Excuses, excuses

In the last 5 years of doing tris, I've always found a good excuse to avoid a swim, a run, or turn a brick into a solid bike ride (and ditch the run). I swore that with IM Moo looming in the distance (albeit far distance), my goal was to stick to the plan. To assist these efforts, I even started paying someone to reinforce the Catholic guilt that I have for missing a workout (thanks Coach K).

I was actually doing pretty well for a few months. November & December brought about the most consistent training that I've ever had. Yes, this includes swimming. (No, the snowstorm-induced pool closure doesn't count as skipping). Jan was a bit tougher due to a hip injury, but I was hanging in there and damn proud of it.

Then I discovered the best excuse ever for just...stopping altogether. This excuse came in the form of orders to Iraq. I can see myself running in 120 degrees and sandstorms. I may even be able to go to a spinning class once or twice a week. But swimming is out of the question. And I don't get back till after Moo.

Boo.

I'm sad that I won't get to share the training trials & tribulations of my good tri club friends, and even more upset about not sharing that amazing day on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 with them. I was looking forward to doing one of the toughest things I could imagine to remember that day; but maybe I will be, just not as initially imagined.

Well, after several weeks "off," several lbs on, the excuses are over. Started today with a wake-up call of a tough hike up the Manitou Springs Incline and remembered why I love working out to begin with. No more excuses. For now, anyway.