Today’s guest blog is from Debbi at the Middle Aged Triathlete. The way she intricately balances training for races, family life (including grandchildren and great-grandchildren!), and work time is one that I hope I can emulate as I continue on my fitness journey as well. Truly inspirational, Debbi is a 35-year cancer survivor, who believes in living life to the fullest at any age and ability. She’s a mom, grandmom and great-grandmom striving to be the best example of that for her family. Read on for more of her story!
—
I
keep an updated list showing “Events I’m Training For” on the side
of our home’s refrigerator as well as alongside my monitor at work. Here’s how it looks today, after taking
down the post-it note that had been up there since January, when I signed up for
my very first Olympic Distance Triathlon.
I finished that race last weekend (YAY!). Somehow, peeling off that small paper square seemed quite anti-climactic
to the months of training that led up to that race. The action still gave me satisfaction, though. I FINISHED, I thought to myself as the
paper made small crinkling noises in my hand. I. Finished.
keep an updated list showing “Events I’m Training For” on the side
of our home’s refrigerator as well as alongside my monitor at work. Here’s how it looks today, after taking
down the post-it note that had been up there since January, when I signed up for
my very first Olympic Distance Triathlon.
I finished that race last weekend (YAY!). Somehow, peeling off that small paper square seemed quite anti-climactic
to the months of training that led up to that race. The action still gave me satisfaction, though. I FINISHED, I thought to myself as the
paper made small crinkling noises in my hand. I. Finished.
I’ve
got three events officially on my horizon and at least one more bouncing somewhere
between “Let’s DO it!” and “Are you CRAZY?” in my brain. I’ve already registered for the ones
you see here – which is my criteria for posting them.
got three events officially on my horizon and at least one more bouncing somewhere
between “Let’s DO it!” and “Are you CRAZY?” in my brain. I’ve already registered for the ones
you see here – which is my criteria for posting them.
This
week is my ‘taper’ week for Saturday’s Castle Rock Triathlon, a sprint distance
event. I am coasting from training
for my Oly Tri, so it’s an easy, recovery week. I haven’t had one of these for…well, it seems like forever.
week is my ‘taper’ week for Saturday’s Castle Rock Triathlon, a sprint distance
event. I am coasting from training
for my Oly Tri, so it’s an easy, recovery week. I haven’t had one of these for…well, it seems like forever.
Before
next week, though, I have to decide between those two boisterous voices in my
head and what they represent. My
training for the next four months will hinge on that. Do I undertake another “A” race for the greatest distance in
my life? Or do I ratchet down,
stay where I’m at and work toward another half marathon to finish out my fall
race schedule?
next week, though, I have to decide between those two boisterous voices in my
head and what they represent. My
training for the next four months will hinge on that. Do I undertake another “A” race for the greatest distance in
my life? Or do I ratchet down,
stay where I’m at and work toward another half marathon to finish out my fall
race schedule?
Even
putting that in writing makes me take a deep breath and exhale heavily. Another 16 weeks of training. Whew. ‘But,’ I
immediately tell myself, ‘it will be one
discipline instead of three…and the only brick workouts I’ll have will be my
choice, not Hal Higdon’s or Jeff Galloway’s…unless, of course, you consider
the strength/core training…and swimming…and spinning…’
putting that in writing makes me take a deep breath and exhale heavily. Another 16 weeks of training. Whew. ‘But,’ I
immediately tell myself, ‘it will be one
discipline instead of three…and the only brick workouts I’ll have will be my
choice, not Hal Higdon’s or Jeff Galloway’s…unless, of course, you consider
the strength/core training…and swimming…and spinning…’
…and
then, of course, there’s life OUTSIDE of training… Time spent with my husband, kids, grandkids and a new
great-grandchild. Time spent with
friends who don’t want to talk about races and training. Time spent paying bills, doing yard
work, making meals, buying groceries, grooming our dogs. And work – can’t forget about that,
either…because that is a minimum of 45 hours a week, not counting the 1 hour daily
commute each way.
then, of course, there’s life OUTSIDE of training… Time spent with my husband, kids, grandkids and a new
great-grandchild. Time spent with
friends who don’t want to talk about races and training. Time spent paying bills, doing yard
work, making meals, buying groceries, grooming our dogs. And work – can’t forget about that,
either…because that is a minimum of 45 hours a week, not counting the 1 hour daily
commute each way.
