Back on the Bandwagon

As you may have noticed from my race listing, my race season in 2013 has dropped to almost zero. 
As February rolled around, and my Half Ironman training was to begin, I kept stalling.  I would say..."it's only February, I can run tomorrow".  Apparently there are a few things in life that training could not "fix" for me.  So I spent my summer rebuilding my "House", both literally, and mentally.  In fact, my first project of the morning tomorrow is a little spackling.

Anyway, a few weeks ago "IT" hit me again.  I knew I was ready to start working out and training.  Since I haven't done much in three months, the muscles are a bit weaker, and the feet a bit slower, but trust me, they remember how to do it.  My mind was a bit behind on this plan.  The 4:45 AM alarm clock got a lot of snooze taps.

So what does it take to get back to craving a workout, needing the energy rush and release, and getting the body out of bed? Here's what I've found..

1. Friends (Near and Far)  Here in town I have friends of different abilities reaching for their own goals.  Ask them to go workout with you.  Set a time, so if you don't show up, you are very much the "bad guy". Talking on the phone or over lunch about weekly accomplishments.  From across the country I get texts from friends letting me know how many miles they've laid down in on the bike, road, or in the lake.  Wow.  Great job! (I'd better get on it).
2. Professional Help  I'm a member of 24 Hour Fitness.  They are open almost all the time, and offer a bunch of fitness classes every day. I have a few favorites "Athletic Training", "Spin", and "Willpower and Grace". However, if you don't go, no one will ask why you haven't come.  So I decided I needed a personal trainer of sorts.  During my research I cam across Twist Sports Conditioning.  A gym based on functional fitness training. Speed, agility, power, strength, balance, and core strength.  They offer group classes, but your absence will definitely be noticed. I have only attended three classes so far, but they have been awesome!
3. Looking Good  I love to buy new athletic clothing. If I get a new top, pants, or wildly awesome socks, I have got to get out and show them off. Get a new item every few weeks, go to the gym, and show your stuff.  Secondly, I meet my mirror every morning.  I love the feeling of walking by and noticing new muscle definition that wasn't there last week.  That's motivation.
4. Sweet Pain  I work out hard.  It is sometimes painful, but the feeling when the workout is done is amazing.  It becomes addictive.  I want the next workout, so I can finish and say "Yup, I did that.  I made it through, and I'm feeling exhausted, yet stronger".

What keeps you motivated to get up and workout?
How many times a week do you train to feel you've accomplished your training goal?

How I got here...

I'm JoJo.  I have always loved sports and the outdoors.  I played ice hockey soccer and lacrosse, as well as skiing, hiking and various other activities growing up, through high school and college.  Then "real life" began, and I stopped playing sports, and being active.

In 2009 I realized my body wasn't what it used to be, and I tried running a little on the treadmill.  A few weeks later, a friend called me, who knew I'd been starting to run and asked, "would you like to come to Las Vegas with us and do a half marathon?"  I thought out loud, Vegas sounds like a lot of fun, how far a run is that.  She replied "13.1 miles".  Hmmm I thought, Vegas would be fun, I'm sure I'll never make it on a run that far.  So of course, I said YES!!!!

And that's how my love of running came to be.  Training for that first half marathon.  Of course I started smaller with 5 and 10K races.  Each one more fun than the last.  I fell in love with the training.  Personal time, stress relief, and time for introspection.  Guess what else happened...my body started to change and I liked what I was seeing in the mirror, and how I was feeling every day.  I did it.  I completed that half marathon in Las Vegas. Awesome!  Before I could even catch my breath, that same friend said "Would you like to do a 190 mile running relay next?" So, of course I said YES!!!! (She would later tell me it would only be a 6 person team, but that's another story)

While training for that relay, I injured myself.  A little over use, and 3 stress fractures later, I found myself in the pool trying to recover.  And that’s how the triathlete began to emerge.

For the past 4 years I have been running and competing in triathlons of all distances (well not quite a full Ironman yet).  I love so many things about triathlon and running.  First, is the person I have become.  I like who I see in the mirror, and I like how I feel inside.  I’m back to the size I was in college while paying ice hockey 2 hours a day.  Second, are the people.  People from every walk of life, competing in the same races.  Not only are they competing, but they all seem to be willing to help out, encourage, and offer advice to complete strangers.  It is a fabulous community of people, many of whom I can now call friends.

So here I am with a new love and passion; exercise, competition, and the next adventure.