There is no "Off Season"

In most sports, there is a time during the season when one kicks back and takes a breather. Football ends in February (well at least for the the lucky Superbowl title taker), and baseball ends in the fall and picks back up in the spring. The time I am sure is used to imbibe, visit family and friends, and to do, well, whatever one's heart desires. This is not the case for the triathlete...well at least one that wants to run a little faster or swim less like an anchor. There is no off season. I have been training straight now since January 7th of 2008, with the exception of maybe 2 weeks off after a race, or because I got sick (such as this month...I have only been in the gym FOUR times...), or because I just would like to do NOTHING for a couple evenings (aka sit on my ass and eat and watch TV).



I began my office season in September after the Chicago Tri. I hired a triathlon coach named Keith who designed a weight lifting regimen for me to build up my strength, gave me a running threshold test, revamped my swim stroke (to which I am forever grateful), and kept me running, biking and swimming for two months--until my next season started (the season I am currently in). The running threshold test was CRAZY. Try running the fastest and pushing your hardest for 3 miles...that is the test. I was sick for 4 days after that because I have never pushed myself that hard. It felt good. My max threshold was 178...I am curious if it at all has improved--I will most likely test again in August of this year.



For the first time swimming I felt like I was actually moving. I am not more streamlined and have had so many amazing swims where I was truly confident in my stroke, and believed that I might just be able to finish a race without doggy paddling and backstroke (or walking in some cases).



I have come to LOVE running outdoors...give me snow, give me rain, give me both, give me 15 degree weather...I have come to be obsessed with running in the cold. It's so invigorating, and I love knowing that people are now looking at ME going, "Look at that crazy runner...", just as I used to do while driving down Lakeshore Drive in the dead of winter. I love wearing my tights and bundling up and tuning out everything but my iPod and the beautiful views of the city. In October I volunteered for the Chicago Marathon. I was at the 10 mile aid station at 4am, and stayed until 1:10pm. It was amazing to watch all of the runners push themselves, and it was amazing to see people run who looked like they should not be running at all...but they were. I yelled and screamed the entire time. Nothing gets your blood pumping more than hearing peole cheer you on...I speak from experience :). So, if you are ever out to watch a race...please don't just stand there, but bring signs and your loud voice and cheer someone on! I am signed up for the race this year...which will be my ultimate test. Running to me has never come easily. It has become easier over time, and even more enjoyable, but in the past, between my asthma and my smoking habit, it was something that seemed so impossible for me to do for so long. I have goal of just finishing in 5 hours. In other words, I just want to finish. I will be volunteering or going to watch the Steelhead half ironman...my goal for next year. 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13 mile run.

I am currently in season right now--my next race is April 26th in Florida with Team in Training...my first Oly. It is tiring at times, however. Currently I am fundraising for Team in Training, going to grad school, working full time, training, and trying to have somewhat of a social life. I rarely ever get home before 9pm EVERY night of the week. I have class Tuesday evenings, I have training with my team Wednesday evening and on Saturday mornings, and then I must fit time in for homework, my boyfriend, friends, family, training, and lets not forget I work from 8:30-5:30 5 days a week, and sometimes even 8:30am-9pm (which I am currently doing). I am currently exhausted. Yes, I love to race and train...it's my passion. But lets not get that confused with the fact that I HAVE to train to race, and like anything else in life, it becomes tiresome when one has so much going on. I think most people think because I love to train and love to race that I never get stressed because it's my hobby. They are terribly wrong. I am human, and at the moment I am physically and mentally cashed! If I had one more thing on my plate right now, I think I may implode!

So that being said...us triathletes never get a break, but it's the race that reminds us that we can never stop training. It's during the swim, the bike, or the run, when we may become tired and weak, that we remember why we get up at 5am in the middle of winter just to get a swim in, or why we feel guilty when workouts must be compromised due to life that sometimes gets in the way, and it's why racing becomes your life--it becomes part of your being. Even if I was offered a "spring break," I don't think I would take it.