Tired...tired..tired!

So, it has been over a week since I blogged my progress and it's only because I am tired!  Last week Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I think I was asleep by 9pm.  My husband is one lucky man!  He asked me if I was going to blog and I kept saying Ill do it tomorrow night and then the next night came and I was sleeping.  Last week's workouts were hard but doable!  As the week progressed they kept getting harder.  Friday and Sunday were both doubles and my muscles were tired.  I didn't have one day off last week and still haven't had one. On Sunday(Easter) I rode my bike from Naperville to Elk Grove.  It was a great ride.  I picked up the Dupage River Trail in Naperville, then was able to pick up the Prairie Path in Wheaton and I finished my trip with the Salt Creek Trail.  I loved the ride but I did have one accident.  I stopped for a car and forgot my foot was still clipped in and of course I just fell right over!  A couple runners and a mini van stopped to see if I was okay.  I just scraped up my arm and it was more of my pride that was hurt. 

Last week I returned the new running shoes I bought and bought a totally different pair.  I have only worn my new Brooks running shoes twice and they have felt okay, not great, but okay!  I am so weird when it comes to running shoes.  I seem to think the pair I find will make me faster and take the knee pain away, but that has not happened yet...and I highly doubt I will find a pair that can do any of that.  Coach Chris gives me my weekly schedule every Sunday and for the last two weeks in the notes section of my run days he says NO vanilla runs.  I am trying, but I feel like I am a vanilla runner.  I have such a hard time picking up the pace outside.  I was talking to my friend Kelly the other day and she said she could get out on a basketball court and sprint up and down the court a million times at a fast speed, but to run long distance she is extremely slow.  I feel the same way about myself.  There was ONE day I felt like I was getting faster, but as the days go by I feel like I am slower.  I know if I lost a few pounds I may be a bit faster, but honestly my speed has never been great!  Running is probably my biggest frustration right now.  I don't want to disappoint my coach with my vanilla runs, but right now I don't know how to become faster.  I feel like my legs won't let me and my mind won't let me either.  It's such a mental game with me.  Right now I just feel like getting through the run days are accomplishments in itself!  

Like I said earlier the swim workouts are hard and I am trying to improve my form.  I am a self taught swimmer(swim lessons when I was young).  I have a couple people from work(old swimmers) giving me some tips and it has really helped.  I also am a peeper at the pool.  When I see a good swimmer at the pool I secretly watch them under water.  I probably look like a big goof but I don't care.  Yesterday when I got to the pool I was exhausted and didn't think I was going to make it through the swim workout, there were a couple of times I thought to myself just stop and go get in the shower, but my mental mind kicked in and I stuck it out until the end.    I know I would not have felt good about myself if I didn't finish the workout.  When coach says swim 2700 meters than I need to swim 2700 meters.  There are so many times that I lose count, so I probably end up swimming more just to make sure I do 2700.

Lately I have heard a bunch of concerns about the race from my parents.  My mom and dad are worried about me doing the race.  I keep trying to tell my father he needs to remember he raised a very goal oriented person especially when it comes to athletics.  I know they worry but they both need to realize I need to do this race.  I NEED to cross that finish line.  It becomes exhausting reassuring them that I am fine and will be fine.  I told them the other day they just need to think positively and make sure they are being positive with me.  The last thing I need right now are the people closest to me questioning if I should be doing the race. I only need full support.

The other thing I am working on this week is my food. So last week and the week prior I had cut out a shit load of carbs, but have realized that my energy level for workouts last week was very low.  Now I have increased my carbs and it seems my energy level is back up, but I feel better when I limit my carb intake(lighter and leaner) it's a catch 22.  I know Coach Chris thinks I need to cut out DIET PEPSI....I can't...............I really can't.  I love it....I only drink one or two a day but those one or two pops just taste so good.  I know Diet pop is bad for me, but I don't care!ha!  Coach and I are meeting this weekend to talk about my diet and I am sure the pop issue will be brought up. Yippee..can't wait!!!!! NOT! Lol.  I have always been a person who does not eat before a workout and I am truly trying to change that.  Eating before, during and after is essential for me.  I just need to figure out what foods to be eating.

I think that's it for now...I know, I know, a ton of rambling, but right now my mind is completely focused on going to sleep and how much it sucks I have to get up very early to run an hour and a half...but I have to do it!