Day 1 - TRI'n to be a TriGator

Well, here is my first post.  After a sufficient butt-whooping on my first ride with some of the TriGators of the University of Florida, I needed (in order of importance) food, hot salty bath soak, and comfy clothes, before being able to chronicle my self-induced pain.

Let me begin again - Hi! I'm Nicole!  I am a new member of the Gainesville TriGator club and went on my first "slow" ride with a few members today.  Actually, to say that I rode with them would be a lie; I lagged behind a few cyclists, one of whom was gracious enough to stop every few miles and wait for this big, slow amazon woman who is terribly out of shape on a mountain bike that needs tuning-up.

Hold on - ice cream break . . .

Okay, I'm back.  Miss me?  (Edy's French Silk Pie ice cream, if you were wondering.) (I should get some sort of kick-back for promoting that.) Anyway, I digress . . .

Back to more important matters.  Today's ride.  And a little bit about where I'm at -

As a newbie in Gainesville (just moved from Minnesota about a month ago), I have been slowly gathering information about the area and where to walk my dog and ride my bike, etc.  Among my self-destructive thoughts and bags of chips and bowls of ice cream (eep!) I have been working on getting at least my 30 minutes of physical activity every day, in some form or another.  I even went so far as to tell a couple people that I hope to be able to participate in the Iron Girl half marathon in Clearwater, Florida, in April.  I started jogging (using the Galloway method of jog/walk intervals) and rather quickly my feet protested in the form of chronic plantar fasciitis.  More on chronic pain crap later.

In the meantime, between movies with roommates and spending a few minutes on homework (oh yeah, I moved here for graduate school - am working on my master's degree) I have been reading a book I picked up in Minnesota's WONDERFUL outdoors store, REI.  The book title: Slow, Fat Triathlete, by Jayne Williams.  I saw it on the shelf and thought I heard angels singing and Jayne seemed to literally jump off the book cover to grab my wrist and say, "Come with me!  I understand you!"

*I know I'm jumping all over the place, but please hear me out!*

William's book has been a God-send for me.  Without the witty comments and truthful and sound advice that she gives throughout, I would have probably put it down, as I have with several other "training" books.  However, Williams (can I call her Jayne?) writes so candidly about her body, her trials, her successes, and her dreams, that I have had a hard time putting it down.  What's more, she advised readers (me!) to look online for a local Triathlon Club to do some training with - enter TriGators!

More on all of these things later - on days that maybe I don't have anything interesting to say.

Jayne also mentions keeping a training log - these I have done many times and have even made many for others (as I am a certified personal trainer - yes - even we need motivation and encouragement!).  While I was riding today, I kept thinking of all these things that I wanted to write down and thought, "Why not start a blog?"  Doesn't matter if anyone reads it.  It is not only a way to keep track of my activity but is also a form of accountability!

So - here it is - my first day of "Training."  For what?  I'm not sure yet.  Maybe for the 1/2 marathon in April, if I can get my feet to cooperate by then.  Otherwise, for another Sprint Tri in the future (yes, I have actually completed 2 sprint triathlons - the wonderful Paul Bunyan Tri in Bemidji, MN!  Woot woot!)

*Note - ratings are given on a scale of 1-10, 1 being PHENOMENAL, 10 being worst EVER*

Where: from Turlington Plaza at UF to Hawthorne Trail, out and back
What: Bicyling (Gary Fisher mountain bike)
When: 1pm start, 2:45pm finish (plus the 10 min ride to and from campus to my apartment).
With: 4 other TriGators
Temp: 59 degrees, overcast, humidity ~64%, wind ~3-5mph
Sleep: 5
Body aches: 3
Feelings during ride: (actual thoughts that went through my head in approximate order) "Okay this isn't so bad." "Okay, they are cruising, I need to pick it up." "Wow - I am terribly out of shape." "Um - where did they go?" "Oh, she's a saint for stopping." "Okay, Nicole, you need to move more." "I wish that my thoughts would go directly to a blog." "She wants to go FURTHER?" "This hill will be the death of me!" "I am strong.  I am able." "Damn bike - either gears or brakes need lube.  Probably both." "I want a cheeseburger!" "WHERE DID THEY GO?!?!" "$@#*!" "Okay. Breathe.  I think that is one of them coming back this way." "Am I going to be able to get back?" "Mostly downhill now." "Um, I need to do better than 5mph - pathetic!" "What should I have for lunch?" "My legs MAY fall off." "Okay - last lil' bit - almost home."  "FOOOOOOOOOD!!!!"

Upon returning to my apt, I snarfed down some chocolate + craisins + almond slivers, cooked up some nummy whole wheat pasta + gouda + spinach, and plopped myself into a nice hot bath with muscle relaxing salts.

AHHH. Now in comfy clothes, I can start this ridiculous blogging effort.

Wait - now I'm done?  YAY!

Time to go read :)

Plans for tomorrow: Nice long walk with the dog and some yoga.  Hoping for a jog on Tuesday.