As a working mom of two pretty active girls, the notion of finding “spare” time to do anything is a myth. If my paying job doesn’t fill my time, one of my many non-paying “jobs” will (i.e. chef, chauffeur, nurse, laundermat, maid, homework checker, and as all mom’s know the list goes on). If we do not make the time to do something, it probably doesn’t get done in the craziness than is our life when you are a working mom.
I believe knowing how I got to where I am now is helpful context for the start of this blog. I was pretty active before I had my first daughter. Severe morning sickness during my entire pregnancy (as well as grad school) kept me from staying active. After she was born, I assumed (wrongly) that like many others I had read about, the extra weight would eventually disappear. It didn’t and after several starts and subsequent failures to get back into an exercise routine, I felt stuck. A few years later, my second daughter came along (as well as another 9 months of severe morning sickness). Running around after two little ones after work coupled with trying to keep a clean house, I told myself it was okay to do nothing else because I didn’t have time and my family came first.
After getting a new job, the excuses for me to not really take time for myself continued until last year. My husband decided he wanted to race in triathlons. I was intrigued, but left the training and racing to him as I thought I didn’t have the time (or energy) to train for one sport, little alone three. But after watching him compete in our home town’s annual race, that thought of “I can do this” crept into my head.
As a kid, I spent my summers on the local swim team and the rest of the year playing soccer (ie lots of running). So I was fairly familiar with two of the three sports. I just had to reacquaint myself with my bike, and I thought I would be set. For various reasons, my first triathlon was both a success and a failure. I had not trained nearly enough - I swam back stroke for most of the swim, had trouble going up hills on my bike and walked most of the run. But I finished! After that I was hooked, as I knew I could have done better.
This blog is to chronicle my journey through triathlon racing, including my girls (who have started to join in on the fun). I will talk about how I have finally found the time to do something for me, mistakes and progress I make along the way and everything else along the way.
Welcome to my journey!
- Working Mom Triathlete
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