i knew that i was going to experience many changes during my training. was told this by many people who have done it before. they left out a few things though. so here we go...
general appearance
16 weeks ago, i was tipping the scales at 168. i had been losing weight with the marathon training before, but still had my 'guns' (just kidding), but i had some muscle mass. today, i weight 169, and look so much different. most people tell me that i look skinny, some say too skinny, some think i might be sick. i have lost a lot of muscle mass in my upper body, since i'm not able to lift weights as much as i was. my training requires proper rest on certain days, so weight training has been put on hold. my fat butt has become less 'squishier', but, nevertheless, its still fantastic. i understood that i would look different. the other triathletes that i have met look this way, so i figured i would have to join the crowd.
i have had to buy new clothes, since the fatter johnny last purchased clothes. i don't feel weaker, but i can see that i am thinner. plus, you have to eat healthier to keep up with the training. no mcdoubles for this kid...
calorie intake
since i got myself hungry thinking about mcdoubles, i will say that i have greatly enjoyed the nutrition end of ironman training. pretty sure that the average person should consume 2000-2500 calories per day. i was probably always above that, but now, i take in 3500-4000 calories a day. that may seem like a lot, but its necessary. i can tell on hard training days if i didn't eat enough. its fun ordering the left side of the menu.
now i have changed my diet quite a bit. i love candy and sweets and mcdoubles. i haven't eaten any mcdoubles, and i have reduced the candy consumption. i eat much more healthy. more vegetables and fruits. i realized this changed when i was grocery shopping and as i pulled everything out of the cart i remembered that maybe a year or so ago i was in the same store, doing the same thing and an older woman asked me how many kids i had. i was shocked. i don't even feel old enough to have a child. but as she looked in my cart, i understood why she said that. fruit roll ups, snack packs, gushers, fruity pebbles, chocolate syrup, etc. was a little embarrassed, but i love snack packs! those were my staples. guess i grew up some...
checkbook balance
becoming a triathlete is expensive. it's not for the weak of checkbook. with running, you have sneakers, maybe an iPod and that's it. for triathlons, you have a bike, bike shoes, helmet, clips, running sneakers, triathlon tops and bottoms, wetsuit, goggles, pool membership, shakes, powders, energy bars and supplements, entry fees... the list can go on and on. it adds up and adds up quickly. have a good job. whatever you think you might spend, double it! i was broke before, now i am broker.
time management and work
for half ironman training, i train roughly 3 hours a day. thank goodness i don't have a real job! i'm self-employed, and yes, i do work hard for those who know me well and think that all i do is nap and snack. but you have to devote so much time to the training. i am up at 4-5am daily working out. you have to use the time you have so diligently. and it's super hard. life happens and you have to pick and choose what you can do or attend. i don't know how people with real jobs do it. or even if you have a family and kids, i commend you for it.
make sure you tell your work what you are training for. maybe they will give you a little leeway when you are falling asleep at a meeting or walking like you just got done riding a horse. all of my customers know what i am training for and fully support me.
before you know it, race day will be here. use the time you have wisely.
personal life
for me, everything in my personal life changed. now, i have one, haha. a later blog will discuss this further, but i wanted to let you know how much your relationships will change.
because you will be training so much, the loved ones in your life, will be seeing you less. it becomes difficult to preform all of the obligations you had before and the people closest to you will be picking up the slack. make sure you let them know how important and integral they are. make the most of the time you will have with your loved ones.
also, remember that unless your spouse, significant other, or best friend is training with you, talk about something else to those who aren't. thankfully, my brother is training for the same thing, but everyone else in my life is tired of hearing me talk about it. it will engulf you. you wake up thinking about it. you spend countless hours online trying to learn new things. your family and friends just want you. show them some love and talk about the weather, haha.
- i am happy for these changes, well expect for the lighter wallet. becoming a triathlete changes and challenges your life. i needed it.
j
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