Fitting
it all in has become an artful dance.
Some days, I feel as if I’m doing a clumsy jig in a lumpy field littered
with half-exposed land mines.
Other days, I have to pull myself up, do a slow waltz, and regroup. And some days, I dance joyfully in the
rain.
it all in has become an artful dance.
Some days, I feel as if I’m doing a clumsy jig in a lumpy field littered
with half-exposed land mines.
Other days, I have to pull myself up, do a slow waltz, and regroup. And some days, I dance joyfully in the
rain.
I’d
like to say it just takes organization
skills. I would love to tell you
it just takes careful planning. I wish I could say I am totally successful. I guess I COULD tell you any or all of
those things…but then we’d both listen to the needle scrape across the record
as music grinds to a halt – because those would be lies.
like to say it just takes organization
skills. I would love to tell you
it just takes careful planning. I wish I could say I am totally successful. I guess I COULD tell you any or all of
those things…but then we’d both listen to the needle scrape across the record
as music grinds to a halt – because those would be lies.
The
truth is, I DO organize my training schedule and plan around that. Each week starts out with my knowing
how many swim sessions, cycle training sets and run/walks I need to do and the
basic time I need for each of those.
I also know my work schedule.
Then, I look at our family calendar to see whether the next stanza life’s
music for the week will be a sweet melody or discord. And I adapt our schedules for that.
truth is, I DO organize my training schedule and plan around that. Each week starts out with my knowing
how many swim sessions, cycle training sets and run/walks I need to do and the
basic time I need for each of those.
I also know my work schedule.
Then, I look at our family calendar to see whether the next stanza life’s
music for the week will be a sweet melody or discord. And I adapt our schedules for that.
Certain
things tend to get compressed.
Sleep, for example. I am
one of those “morning people” so I love to get up early and get a jump on the
day to fit it all in. But I tend
to fade quickly in the evening – almost as soon as I drop into a comfy chair or
couch. I’ve learned that when that
happens, I don’t fight it. I need
to rest when my body demands it to avoid injury. Even so, I shortchange myself now and tell myself “I’ll
catch up later.” Sometimes I
do. Sometimes I don’t.
things tend to get compressed.
Sleep, for example. I am
one of those “morning people” so I love to get up early and get a jump on the
day to fit it all in. But I tend
to fade quickly in the evening – almost as soon as I drop into a comfy chair or
couch. I’ve learned that when that
happens, I don’t fight it. I need
to rest when my body demands it to avoid injury. Even so, I shortchange myself now and tell myself “I’ll
catch up later.” Sometimes I
do. Sometimes I don’t.
Last
year was my first year training and competing in triathlons and it was
brutal. I lumbered clumsily
through training, week after week, pounding myself and our lives in a constant
repetition of swim, bike, run, repeat.
Life outside of training was minimal, which made whole months pass in a
blur. I missed a LOT and learned a
lot – what was important and what wasn’t. I also learned that giving a little here and there
training-wise was not going to hurt my performance but could really help my
whole-self (body/mind/relationships).
year was my first year training and competing in triathlons and it was
brutal. I lumbered clumsily
through training, week after week, pounding myself and our lives in a constant
repetition of swim, bike, run, repeat.
Life outside of training was minimal, which made whole months pass in a
blur. I missed a LOT and learned a
lot – what was important and what wasn’t. I also learned that giving a little here and there
training-wise was not going to hurt my performance but could really help my
whole-self (body/mind/relationships).
This
year, the inner metronome that directs me has a slower but steady beat. I maintain it all but do not push
beyond what I need and/or want to do.
