Patience and Fitness!

Earlier this week I read a tweet by ITU athlete Jarrod Shoemaker! "I love how people think there is some magic bullet to be good at triathlon. It's hard work. Freaking damn hard work day in and day out."

This is the truth and I have been putting the work in. Now it hasn't been crazy long hours yet but the key is its been consistent.

After my crash I was anxious to get back to training and a racing schedule because thats what I love to do.
Coach Jesse kept assuring me...give it 12 weeks of consistent training. It seems for every week I took off it would take another week to get back.

People often ask me if I us Ironman triathletes are addicted to exercise. I just love the feeling of being fit. Getting back after time off takes work. Fitness does comes back its just a matter of being patient. (Which I am not) In the last 2 months I have raced a 5km, a half IM and a 5 miler last week. In each I set small goals and I see progress!

This weekend with temperatures in the 50's/60's and the sun pumping out some essential Vit D, endorphins have been at a high. Yesterday's 105 miles on the bike ticked by so effortlessly. Don't get me wrong I had a hard 1hr15 minute interval at the end of the ride and the effort was hard, but my legs felt strong and I went on to run well off the bike and later had a good swim.
Today I headed out for a 13 mile run at the Manasquan reservoir. One of my favorite spots to run as it is a 5 mile trail with a beautiful view. It has up hills and downhills/wind and flats and it never gets old.

I am finally feeling my fitness return. Todays 13 miler ended like yesterdays 100 miler. With good form and stronger at the end than in the beginning. The fitter you get, the faster you can go with good form, and the longer you can hold it. I have still got a long way to go to work on my speed and endurance but I love the feeling this feeling of getting fit.
When training feels smooth and effortless!

Alot of people over the years have asked me how come I love to run so much...that I make it look so easy. I think alot of people never let themselves get to the point where they actually know what fitness feels like. They give up because it is hard. The last 12 weeks have been hard and at times frustrating as Coach Jesse gave me the reality check that I am always frustrated because I am always comparing every training session to my best times. But I think I am always looking for those training days that feel like this weekend.
Where my body feels strong, where I am not just getting through the miles but am able to push them.

So this is a reminder to me to enjoy the process of getting fit...It takes hard work but it is so worth it. I know the weeks are going to get more challenging and I have to keep pushing myself. There will be days that I feel like I can't get through the workout. But I know that that is just the process that will get me to the next level. Looking forward to it!