Triathlon... Friday?

Okay, so like I said yesterday, I've been SWAMPED. Triathlon Tuesday has fallen by the wayside, but soon to be brought to life, promise!

I have decided that it is pointless to start training right before the holidays, so I'm postponing the start until right after the New Year. First I'm going to go home, relax, and spend some time with N. and my family before I get all tri-crazy.


A little pic of me after my first tri - my brother knows how to capture all my best moments.


I'm thinking that I'll do two tris this year - the one I've done for the past few years, as well as the challenge tri! And what a challenge it will be, especially because outdoor training can't begin for quite awhile. Yuck. Silly MN and its rediculous amounts of snow and even more rediculous cold weather!!

I'm going to begin the training off right (for me) and cut out all carbs for a few weeks once I'm back from the holiday break. I don't know if it works well for other people, but for me, cutting carbs out for a few weeks really jump starts my energy and makes me WANT  to work out. I have only cut them out for about 2 weeks in the past, then slowly start adding them back in. I love the way it makes my body feel, although my mind craves the carbs the entire time (I'm a pasta loverrrr). After I cut them out completely for a few weeks, I'll sloooowly start to add them back in, and I will only eat healthy carbs. Its a bit like the South Beach Diet, only I don't really follow a PLAN, I just make up my own as I go, whatever feels right.

In addition to the whole eating right thang, I'll start training.

Swimming = no issue. I'll swim 1x/week until it gets warmer. Its completely a mental thing, but I HATE swimming in the winter. Even if I'm inside, I still am CRAAAZY COLD. Ew. Once the weather starts warming up, I will up the swimming to 2x/week. I swam in high school so I don't really need to practice too much.

Biking = Spinning classes for the winter months. I love them. I used to be addicted and went like 3x/week. I'm going to start out going 2x/week for now, and then just work my way up to 3x/week. I love love love spinning classes because I can go at my own pace and work up to being crazy strong. Plus ALL of the instructors are ALWAYS so so so encouraging. Its just a nice place to go!

Running = Sigh. Running is my weakness. I HATE IT. I only run when I'm training for something like a tri... which means I haven't ran since last summer. Whoops. So that means I'm starting from scratch. Last time I used the Couch Potato to 5K in 6 weeks workout plan, and it seemed to work well. I think I'll try that again. Running will have to happen 2-3x/week in order to get good before the first triathlon. Because lets be honest, I suck at running. No matter how great of shape I'm in - I always feel like I'm about to pass out and die when I run. Starting at ohhh about 2 minutes in. On running days, I'll probably weight train too :)

ANY TIPS FOR RUNNING WOULD BE AMAZE-BALLS. I'm begging you. Any of you!

As for the pre-Christmas vacation preparation - I'm updating my Ipod and mentally preparing! Should be a fun way to bring in the New Year! Cheers to getting back into shape!

PS. Any tips any of ya'll have for music, workouts, ect.. bring it on! :)