Migraines Suck!

Well, this morning I woke up with one nasty migraine. The left side of my head was pulsing with pain and any sound/light/smell made me queasy. I have been having migraines for a couple of years now. I used to have them once a month. After I made some changes in my life the migraines stopped showing up. I thought I had gotten over them, but I guess the little suckers stayed put, just waiting for the best time to strike. 

We had a tough night last night with Megan (our daughter). She is at that age (3 1/2) where she keeps testing limits, and last night dinner was the fight of choice. After proclaiming for a good 10 minutes that she was hungry for dinner, we proceeded to heat up some corn casserole that she had eaten/loved before. I thought to myself: "We can actually have her eat the same stuff we are eating". I was WRONG. What unfolded after that was a battle of wills. To make a long story short, she was sent to bed almost an hour earlier than usual after being warned numerous times about the consequences of her actions.  

I had already had a LONG day at work and went to bed quite angry. Well, I guess all the tension built up and lead to this morning's visitor... the migraine. After trying to deal with it on my own (I am not one that will take medications at the first sign of ailment) for almost 2 hours, finally on my way to work I popped my prescribed migraine medicine while in the car. I seemed to remember from my last migraine (almost 3 months ago) this medicine would just take care of my unwanted visitor in a matter of minutes without any other major consequences. I was wrong again. After 20 minutes had elapsed, my migraine was still there (fading but still present) and my body felt as if I had just been ran over by a truck. I was glad I had reached the parking garage at work and wasn't driving anymore. My energy was gone. After doing some research online I found out that fatigue is one of the "rare" side effects of the prescribed medicine. Guess what I won't be taking again?

I had planned a swim during lunch (trying to get "some" of my pool endurance before starting my work with Coach) and a run after work. It was a beautiful day here in NC today, so I was going to run outside in my favorite shorts and shirt. None of it happened. I survived through my workday, and actually felt pretty good about getting as many things accomplished as I did given the circumstances. But by the time 5 pm came about I was ready to go home and crash. So I did.

I really do not like when stuff like this, that is completely out of my control, affects an otherwise perfect day for training. But, if you look on the bright side, one migraine every three months is better than once a month. And I should be able to handle that, right?

The season re-worked

I am very seriously looking into training with a coach. Yes, a triathlon coach. After 2 years of doing the TRYMCA program (which I think is AWESOME for beginners) I am ready to take the next step into this sport. 

For the past 2 seasons/years. I have really trained during the "peak" season but have not done much to improve my fitness level during the winter months. I am finally ready to take the plunge. 

After watching many youtube videos about people doing IM's and watching with my own eyes how people from all walks of life are able to compete in these races and complete them. I think I am starting to wonder if this is something that I should aspire to in my future.... let's be honest and say that not in the NEAR future... For goodness sake, i have only done 3 tri's and the longest I have gone is olympic distance, so I think it is safe to say that I am not mentally ready for one of those YET... who knows maybe in a year or two I will be. I am seriously considering it though.

So that's when I decided I needed a coach. If I am even remotely considering doing an IM I will need some guidance.  The one coach I am looking into is one tough cookie! I will let you know more about her after we have everything finalized.  I am in the process of checking with some of her athletes, to see if her coaching style would match my personality and my hectic schedule.  I am hopeful. 

So I think that after all this season could see me racing a couple of races, not sure how many or how long. I want to be the best triathlete I can be. It will be hard work, it will hurt and I will have to push past  many mental barriers I have set  on myself. I am ready to get back in the pool and be a better swimmer (and maybe I will even start to like swimming), I am ready to make my legs stronger (even thought they won't get smaller, at least they will be tougher). I am ready to get really serious about this sport. 

The countdown to a better me has started... Bring it on!

My first blog!!!!

This is my first blog post ever. After reading many triathlon blogs I decided to start my own. I am not training for anything in particular this season. Can't decide on what to focus.

I have not done a lot of triathlons, just 3 of them in 2 years. I started with a sprint distance on my first year, that I repeated on my second season, followed by an olympic distance race. 

Three years ago, I would have laughed in your face if you told me you were training for a marathon. I actually remember going past a "Run for your life" store here in North Carolina, and I remember turning to my husband and saying... "Yeah.. right"... Well, fast forward 6 months and there I was participating in my first 1/2 marathon. 

It all started as a dare to myself, kind of, "lets see if I can do this thing". I was also new to this town and the idea of a running group where I could make friends sounded great... Not only I would get fit, but I would also exercise my social "muscle"... 

Well, I got fit alright.. and then I became addicted. I kept running. And then signed up for a triathlon training program at the local YMCA. For someone like me (not very active at the time) it seemed like a long shot. But with the proper support from the coaches and fellow athletes, the journey was wonderful and the end result was empowering. When I finished that race I was busting with pride. I had proved to myself that if I set my mind to something, I can accomplish it. 

Goals for this season? I have not set any yet. I am trying to keep fit, so when I finally decide what races to sign up for, focusing on those won't be as hard on the body...

Life is a big balancing act for me (well, I guess it is for anybody). I am a wife, a mother and also hold a full time job as an accountant. 

I have come a long way since I moved to the US almost 6 years ago and I still have a LONG way to go.

This is my journey, you can come along for the ride if you want....