Rest has the opposite effect - who knew?

I took some well earned time off. I never stopped altogether, I still run twice a week with my friends at run club and was riding my mtn bike but doing much less than I am used to. I have rediscovered my love for wine, visiting with my friends and watching tv, there is still nothing on but I love being able to just sit on my couch it and watch it anyway. The more I rested, the worse I felt though! My back was getting sore and things just started to ache. One day I decided to go and do a little yoga (something else I use to do before my days were consumed with swimming, biking and running), and couldn't believe how much better I felt afterwards. I finally put my tri bike on the fluid trainer and rode for about 45 mins last week. And once again I felt a ton better afterwards. So, the answer is in the middle - sit on the couch and feel tired and crappy, train 6- 7 days a week and feel tired and crappy. That's good to know that the middle is my happy ground.

The last month, I've become very relaxed about my goals and activities. I actually have trouble getting motivated enough to even create a goal because my heart just isn't in it to train for anything.

I am really happy that I have fulfilled some of the promises I made to myself and my family while I was training for IM....
To go hiking and biking, which have both been fantastic! These are days you're glad to be alive...



I still haven't gone for a manicure and pedicure though - that is still on the list. A girls day out would be really fun.

Life beyond Ironman

Thank you so much for all of your responses and support!

It's been almost 2 weeks since the race, and it definitely has been a roller coaster. This time has given me a chance to look back on the experience and start to look forward.

What's next...
Definitely NOT another Ironman in 2009. I have been given the "get back on the horse" or "if at first you don't succeed analogy" over and over. I know people mean well and are supporting me but when I have to say "no, I didn't sign up for next year." I feel like a quitter. It just adds to my feeling that I don't have what it takes to be an Ironman. I am normally a pretty confident and determined person but this experience has shaken me to the core. I have talked about whether or not I set the bar too high this time, even though everyone else believes in me, I didn't believe in myself. I never wrapped my head around how I was going to cover all that distance in under 17 hours. To address this, I plan on continuing to build my base - run a marathon or two and continue to do some riding. If I ever decide to attempt an Ironman again, I would like to have completed each distance individually so I KNOW without a doubt that I can do it.

Right now my plan is to sign up for Great White North half iron and return for round 4. Training for a half iron can be done around my social and family life. I will be going in to next year looking to have fun and enjoy, not set goals and work tirelessly to achieve them. Achieving goals was amazing and gave me so much confidence but I have now seen the other side of how they can psychologically affect you when you sacrifice and don't make that goal. Which is a learning and growth experience for me. I feel I can achieve personal satisfaction by turning some of my focus to introducing people to triathlon. I am looking at designing and offering a beginner tri clinic to share what this sport has brought in to my life. Helping others achieve their goals will bring a new kind of satisfaction to my life. I would also like to combine my passion for sport with my experience in designing training and public speaking.

And one more challenge....I am still planning on taking up trail riding and possibly doing some races - maybe even an off-road triathlon next year. I love trail riding and am really looking forward to doing more of it!