I'm back...

So I'm back after a long two years of accomplishing many fun firsts:  my first 70.3 triathlon, my first marathon, then my first Ironman 140.6 triathlon.  I thought I'd have time to keep up with my blog to document my mishaps with triathlon training, but when you're running, cycling, and swimming a lot, you spend the rest of your time either working or sleeping or eating or recovering from a torn calf muscle (as I did in Month 1 thru 3 of my 6 months of Ironman training).  It's a huge time commitment but well worth the feeling you get when you cross that finish line.  And no, I don't think I'll do another one...but I reserve the right to change my mind because that's what triathletes do.  You eventually forget how painful it was (Extremely Painful!) and you only remember the accomplishments, as is true with any endeavor.

So with today being the first day of a new year, I decided to pick up this blog again, mostly for selfish reasons (sorry!):  to challenge myself to stick to my 2nd goal of 2011 which is to do Crossfit 4-5 times per week for 6 months.  And if I inspire other people like you to try Crossfit or to do your first triathlon, then it's worth the time it takes to blog.

Have you heard of Crossfit?  If you haven't, you really ought to check it out at http://www.crossfit.com/cf-info/what-crossfit.html.  The beauty of Crossfit is that you don't need to know how to do the exercises or even be able to do them because they will teach you the proper movement and how to modify the exercise so that you can work up to the full movement.

I started Crossfit in March 2010 and have lost 23 pounds (by eating healthier too!), gained muscle, and feel younger again!  It is so much fun!  Yes, I know it looks difficult, but most Crossfit gyms have a beginner course which will introduce you to the proper form of each of the exercises used in the workouts.  I feel empowered by Crossfit because it's made me a stronger person (mentally and physically) and a faster triathlete (I'm still slow in general, but now I'm a faster slow triathlete) by challenging me almost weekly to a new accomplishment. 

For example, when was the last time you've played tag or done a handstand??  I know we've all done a handstand some long time ago in our distant past as a kid, but have you done a handstand as an adult?  I'm guessing you haven't since it's not a necessary function of living as an adult.  So when I first started Crossfit, I was terrified at the thought of doing a handstand - could my arms hold my body weight up even for a second and while being upside down?  That just seemed impossible to me.  And no, I couldn't do a handstand when I started because I really COULDN'T hold my body weight up, especially upside down!  But about 3 months later and with a bit of practice, I was doing a handstand against the wall - Goal Accomplished.  My next goal is to do a free-standing handstand (not using the wall) then I'll work on doing a handstand pushup (maybe later this year!).

But unfortunately I won't be doing much of Crossfit until my sprained elbow recovers from that silly snowboarding fall (it really was silly...it was on the bunny slopes, at practically zero mph - anyone wanna buy a cool looking snowboard?), and instead I'll be focusing on some healthier eating to lose those 10 pounds I've temporarily gained from all of the holiday feasting.  It's just another goal to accomplish from which I'll gain that awesome feeling of accomplishment...Happy New Year!