My Plan, It May Be Quite Simple But Now That It's Done

I just won an entry to TriRock San Diego. Which is a highly overpriced [sprint] triathlon that I never would have registered for using my own moolah. My dilemma is that I am back at square 1, no, not even 1, try 0, when it comes to my fitness. I have until Sept. 11 to regain some form of endurance to make it through the Sprint. If I could see the course elevation and knew that the bike was flat, I might even venture to challenge myself to the Oly. Since I've been volunteering for KOZ, I could race Solana Beach and Surf Town Tri before then. I have to be honest though, I think for my first foray back into triathlon, I want a bay start versus a surf start. I don't want to worry about that for now.

I've already spoken to a friend about this plan. So it's out there in the Universe, so it has to come to fruition, right?! [See previous blog]


1. Ride the trainer to get my cycling legs back. I could say that I would go to spin class, but I know that would be a lie. I really hate having to get there an hour early to get a spot and I'm such an uncoordinated weakling that I look ridiculous trying to move the stationary out onto the floor and then back against the wall after class. It really sucks that they have that stupid lip you have to get it over. Yes, I could go to Tomas' awesome spin class at HiTech Bikes, but I really don't have a way to get my bike and trainer there. The cheap bike rack I "borrowed" from Jen is not very secure and I haven't resigned myself to shell out the bucks for a good bike rack for the Miata.

2. Go backwards and remove the clipless pedals and use the cages until I actually have some handling skills. If I didn't have to ride in traffic or start or stop or make sharp turns, I would love riding with clipless pedals. I still fall with the cages and I've fallen bad enough in them to go to Urgent Care, but I have the teeniest bit more confidence with cages over the clipless pedals. Either way, right now my anxiety is so high that even when I just think about riding on the street, my heart starts racing. So have fun passing me on Fiesta Island.

3. Get back in the water despite the fact that I might be mistaken for a manatee, living so close to Sea World. It will probably be the pool for a while until the ocean is warm enough to swim on the skins team since I can't fit in the wetsuit uniform. There are these two guys who swim in my apt pool who train for Ironman. I think they feel sorry for me, because they usually get out of the pool when I get in. It's pretty pathetic.

4. No brainer, run. Maybe I'll try to get my runs in at lunch or even before work. When I lived alone, I was able to get up and run in the dark of the morning. It's harder when you have two snugglers in bed with you. Lunch is probably more likely. I feel my knitting mania fading again. Honk if you see me "running" up Montezuma. :D  But never honk if you see me on a bike, danger danger! : /

So my plan is very simple; no charts or algorithms, no unrealistic schedule, no mileage or hourly requirements, no fancy gear, no compensating for reoccurring injuries, and no depending on peer pressure. Just a girl, her bike, her dinky pool, and her black toed feet. For now...

The Future's So Bright

I love to plan things. I love the anticipation of the next event. I'm always in this state of expectation. It almost feels like the high you get from meeting a new guy and planning the first date. There are so many details to fixate on until the date.

I always think my plans are a good idea. I get really excited and I start pulling others into my grand schemes. Ahi calls me his little social director. But in reality, most of the time when the day and time arrives, I just don't feel like doing anything. It's like I used up all my energy planning well in advance and then it's like I've already virtually experienced it and the reality no longer holds any appeal.

I love to make lists. So I will create all these lists: scratch paper, journals, refrigerator note pads, white boards, gmail tasks, notes and stickies on my iphone/ipad, e-mail, etc. Yes there is an etc. to my list making!  I would say that 90% of the time I only complete 1 line item from any list. As long as Michael's keeps printing cute cheap refrigerator note pads, I'll keep writing meaningless and fruitless lists.

I used to have this philosophy that if I wrote my plans down or even told others about them, that they were out there in the universe and they were bound to come true. Unfortunately the universe does allow take backs.

I was trying to counsel someone else about their negativity and how it has stood in their way professionally. Suggesting that perhaps there is a way that they could reword their ideas in a more positive manner without losing their integrity. His response was that it was just who he was and he was aware, but probably wouldn't change. It reminded me how I am often extremely self aware of my faults or short comings, but self awareness is not a cure.

I don't think that I will ever stop planning. I actually think that my overplanning is a symptom of my procrastination affliction. Living in the future not in the now. But that's a whole nother blog, which I will write...someday. ["Someday is not a day of the week." -unknown]