So many (or none!) of you may be wondering about me, Cliff’s girlfriend/massage-giver/med student. Well I really do exist and I’m also on this bandwagon called’ triathlon’. Many people ask how I got into triathlon…my response is that if I wanted to spend time (awake) with my significant other, I was going to have suffer through or learn to love triathlons! I decided to join him in this triathlon craze and I’m glad that I have!
It began, almost 3 years ago that I decided about a month prior to a womens-only triathlon that I wanted to enter. I have always been active, but nothing in comparison to my new bf. I did my 1st sprint triathlon on one of his bikes. Also never having biked more than 20km or run more than 10km didn’t help much either. But I did it.
Afterwards, I was exhausted but hooked. Fast forward to 2009, where I have 3 summers of triathlons under my belt, having completed 6 sprint tris and 2 olympics, as well as finishing 2 half marathons and a 10km race. My life has completely been changed by this lifestyle, and I am always looking for ways to improve!
As most of you know, I am in 2nd year med school here in Ottawa, and I get asked a lot how I work training into my busy schedule. One thing Cliff told me a couple summers ago that stuck with me is that you don’t work training around your life; you work life around your training. For me, I know because of my personality that I will get enough studying done to get by, so if I put training as my #1, I will do it and get my studying done. If training is low on my to-do list, it may never get done!
With med school, for 1st and 2nd year it’s pretty much like undergrad, with summers off but for 3rd and 4th year, its full time studies. So I decided that if I wanted to do a half ironman in the near future, this would have to be my year!
So, the plan? Train for and enter the Timberman 70.3 Aug. 23, 2009. I decided to ask the best person I know to help me accomplish my goal, and so it began that Cliff became my live-in coach. He sets up my training schedule (4 runs, 2 bikes, 3 swims, 1 gym/week) and helps me figure out what works for me and what doesn’t.
The hardest part of our ‘working’ relationship is food….anything that involves food is hard with us; grocery shopping, cooking, etc! I’m more of a ‘everything in moderation’ view, even though my moderation may have me eating 3 cookies in one sitting, and you all know his philosophy on eating! But we have compromised and now I know more of what we both need on certain training days energy-wise.
Being a very competitive person, there are times that being a significant other to a very accomplished athlete is hard…I want to be at the same level as him, whether it is on a run or swim or even spin class. So I’ve had to tone down my competitive nature (with him) and just strive to improve on my own personal times and skills….I figure, all in good time….look out Chrissie Wellington haha!
So I will be posting about my journey, as well as some other antidotal things, like recipes and such, on Livemultisport. I’m also always looking for advice from other women triathletes who have gone there/done that. Also, I’m looking into buying a Tri bike, so if anyone has any advice or knows someone with one to sell, please let me know!
Amanda
Best of luck, I haven’t raced timberman, but have been told its a great race!
*woot* Give’er Amanda! xoxo