For the last month or two I have been mulling over learning new skills and re-motivating myself to keep going. The idea of a GoPro to film my walks was my first thought. I sincerely doubt anyone will want to watch them, but it will be fun to look back on the scenery and the seasons. So today after looking at all the options and prices, I am jumping in and buying a new toy.
Options
Hero7
Hero8
Hero Max
Accessories
This is what I decided on
And if you should chose to buy something similar, please use this link I might get a small return from Amazon. Thanks for looking!
Coming soon…
Links to my walks! Perfect for days you are indoors on the treadmill, or even riding your bike)
About a year and a half ago (late May 2018) I heard about a mini (and I mean mini) triathlon for beginners. I almost signed up. It was about 3 weeks to the race, and I was fat and unfit. I bought a bicycle and rode for the first time in 20+ years. I had been walking, but no way on earth I could run. I occasionally went to the pool but being that it was the beginning of summer I was out of practice and besides, I can only swim breast stroke.
Regrets
I went to the pre-race meeting the day before the race and had about 2 hours to decide if I wanted to try. I chickened out. Not because I minded coming last, that would obviously happen, but because I was scared. I couldn’t run and I was a slow swimmer and cyclist. I think my fear was that I wouldn’t finish or that I would come so far last that everyone would be standing waiting for me after the race was done. I regret that I didn’t try.
Fast forward to April 2019. I had been active, walking every day, and swimming once every week or two at the gym. I was still fat and mostly unfit, and still intending to come last. Then life happened, our dog got really sick and as he went downhill so did my mom who lives with us. I lost my motivation and, my get up and go. When my dog died, it took me a while to get back on my feet, and competing and having fun were the last things on my mind.
It’s now almost the end of December, and I see that the early bird pricing for April and June 2020 races expires on December 31st.
Should I or Shouldn’t I?
On one hand, I definitely seem to work to a goal better than just going along day by day. That’s the same reason I sign up for virtual run/walks and MapMyWalk challenges and Fitbit challenges. It gives me a target and usually when I am behind, I do what I need to, even at the last moment to make the goal line!
And I really don’t mind coming last… but, am I wasting my money, will I look stupid, can I get up early enough to get there, what about my mom, what if someone else is sick, what if I can’t finish.
12/31/2019
It’s the last minute again. Here I am at 3 pm walking 4.5 km (almost 3 miles) just to finish the MapMyWalk 1019 km (637 miles) of planned walks in a year challenge, but I did it! I have signed up for MapMyWalk 1020 km of planned walking and a virtual race of 2020 miles of general daily steps. I managed only 1,400 miles this year and 1,300 the year before so that’s quite bit of extra I need to do…
On the strength of that, knowing I can do it if I make myself, I have decided to sign up for that mini, mini triathlon in April. I thought that aquabike (swim and bike) might be more sensible, but well…, I noticed that all who participate in the triathlon (swim, bike and run) series get points and if you do 4 races, your points accrue. And there is a winner in each age group. I also noticed that very few people do 4 races a year so coming last in each race would give almost enough points to appear in the standings for my age group.
Ok, yes, I know what you are thinking… Considering I haven’t done and finished one race it’s kind of funny to I think I might do 4. But… set a goal and see what happens!
I have only entered one race. If I finish and I enjoy the experience, I will do another in June. In theory that will be easier to finish because I will have April and May of warmer weather to get outdoors! The main thing is to use this to motivate me to exercise more, to lose weight and to hopefully at least finish.
And maybe, just maybe, I will come second last… Time will tell…
January 2020
The first 2 weeks I just kept telling myself “Keep something in the tank for the swim. Don’t exhaust yourself too early. Pace yourself.” But, by week 4 I was really pushing myself and I didn’t know if I could do more in Week 5.
* means just swimming laps, not snake swim laps. Snake swim is required in the race. Moving up the pool in lanes snaking up the the pool and down the pool. Takes practice to get used to going under the lane line and setting off.
Gym Times
Bike 4mi
Walk 1.5mi
Swim 250m
1/3
18:51
30:52
11.09
1/10
18:28
28:40
8:58*
1/17
17:15
28:11
9:16* / 10:22
1/24
14:58
27:46
8:54*
1/31
16:02 (+mi hill)
27:59
8.47* / 10.45
February 2020
I have been struggling to get away from work early enough on a Friday to go to the gym before the crowds or if home, to get away later in the evening. For February, I am going to try Saturday evening. Its going to be hard to get out and get going. In March, I’ll try Saturday mornings to get into the morning routine and figure out what morning snack gives me the biggest boost.
Also, the race is going to start with the walk/run, followed by cycling and swimming, so I figure I should probably practice that! This first Saturday evening in February I seemed to have a lot of energy and beat my previous times. Maybe I am getting fitter?
Gym Times
Walk 1.5mi
Bike 4mi
Swim 250m
2/8
26.3
14.31
9.08*
2/15
25.19
14.06
9.44
2/22
25.24
14.4
8.38
March 2020
A month to go. Minor panic is setting in… I’m not going to be good enough. Ok, deep breath… It’s ok to come last. And maybe I won’t. The main thing is seeing how far I have come in 2 months. Look back and be proud of what you have done (10 minutes faster!). I am.
