Working Out v. Training

As I struggled to get out of bed at 5 a.m. today and suited up for spin class, I realized I was feeling a bit weary. I mean, who really wants to get clad in spandex to drive to the gym in the dark and pedal towards nothing for funsies? Plus, today is a holiday in Illinois, so there were all of four people in attendance for this morning's class.

I have a little countdown widget on my phone that tells me how many days separate me from the Racine 70.3 Ironman triathlon. I did this for my first sprint and the marathon and found it motivating/terrifying, so I'm repeating it. Sometime during my 45-minute spin class, it clicked for me: I'm not aimlessly floating through work outs. Even though I'm just working on my base building, every day brings me closer to the start line of race. To a beach packed with black neoprene, nerves and muscle. To a six-hour test of my endurance and spirit. To miles of challenges and triumphs.

I can't tell you what July 21 will hold. It could be hot. It could rain. It could be windy. I could have a blister or my goggles could leak.

What I can tell you is what I'm doing today to make that day bearable. So I pedaled my heart out and decided I'll give it my all every damn day. I have everything it will take, but it will take everything I have.

Related reading: It's not about the workouts