Try-a-Tri Training Update

THE PLAN

Jan - register for Try-a-Tri race

Jan-Jun - train....

Jun - finish my race in under l hour

THE ACTUAL

Jan - registered for Try-a-Tri

Feb - developed a foot injury, 1 week after that I aggravated an existing neck/back injury (I have a mild herniation of a disc in my neck). Was not able to train for most of the month.

Mar - struggled with getting back into training through the foot pain. DH traveled for most of the month.

Apr - Podiatrist appointment confirmed I have Plantar Fascitis with heel spurs in both feet. Orthotics were recommended, and I accepted the recommendation. DH traveled for the first half of the month. I started pool training, but frustration and stress and scheduling difficulty led me to give up before I had barely gotten started. Barely started outdoor bike training because I have my little guy home with me and my bike trailer is broken....DH is working on fixing it when he has time. Depression set in, exacerbated by DH's traveling, increased volunteer comittments, kids sports starting up....I fell off the wagon HARD. terrible eating habits set back in. going to the gym fell to the bottom of the priority list.

May - $500 poorer I picked up my orthotics & had hope that I would be able to kick my training back up several notches and be ready for my race in 30 days. DH traveled for a half of the month

It's been 2 weeks since I picked up my orthotics, and I have not been able to get used to them as quickly as I had hoped. The orthotic is basically reshaping my foot, and with that comes soreness. After wearing them for a few hours my foot aches - certain movements are hard. I can't squat for more than a few seconds without pain, and long walks (like yesterdays 8.5km) end in the same pain I had before the orthotics, presumably because while the orthotic supports my weak plantar muscle, the muscle is still being forced to do something it's not strong enough for, so it hurts.

It's going to take more time to get through this.

For the last week I have been really struggling - should I compete in my race knowing that I am not really ready for it? Should I do it anyway in the hope that I can finish & get that feeling of having done something great, even though I won't have done my best? Or will I walk away from that experience feeling like I've failed? Will I once again be telling myself that I set myself up for failure?

Yesterday I decided not to compete in the Try-a-Tri.

But I am not just walking away, hanging my head. I didn't withdraw from the race, I transferred my registration (for a $10 fee) to the Try-a-Tri in September. This gives me 3 months to get used to my orthotic & get back running, get back on track at the gym, get my bike trailer fixed so I can get some serious biking in over the summer, and practice open water swimming at the lake.

Fall seven times, stand up eight. I'm not giving up.

My new race date is September 1st, which will be the 8th anniversary of my daughter Kaitlyn's death. What better way to mark that date, than by celebrating life, embracing life, living life. Losing my baby girl has taught me how precious life is - my joy is strong.

I am going to DO this. And if I fall an eighth time, I will stand up nine. On September 1st, I will be on that starting line come hell or high water. There is no third chance, this is it.