Are You Training For Something?

Before I begin my actual blog topic (see below this public service announcement), I wanted to report on my first day back lifting and my first day of "game on". I had a great workout this AM. Then I met Alex and worked with her on total body. That was good. I am so not use to helping others with weights that I hope I did ok. Alex and I ended the morning by doing an ab workout- thank you Alex for doing abs with me (I hate abs!) and for showing me the swimmers ab move. My poor abs are sore this evening. I headed back to the gym tonight for a run. I had a great run. I got in 3.1 miles. I was only going to do 2 but it felt so good, I kept going. Must be the new shoes! I made good time and dropped 1:55 minutes off my base 5K time. Whoohooo! Ok. On to the actual post:

Are You Training For Something?
Those were the words I heard from a fellow gym goer as I walked toward the locker room for my evening run. I had never really spoken to this girl besides asking if she was done with the Smith machine one morning. I had seen her around enough to nod at her as I walk by. She's of those what I call "beautiful people" who make working out look effortless and who look as good at the end of the workout as they did at the beginning and not the sweaty blob that I normally resemble. I didn't think that either me or my workouts were on her radar.

I never know how to respond to this question. I mean up until a month ago, I wasn't training for anything. I was just working out. My workouts have varied so much in the past two years. I use to be what I'll call the "recreational" gym folk who took every class I could and didn't know what half the equipment on the floor did or how to operate it. I had a trainer one day a week but other then a good workout, she didn't teach me anything. I then discovered lifting and I began to approach the gym as a "bodybuilder". Everything was about the weights. Cardio was to burn the fat to see the muscles. I reduced my classes and focused on interval training. Then I bought a bike, everything became about riding and training for long rides. I still lifted but I also focused on core work and took a lot of spin. Then in the fall, I hooked up with Alex and the pool and I expanded my horizons to include swimming and I dared to start dreaming about a triathlon.

I believe my workouts are now more rounded. I still lift weights and see the value there but I've changed up my cardio and can enjoy and benefit from all sorts of training. So when asked what I am training for, I never really know how to respond. But I did respond. I told her, "I lift because, well, I like it and everything else,(I shrug) I'm training for my first triathlon in May." She looked at me slightly perplexed and said thanks and walked away. I'm not sure if she was perplexed because I liked lifting or because I don't "look" like a triathlete.

I was somewhat excited that someone noticed my efforts at the gym. It put a spring in my step and fuel to my workout. But looking back, I wish I could have answered her in a different way. I mean sure, I am training for White Lake but really to me, it's all about the workouts. Even if there were no triathlons, I'd still be in the gym giving everything I have. You see, working out is a lifeline. A reminder that I never want to weigh over 400 pounds again and that I won't. I love moving and challenging this "new" body daily.

So perhaps, my response should have been, "I'm training for life. Because every day I have to choose not to weigh 400 pounds and that battle never ends."