Three Things Thursday ...

Accountability - I mentioned on Monday that I had been lacking some accountability in my training. And although I have done my best to ignore the "I will do it later" thoughts, I still can't force myself out of bed at 4:30 a.m. to get my sweat on. My bed is just too cozy and two more hours of sleep sounds pretty much like heaven.

With that said, I have been getting my workouts done. And yesterday's swim served as the perfect example how I work harder when I step out of my solo training ways. You see, when I got to the pool yesterday, my friend (and future IM training partner) Sally, was already swimming. I jumped in the lane beside her and just tried to keep up. (Note: I couldn't keep up with propellers) I swam hard, but comfortable. And somehow, I finished the 3000m workout in 58 minutes. I looked back and the fastest I have ever swam that distance before was 1:03. So basically, I am awesomesauce. And all it took was a little peer pressure.

Crossfit - On Saturday morning, I am running 8 miles. Four hours later, I am taking my first Crossfit class. I'm thinking this may be a recipe for disaster.

I know that I have endurance and I know that I am strong, but I am not confident that either of those things are going to fully prepare me for the hurt-fest that awaits me. Plus, I have a severe lack of coordination and box jumps scare me. If it wasn't for my undying need to impress people, I'm not sure I would make it through alive.

Thank God Sunday is a rest day ...

Costumes - For some reason, we have about 20 Halloween costumes of various sizes and themes in our home. On Monday, I laid them out for the girls and let them choose one. I had plans in my head of how we could all coordinate costumes if I could just "steer" the girls in the right direction. But, no such luck.

Dizzle decided to take parts of two costumes and create a fairy costume (Note: There were perfectly good, pre-assembled fairy costumes to choose from). Doodle went with a witch costume that she wore two years ago. And while the costume still fits (with leggings added), the hat is crazy small on her head. So small that it's never going to stay on. I'm thinking I will hide the hat and give her wings and she can be a sorcerer fairy. And Dilly chose to be a spider, also her costume from two years ago. It has gone from being dress length to shirt length and the hat doesn't snap around her noggin. But, she's too freaking cute to say no to.

accountability ...

I've never been one to need a push to get things done. If there is a deadline, I am going to make it. If there is a goal, I am going to reach it.

I've also never been one to ask for help. I believe that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. In fact, if I ask for help and the results don't come quick enough, I've been known to step in and pick up the slack. Did I mention I am impatient? (Note to J: I am NEVER going to step in and clean the office. That shit is yours to deal with. Might as well get on it now ...)

Despite theses two traits, I am finding that recently I am struggling with getting my workouts done. I'm not burned out. I'm not unmotivated. I just keep pushing them to the back burner, telling myself that I will get to it later. But, later never comes.

Last week, I took five rest days. Four of them in a row. I only took five rest days all of last month. There is some sort of insanity going on around here. And I know exactly what it is ...

I have zero accountability.

No races scheduled for six months = No training plan

Training 99.9% solo = No one to get your sorry tail moving

Talk about setting up yourself to fail. Honestly, I never considered how much I was relying on external cues to keep myself accountable. I (pompously) assumed that I was just so on top of my game that I didn't need anyone or anything else to keep me moving.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Endurance training is not a solo venture.

Unless you want to fail. And last time I checked, failure is not an option.