training buddies and weekends

Hannah resting after our run through Warner Park this AM... we ran some of my favorite hills hitting the hill by the golf course and 9 mile hill before heading back to the Steeplechase. It has been beautiful here all weekend..why can't weekends be longer and the work week shorter??

According to my calculations I need to start Augusta training in earnest in late May.. right now I am swimming, biking and running but have no really demanding workouts on my weekly training schedule. This is OK, right? I am running the Girls on the Run 5K on May 1 at Shelby Park. I hope to break 25 minutes which will not be a PR but will be my fastest 5K time in a while. The last couple of years I have run the longer distances and I am enjoying 5k 's right now... I am trying to work on speed and mental toughness. My MO during races has been that I am afraid to push myself because I'm afraid I will crash and not be able to finish. I also don't like pain.....I think both of these conditions can be addressed through physical training and mental conditioning. I had an epiphany last season when I realized I was not going to die during hard efforts... that may sound stupid but sometimes in the middle of things:

(1.) it really hurts

(2.) I really think I can't make it

(3.) I begin to think signing up for whatever race I find myself in was a mistake.

It was a comfort to realize I was not going to die from doing a marathon or triathlon!! I read something earlier this week (wish I could remember where) that suggested that when we are pushing a new limit and want to quit we might actually be ready to breakthrough to a new level... a new level of fitness and endurance. That thought has rolled around inside my head this week....

I don't know if all runners and triathletes (or alcoholics) do this, I just know I do. It is April 18, 2010, and race season has barely started, and here I am thinking about 2011!! This is classic Stephanie... 100% addict (just in case there was any doubt). I have voices in my head that are talking about Ironman Florida (gasp)... they have been talking off and on all week... I will wait and see if it passes. I would also love to do this next year if possible!!!

Time for bed... a new week and early swim await!