time with the hubby-to-be.

The good thing is, he has been nothing but supportive and knows this is a really good thing for me, and down the road it will be worth it. Our dinner dates are now study dates, our reading in bed before bed is at an all time high, and both of our stress levels are well... lets just say, not low. The fact is, we don't always have a lot of time together as it is (and we live together), and this presents new challenges, but that's life. We are still going to going to be there for each other and make sure that we get time together, make sure we are "us", we are still looking at our future. The wedding will still happen next year, planning just has to take a back seat for the time being until we knock some things off the to-do list. Good news is, I already have my fabulous dress...so put me on a plane to Vegas and let's do this thing (well, not really....but if it happens, don't say I didn't warn you).

Now, more than ever training is going to be so important for me. Exercise is my stress reliever, exercise is my me time, and Lord knows I am going to need that to get through the next few months.

Am I going to have to be creative with my workouts in my schedule? Yes
Are there times I am going to be tired, and stressed and worn out? Yes
Can I get through that? absofuckinglutley
Running is my release, always has been and always will be. So my motivation might have taken some vacations a few times already this year, but when it comes down to it, I know that exercise and fitness is a priority and I need to make it happen. No way I can handle getting slow and gaining weight on top of everything so it's time to focus.


What are some ways you get workouts in when you simply don't have the time?
What are some tips about managing a schedule that you have?



8 comments:

  1. One of my biggest pet peeves is people that try and "outdo" others on how busy we can be if that makes sense. If you feel you are busy (which obviously you are extremely busy) then it's stressful no matter what.

    I've done workouts where I've run 3X3 miles daily and it just goes by really quickly and breaks up the day. I am glad to hear your motivation is coming back though...it will be back for Cleveland! I'll be texting you like a mad woman...but that is nothing new...You'll do well :-)

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    1. I think I am going to start doing more smaller runs, a few times a day...it is the only way I can really see getting the time and mileage in at the moment.

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  2. This mom is saying, heck yeah you have a lot going on! Lots to balance...I hope you can find a way to make it all work, stay happy and as unstressed as possible, and maybe eek out some great race results to boot!

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    1. Thanks! Hopefully all the anxiety from everything makes for some great racing fuel!

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  3. You are super busy!!! But you will find a way to balance it all and make it work. I have been married for almost 10 years and there are still weeks we rarely see each other due to work and other obligations. But it makes those rare moments together way more special!

    I to have to find a way to make time and make workouts fit in to my new busy schedule as I know its an awesome stress relief.

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    1. You're right, it really does make the time you get together, that much better. I need to take the time to remember that!

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  4. I make a point to find balance...I have to. I mean, it keeps me sane! ;)

    I'd love to do a duathlon one day. It's on my to do's :)

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  5. Holy busy bee batman!! congratulations on the amazing career opportunity!! I also have no doubt you will do great in the marathon, and no matter how it goes, at least you get that one day to enjoy a nice, long run :)

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