Sue is a Create Fitness writer, fitness instructor, community volunteer, wife and mother of three girls. In her spare time she teaches spin and pilates classes at the YMCA and with several private clients. While no novice to exercise, completing a biathlon is a new challenge for Sue and she is excited, nervous, terrified, horrified and pleased (all at the same time) to be sharing her experience with you.

I asked Sue why a biathlon? "Well here's the deal... I've completed several marathons and I've always wanted to do a triathlon but I am a terrible swimmer. Sure if I fell out of a boat I could swim to safety but the idea of swimming for anything other than getting to a pool-side bar is definitely not my thing! But everyone (and I mean everyone) does triathlons here in Colorado. So I have definitely been giving the idea more thought lately. But I thought as a good starting point I'd do a biathlon (run/bike/run) first. See if I survive and then move on to the true triathlon".

Over the next 10 weeks Sue will be sharing her adventure from novice to biathlete (to triathlete!) ....

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Sunday July 20, 2008

Partner in Crime

Sometimes you just know it, right off the bat. Sometimes you can even hear the �click.� You know what I�m talking about: that undeniable feeling when you meet someone that, that person is going to be your friend � for a long time. Amy is one of those people.

I met Amy through another �click-at-first-meeting� friend, Shannon. Shannon had tried to get us all together for a while but as it happens with working mums, getting together with other adult women (when it doesn�t involve taking your kids to soccer practice, a piano lesson, school, club meeting, etc.) is a tricky endeavour. So many schedules, so little time. But we finally did get together and I knew immediately Amy was someone I wanted to be friends with � she�s funny, smart, a wonderful mum and so much fun to be with; I�m always happy when I see her. Plus she�s got great kids who get along with my kids and our husbands enjoy each other�s company too, we�re talking the full package.


So last night at the pool, when I off-handily mentioned that I was training for a biathlon and Amy said she wanted to do it too I had to restrain myself from giving her a huge kiss (although I�m pretty sure I hugged her). I was just so excited. Not only will I have someone to go through all this training with, which is always much more motivating than trying to slog through on your own, but it gives us a �legal� reason to get together on a regular basis. Now I can�t wait for the next long ride!

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Thursday July 17, 2008

Day 1�let the games begin

My alarm went off at 5:15am and I promptly turned it off, rolled over and went back to sleep awaking about 2 � hours later when one of my daughters climbed into bed with me. When I realised I had slept through my �Day 1 Training Schedule� I was furious with myself. I started berating myself (in my head of course, my daughter was right there, I didn�t want her to hear the language I was using). But then I realised if I was going to be successful I needed to be flexible. So what if I wasn�t going to be able to get my workouts in by 6am before the kids woke up, as long as I got them in that�s all that mattered. Right?

And workout I did. I decided to start off slow (I�m really not in the mood to deal with an injury). So I did a mini brick workout: 10 minute run/20 minute bike ride/10 minute run. It felt great! I felt really strong, like I could have kept running at the end. But, like I said, I want to make sure I stay strong and healthy so when the time was up, I stopped. I was quite sweaty and proud.

I�ve been looking online and at the bookstore for various training programs but in the end I decided to make up my own. I figure I�m not trying to break any records; I just want to complete the race and feel good afterwards. So here�s my plan:

Monday = bike

Tuesday = run (and weights and/or Pilates)

Wednesday = run/bike/run

Thursday = run or bike (and weights and/or Pilates)

Friday = run/bike/run

Saturday = rest or cross train

Sunday = long run or long bike ride

I�m actually getting really excited. One the way home from the gym I stopped by the library and picked up a copy of �Triathlete� magazine. I can�t be sure, but I could have sworn the lady behind the desk sort of smirked at me as if she wanted to ask who the magazine was for. Well, no worries, I�m sure in 10 weeks it�ll be obvious the magazine is for me!

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Wednesday July 16, 2008

Oh god, it�s out there now�I�ve said it out loud so now I have to do it: a triathlon! What was I thinking? Actually it�s all I�ve been thinking about lately. Accomplishing this feat, being classified as a �tri-athlete� is something I�ve always wanted. But now that I�ve said it out loud � and people have actually heard my statement � I have to do it. People expect it. I expect it. I want it.

Now, I�m no stranger to physical hardship. I played soccer in college and if you knew my coaches, you�d know the pain I suffered. I�ve completed several marathons. And have climbed many of the highest peaks in the U.S. Being fit and active and challenging myself is who I am, it�s what makes me happy. But, I�ve never embarked on anything as scary (to me) as a triathlon: one event right after another after another! Yikes!

The race I registered for is actually a biathlon: two disciplines, three events (5K run/12 mile bike/5K run). The reality is, I�m a terrible swimmer. And while I know I could get better if I practiced (a lot), I just don�t have the time. So for now my triathlon endeavor is sans the swim. I have ten weeks to get myself ready physically and mentally.

Ugh�next time I�m going to look around before I shoot my mouth off!