Back Where I Started

After hours and hours of researching, analyzing and confusing myself I finally picked a training program for this years 1/2 Iron man.  For some reason this was a hard thing to do.  Why, I'm not sure.  I have never had a problem deciding how to train for a race before, so why now?  I just couldn't make a decision to save my life.  I've never been like that.  I used to make decisions pretty easily.  I'm thinking this new personality of mine, you know the one with the ongoing anxiety disorder has trouble committing to anything.  When I do, the heart rate climbs and the chest tightens.  My god, I went living room chair shopping yesterday and for the first 30 mins I thought I may have to run out of the store.  I'll never be able to commit to a chair!

So the plan I went with was the first one I considered.  Figures, had I made the quick decision I could of saved myself a lot of time.  I'm back with these guys. But this time they have something new to offer.  I don't consider myself a beginner triathlete but the site is not only for beginners.  They have training programs for every length of race from beginner to advanced.  Though I may not consider myself a newbie I do consider myself as slow.  With this in mind I need to improve on my times if I ever want to challenge myself to the Iron man distance.  My father told me the other day to judge if you can handle the Iron man in the time allotted, which is 17 hours you have to double your 1/2 iron man time and add 90 mins.  If I take last years results in consideration then I would finish an Iron man in 15 hrs and 15 mins.  But I don't think a 90 min buffer is enough.  Worst case scenario is that you walk the entire 26.2 miles.  That would give me a time of about 17 hours.  Picking the right training program will help me decide if yes I can handle an Iron man in 2013.  Yes Dad, 2013.

By using the beginner triathlete website I was able to customize my own training program.  With a little information about myself, my past paces, my time available to train and whether I wanted to maintain my times or improve on them the computer is able to spit out a 20 week program built just for me.  Perfect.  Brilliant if you ask me.   With very detailed descriptions for each workout I should become stronger and faster with each passing week.  Starting Monday I will have a new part time job for the next 4 months.  Training for 70.3 Racine. 

So what do I do until Monday?  I try and get rid of this crappy feeling I have.  Hormones raging this week.  Fighting a cold and I think I'm winning.  Resting.  Possibly skipping my run today.  Fighting the anxiety for the weekend I have planned.  Trying not to eat everything I can find in the house. It's one of those days.  It's cold and snowing outside.  I have no errands that have to be done today.  I could just curl up on the couch and watch Judge Judy all day.  Soon that won't be an option.