Feeling of Control

This week has challenged my training plan.  After only 2 days of sticking to the plan, I began to make substitutions and alterations.  Sunday began trip leader training for our freshman orientation trip leaders so I headed into the field for an overnight kayaking trip to Wye Island on the Eastern Shore.  While I was hoping to get an early morning run in before heading into the backcountry, I instead spent the early morning doing some work in the office.  As a result, Sunday became my "rest day."  When I returned to College Park sunburned and tired, I found the motivation for a 50 minute run and 30 minute swim.  So Sunday and Monday swapped training plans. On Tuesday, we headed back into the field for an overnight backpacking training on the Appalachian Trail.  I got up bright and early with the hopes of getting in a swim and spinning class but again found myself sitting at my desk sorting through a budget.  No training happened the two days of our backpack.  However, I'm hoping an 11 mile backpack can be substituted for 70 minutes of biking and that our 6.5 mile backpack on Wednesday can be substituted for a 40 minute run and 45 minute swim.  I'm not sure if those really add up but after returning to a wealth of e-mails and phone messages that needed attention, there was no time or energy for training on Wednesday.

Today the stress of hosting a national conference combined with regular job duties was exhausting.  There's never enough time, there are pieces to the puzzle beyond my control and sometimes it all makes me feel like I'm not doing enough. When I left the office today I headed back to Dixon Observation Park for a 31 mile bike ride.  Even though it was a long day, it felt so good to be on my bike.  The weather was perfect this evening and the wind blowing through my helmet was refreshing.  I cranked hard on my bike tonight and for the first time today I felt in control.  When I'm on my bike, it's up to me to determine how fast I want to go and how hard I want to push.  Some people think I'm crazy for training for a half Ironman while preparing to host a national conference.  The feeling of cranking on my bike at 20 mph reassured me that training while preparing to host a conference is not crazy, in fact its a good thing.  For the two hours I was riding my bike today, worries washed away and I felt in control.  I felt that I was enough.  What better outlet for stress than through biking, running, and swimming?