Tuesday, June 24, 2014

A Relaxed Approach

I'm still signed up for a tri later this summer but I've decided to completely overhaul the training plan. I put so much pressure on myself to do well at each event that training for something like this has become unfun. The nerves/anxiety/worry I feel months before a race and especially the night before are crazy! I make myself sick to my stomach!! The sleeplessness and added dehydration from a night of stomach illness is not good for race day.

And for what?

This is supposed to be something I enjoy doing. Exercising is something that I need to do to be healthy but the pressure is not healthy. I know that I love to bike, run and swim so when I'm in the midst of training and find myself dreading all of it I know, something's wrong. And that's what has been happening.

Since my decision, I've been running, biking and swimming but my plan isn't always followed and sometimes I forgo a workout to go on a walk, do some yoga or sit on the couch - no regrets. I'm going to show up on race day knowing that the training I've done was enjoyed. If I truly don't feel like I'm in good enough shape to be there on race day, I won't. Life is supposed to be enjoyable, right?

With time, I'll find the healthy balance between enjoying and pushing for a goal, for now I need to slow it down and enjoy this relaxed approach.

And now back to some more regularly occurring blog posts :)