Thursday, January 23, 2014

To The Pain

Getting back in shape always reminds me of that memorable quote from The Princess Bride.  I'm definitely not going to work out to the point of death, but getting back in shape to run, bike, swim will definitely require effort to the pain.  Not just a normal amount of pain.  Not the "man I went to two spin classes this week and feel a bit sore" kind of pain.  This is the "every muscle in my body is screaming but I'm going to go run three miles" kind of pain.  The only way I can get ready to do a triathlon in the next 18 weeks is to push it everyday that I have time.  This was easier when I was younger, thinner and had fewer children.

It is hard to work out for two hours and then come home and make dinner, do dishes and get kids ready for bed.  Its also hard to try to schedule everything so that I can find time to do these work outs.  It means saying no to play dates and ignoring emails.  It means having my house just that much more disorganized.  It also means watching everyone else have dessert and ordering the salad when we go out to dinner.  These things are challenges, but when I think about the challenges that other people face in their daily life then it seems like a much lighter burden.

When I run out of steam on the treadmill and I want to turn down the speed I constantly think in my head, "this does not hurt as much diabetes."  Realistically this is what I am running away from.  I am running from the genetics in my family that make me predisposed to be overweight and become type II diabetic.  Pricking my finger and injecting insulin is not how I want to spend my golden years.  So when I feel tired and don't want to keep going I just think push myself to run.  Run away from the increased risk of heart disease and stroke.  Run away from high blood pressure and diabetes.  It may sound a bit morbid, but it is what works for me.

The past two weeks I have started back to spinning and swimming and running.  I am slow, but can already see an improvement.  Over the next few weeks I will push myself and see if I can do it again.  Hopefully I can overcome all of my limitations and get myself ready for an hour and a half of competition.  Yesterday 3.2 miles on the treadmill and 30 minutes in the pool.  Today 3.7 miles on the treadmill and 30 minutes in the pool.   Looking forward to days when the temp is over 10 degrees and I can run  outside.