Good morning!
Thank you so much for all of your amazing comments in last night’s Kicking the Coke habit!!! Eric and I read through all of them together and we were blown away by your encouragement and personal stories. I think he definitely feels like this is something he can conquer!! :) If you are looking for some encouragement to kick the soda habit or to just stick to a healthier lifestyle, I suggest reading over the comments because they are super motivating!
I purchased two huge bins of organic spinach at Costco on the weekend only to come home and realize that I already had two bags of spinach in the fridge! Opps. This week has been deemed SPINACH week in our house.
My morning consisted of a beautiful Green Monster packed with as much spinach as I could fit…
[Winter was hard on our Ikea outdoor table this winter!!! Guess we should have brought it inside…oops]
Enjoyed outside in the sun. I love Spring!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 ice cubes
- 4 cups spinach
- 1/4 cup pumpkin
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon Artisana Raw Almond Butter
- 1/2 teaspoon raw maca powder
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 scoop Amazing Grass Chocolate Meal Powder
Eric wants to tear out our rotting deck this summer and build a new one (not sure if the budget will allow for this however!). We are also talking about building a vegetable garden!
Exciting Announcement!
Yesterday Eric and I had quite the interesting discussion on our hike!
We got on the topic of fun outdoor activities that we can do this summer and Eric started talking about how he wants to get into Mountain biking. We have so many conservation parks within a few miles of us and there are so many challenging trails to tackle. He also wants to get clip-ins for his mountain bike which is something I wouldn’t mind getting myself, especially if we were going to do it on a regular basis.
THEN…we started talking about swimming in lakes. Saturday at Costco, we came across these awesome wet suits for just $33 (don’t you love Costco?). We’d love to get some to wear in the lake up at Eric’s parent’s house (the water doesn’t warm up until about July or August!).
We chatted some more and then Eric said it would be fun to train for a triathlon!!!!!
[source]
My jaw dropped. I have never heard Eric say he wanted to compete in a sport. He used to play sports in high school (football, basketball, volleyball, etc), but he was turned off by the overly competitive nature of it. He really dislikes when people take sports too seriously and he says it took the fun out of it for him.
Here’s the thing.
Eric is not a swimmer (from his lips, not mine!). He never took lessons and he considers himself a very poor swimmer. He loves swimming in lakes, but as for actually doing strokes and whatnot, he says he is horrible at it and really doubts his ability.
He also really dislikes running.
So you can see my total shock at him saying that he wanted to try a triathlon! This is bringing him WAY out of his comfort zone.
I told Eric about the Subaru Triathlon Series with TriSport Canada that is really popular in Ontario. I know about it because I was going to train for a triathlon last June (and didn’t tell you guys!!), because I chickened out and never signed up! I just couldn’t bring myself to try it. This time last year I was also scared to run in a RACE and after my first 10k race I discovered that it wasn’t scary at all!
The Subaru Triathlon Series offers an entry level race called ‘TRY A TRI’ for beginners doing their first triathlon.
We checked it out online last night and Eric told me that he wants to SIGN UP! GAH!
The great thing about this Subaru Triathlon Series is that they have several locations in Ontario and different dates to chose from. We decided on the Milton Kelso location because we will be able to do some of our training on the actual course as it isn’t too far from us!
The TRY A TRI is VERY beginner friendly and I think anyone could do it:
- Swim 375m, Bike 10km, Run 2.5km
Course Map [click to enlarge]:
Eric and I will be not only competing in our first triathlon on JUNE 6th 2010, but we will be doing it TOGETHER!
I am just so excited that he wants to do this. I would run to Yukon and back if he asked me to. I want us to support each other during our training and conquer our fear of swimming in lakes! I can’t believe we are really signed up!!
Today’s question- Do you consider yourself a good swimmer? Do you have a fear of swimming in open water like we do? Would you ever train for a triathlon or have you ever competed in one?
I consider myself an OK swimmer. When I was young I used to take swimming lessons and I swam competitively in grade 1, however I have not done any lessons in over 12 years and I feel really out of tune. I have always had a fear of swimming in lakes and not being able to see all the wonderful creatures around me…I’m hoping with some practice (and a wet suit) we will feel more comfortable.
Enjoy your day!
Wow, that is exciting news!!!!!
I was hoping to run my first 5k late May or June, but due to some shin pain I don’t think I will be ready. However, this try a tri you mention had kind of got me thinking….
I could still run a race without pushing it too hard and the swimming and biking would be great cross training to get me in better shape. I also took swimming lessons as a child, but haven’t in about 15 years or so!! The swimming would definitely be the most challenging and SCARY part, especially being in open water!!!!! Eeeeee
I’m off to go check out the Subaru site. Thanks!!!
YAYY!! We are doing the same!! We are both runners, cyclists BUT my husband was not a swimmer at all.
Well last year, he bought a swim pass and started swimming daily laps at the local pool. He had 1 swim lesson (private) where he could work the stroke..and within a few weeks he was on fire! Well, not on fire literally BUT he really picked up and was swimming lots, and enjoying..he is fast and will be doing a try a tri this summer in BC
I am great at hanging out in the lake but really struggle with the proper form of the strokes like your husband Eric was saying. I want so badly to do a tri but I am first working through my fear of running races and then working up to a baby TRI. Good Luck to you guys!! Keep me updated. I would love to hear more as it will help me keep going as I gear up for my first running race! Hopefully without ending up in the fetal position from fear ;)
ANGELA!!! So exciting for you and your hubby! Also very exciting because I am already signed up for the try-a-tri event, however I signed up for the event in Orillia, because well I’m a chicken and felt that I needed more time to train.