Some weeks demand more – and that’s fine – but I don’t force myself to
adhere to a schedule if something in our lives takes high priority. I am less hard on myself. Lessons learned.
year, the inner metronome that directs me has a slower but steady beat. I maintain it all but do not push
beyond what I need and/or want to do.
Some weeks demand more – and that’s fine – but I don’t force myself to
adhere to a schedule if something in our lives takes high priority. I am less hard on myself. Lessons learned.
After
all, I’m not a ‘paid’ athlete. I’m
far from a professional. I’m
supposed to be doing this for “FUN”…to become a healthier person and a strong,
healthy role model for my kids and grandchildren. If I do that at the expense of my life outside of this, what
does that say about me? I keep
thinking about that as I train. If
it’s not FUN, why do it?
all, I’m not a ‘paid’ athlete. I’m
far from a professional. I’m
supposed to be doing this for “FUN”…to become a healthier person and a strong,
healthy role model for my kids and grandchildren. If I do that at the expense of my life outside of this, what
does that say about me? I keep
thinking about that as I train. If
it’s not FUN, why do it?
I
am blessed to have a husband who is my biggest supporter. He is a true couch potato – the only
man I ever met who joined a health club so he could use the sauna and
whirlpool, and he readily admits it.
He avoids exercise the way most people avoid venomous snakes. But he never has made one comment or
action begrudging me the time or energy (or $$) to pursue my fitness goals.
am blessed to have a husband who is my biggest supporter. He is a true couch potato – the only
man I ever met who joined a health club so he could use the sauna and
whirlpool, and he readily admits it.
He avoids exercise the way most people avoid venomous snakes. But he never has made one comment or
action begrudging me the time or energy (or $$) to pursue my fitness goals.
Last
weekend, at my Olympic Tri, he drove our old, trusty motorhome to the race site
and set up ‘base camp’. He was
there from start to finish, rang the bell for me whenever he saw me and, when I
crossed that finish line he had already picked up my transition area and had
hot water ready for me to shower (and the A/C going, too!). The best quote of the day was when we
were driving home. He turned to me
and said, “I hope you know I’m very proud of you.”
weekend, at my Olympic Tri, he drove our old, trusty motorhome to the race site
and set up ‘base camp’. He was
there from start to finish, rang the bell for me whenever he saw me and, when I
crossed that finish line he had already picked up my transition area and had
hot water ready for me to shower (and the A/C going, too!). The best quote of the day was when we
were driving home. He turned to me
and said, “I hope you know I’m very proud of you.”
In
my quest to make everything ‘fit’, sometimes I misstep. Sometimes I fall. Sometimes it hurts – a lot. But whatever balancing act I do to make
our lives as normal as possible as I train is worth every precarious, delicate
step when I see my family waiting at the finish line, cheering and smiling. They are THERE. And so I will be THERE for them,
too. Whatever it takes.
my quest to make everything ‘fit’, sometimes I misstep. Sometimes I fall. Sometimes it hurts – a lot. But whatever balancing act I do to make
our lives as normal as possible as I train is worth every precarious, delicate
step when I see my family waiting at the finish line, cheering and smiling. They are THERE. And so I will be THERE for them,
too. Whatever it takes.
Debbi’s fitness journey began when a total hip replacement gave her pain free movement after decades in pain. She started walking and didn’t look back, competing in her first sprint distance triathlon race last year at age 58. She has also completed races ranging in distances from 5K to 13.1 and just accomplished her biggest fitness goal yet – finishing her first Olympic distance triathlon. Her Facebook page chronicles her adventures with humor, honesty and inspiration.
Professionally, she holds a Masters Degree in Business and has been an accounting professional in the private sector for over 25 years. She’s been an adjunct instructor for the University of Wisconsin College System and Lakeland College. She is occasionally available for speaking engagements, specializing in motivational speaking with a humorous twist.
—
Thank you for sharing this beautiful narrative, Debbi. You are truly an inspiration and I can only hope I have half of your spunk and dedication as I continue with my running endeavors.
Do you have a story you’d like to share with Running on Happy readers? Please email me!
