When Life Gives You Lemons

When life gives you lemons in the form of a walking boot, you have two options:

1. Be grumpy everyday and scowl at people who walk closely behind you because you feel like they’re rushing you and your boot.

2. Make lemonade and become a badass cyclist. And swimmer.

Over the past week I’ve chosen both one and two. However, I’m finally realizing I need to take this lemon that’s been handed to me and make a delicious cocktail.

I’ve been super cranky the past few days. Let’s be honest…not running sucks. But I can bike and I can swim. And I’ve heard those two things are pretty important in a triathlon.

I’m actually feeling pretty excited about the swimming.  I’ve more than quadrupled the 400 yard swim distance that I completed during my first sprint triathlon – a distance that seemed tough back in August! I’m learning how to read swim workouts and what the different drills are. (Not so different from speedwork in running!)  What’s a drill? I’m glad you asked! The “Finger Tip Drill” is a common one:

My coach provides specific workouts that I write out and put in a little plastic bag (to avoid it getting soaked) and lay along the edge of the pool to refer to:

There’s also a great app called “Speedo Pace Club” that I discovered through Page at Twenty Six and Then Some. It has workouts based on goals, level or technique, video demonstrations of specific drills, and the ability to log your training. You can put your phone in a plastic bag, open the app (the touchscreen still works through the bag!) and scroll through the workout of your choice while you’re in the pool.

Try it out! Maybe you’ll find a new cross training activity to add to your rotation…

Speaking of cross training (is it still cross training if I’m doing a triathlon?) let’s welcome a new member to the family:

My first road bike! I purchased the 2013 Specialized Dolce at a local bike shop called Marty’s Reliable Cycle – thank you tax refund! They were super helpful and after testing a few different models, they assembled my final choice and fitted it to me within an hour or so. Sadly, as much as I wanted to use my lovely hybrid bike that Brendan bought me for my birthday, I knew I needed a road bike for an Ironman. This bike is basically an entry level road bike that I should be able to race on for a couple years. (Tips on bike buying to come soon!) Now she just needs a name.

So, maybe I don’t have quite enough sugar in the lemonade I’m making yet, but I’m off to a good start. My running life should be perfectly delicious again soon enough. (Knock on wood.)

How do you feel about swimming…hate it? love it? Want to marry it? What should I name my bike?!