I consider myself a strong swimmer, in that I could swim out to help someone who needed the help. HOWEVER race wise I do not consider myself a strong technical swimmer. I have however met with a trainer once in the pool for an hour and she gave me lots of tips and advice that I am implimenting in my swims for training.
Good luck and have fun training and competing with the hubby.
When I started tri training, I wasn’t much of a swimmer. I was very comfortable in the water and enjoyed swimming, but I didn’t think I could swim “like a grown-up”. What I learned is that swimming has a very short learning curve- once you start, you will make progress very quickly.
I’ll be doing my second (and maybe 3rd, and 4th) tri’s this summer- it is addictive!!
Happy tri training!!
No, I do not consider myself a good swimmer. I can swim. But I’ve never done it athletically besides a few laps here and there.
Yes, open water sounds terrifying! I can’t be in a lake more than 5 minutes
Your post inspired me to look into tri’s in my area!!
Go Eric GO!!! How cool is he today?!?!
My fiance and I have always wanted to do a race together. He has done a 1/2 Ironman (not really my thing!) but we are going to start with a spring or maybe an olympic for the fall.
oooh I am always so excited when I hear other people deciding to enter the wonderful world of triathlons! Competing in the ‘try a tri’ events are how I got into the sport and they are so fun! The best thing about triathlon – you never get bored in training because the sessions are so varied!! Can’t wait to read about your race! Triathlon empowered me so much!
That’s a super friendly triathlon. I’ve always wanted to do one, but they all seem to extreme for me.
I LOVE spinach smoothies! I’m making one for my sick friend tomorrow :)
That is awesome and fantastic that you can do it together. It’s so soon I’m surprised, but you’ll be ready. Best of luck.
I completed an Ironman on June 24, 2007. It was one of the best experiences of my life! I’m a distance person, so I’ve never done anything shorter than an Olympic distance tri BUT my husband did one similar to the one you are training for. He, like Eric, was not a swimmer. He had never had swim lessons and could basically stay afloat in the water. Thankfully, I taught swim lessons when I was in high school in college and was able to “teach” him to swim.
I would STRONGLY encourage Eric to take some lessons. Open water swimming can be intimidating even for the most accomplished pool swimmers out there. In addition to not being able to see where you’re going, you have bodies ALL over you, basically beating you up and (it feels like) trying to drown you. Swim lessons will help with that.
Lastly, the wet suits that you saw at Costco probably aren’t legal for the competition. You can’t wear a traditional wetsuit because they are too floaty and give you an “edge”. There is a millimeter restriction but I can’t remember it off the top of my head.
Good luck!!!
Good luck to both of you! You are starting the smart way since he isn’t a swimmer. I’m an alright swimmer and 3 years ago I did my first triathlon. I started with the Olympic after being talked out of the Half Ironman. You’ll have fun as it’s more you against the course and your mind :-)
I am not a good swimmer, but I can swim enough to get by. I just don’t have a proper stroke, and I don’t like swimming with my face going in and out of the water.
My hubby is a fish though, and he competes in triathlons, etc. He is doing a half iron man in August.
Yay welcome to the tri side :) Are you guys going to get road bikes?
My husband will be competing in a triathlon this Saturday at the Gold Coast (Australia). He’s been training hardcore for (it such a crazy schedule he has). I’m really excited for him and a bit envious because I can’t swim! I’ve gone to the pool with him a few times but can only do breath stroke. He’s told me to get swimming lessons but I’m a bit embarrassed. I would cope with the swimming and biking fine but not the swimming.
Yay I’m just so excited for you and Eric. You will have a ball and get hooked!
were not getting road bikes for our first, but possibly down the road if it is something we enjoy and want to do as a hobby!
Angie
There is a TRI at Kelso.
Biking, swim, run.
Not really hard.
Might be worth looking into and it is also close to home for you.
Angie you would need straps not clips for your mountain bike, you can spran your ankle very easy with clips, you have to twist at the ankle to release.
Well if you DID run to Yukon you’d find they host some pretty challenging physical fitness events there as well! Congrats on the decision to try a tri!
Really? Destination race perhaps??
I love swimming, I got all my levels at summer camp…so I would say I’m pretty good.
I think it would be awesome to do a triathalon, but I’m not a great runner.
That is so exciting that you will embark on this together!!!
Hi Angie,
Congrats on the bars. I am going to try to pop over to the store and get a picture of them for you. Not as far for me. =) Eric doing a tri, kelso does have a tri http://www.elementracing.ca/raceinfo.php
He would be best trying the mini off road. It’s not to expensive and close to home for you.
Tell Eric to grease up his chain we will take him mountain biking. We are at Kelso or hilton falls when ever the sun is out. If he has been biking awhile he can do the harder runs with Cory and the boys. For you Angie if we are doing Kelso its best to bike but at Hilton Falls you can run and we keep meeting up or stay with you.
It would be great to have you guys come out with us. The kids would love to see you.
I will send you an email with my phone number.
Take care Congrats again.
Auntie Sherry
Xo
Sounds like a plan..can’t wait!
lol– I totally thought you were going to say that you were pregnant!! :-)
But this is very exciting too!!! I’m so excited to read about your training, etc. !
I had a feeling ;)
I am so excited for you guys to be doing this together! Will you be posting about Eric’s training as well?
I don’t know if I swim correctly but I swim mostly with my legs which are really strong. Once when I was swimming in Mexico and my now ex bf was sitting in a boat with some other guy. The other guy said, “Who is that girl swimming at ramming speed?” I have always been proud of that!
Yes I will be posting about both of our training as when he trains I will likely be right beside him doing it too!