How did we get to April?

Time sure does fly. I've had good and bad weeks on the training calendar. More bad than good, but I'm recommitting to change that. This Sunday was the South Beach Triathlon and I competed in the Classic distance. I've done this race many times and enjoyed it for different reasons each time. As the first race of the season, it's a great barometer for where I am with my training. And it's always unpredictable. Swimming in the open ocean off of South Beach can be flat calm, choppy with swells, or like it was Sunday...crashing waves with a rip current! I'm not proud to admit that I walked well over half of the swim, because it was low tide, which contributed to the other problems. Walking the swim is not a good way to get a fast transition time, as I proved quite decisively. Leaving the water I was hyperventilating and it took all of the walk to my bike to get my breathing under control. Once on the bike, I was in my element. Don't get me wrong, I still despise any climb and the McArthur and Julia Tuttle Causeways have some painful bridges. But I knew I could get up and over, and I knew I could battle the wind. It may not have been pretty, but I was strong and confident. All of which came crashing down as soon as I had my running shoes on. Really, why do I have the burning and stabbing in my shins, calves and achilles every time I start out on a run? This time it was so bad that I had to walk the first 1.75 miles, and went through 2 packets of BioFreeze to try to alleviate the pain. By mile 2 I could run a little, which I did, but by the time mile 3 was over, I was already on the sand and the sand was getting softer. That 4th mile was back to more of the same pain from mile 1, but I hung in there and once we hit the turnaround, I found some harder packed sand which helped me get in some running. Overall, I was proud of my race - mostly because I did it! I haven't raced for probably close to a year so I needed the shot of confidence. And it was definitely a learning experience. (1) My swim needs work and that means, more than anything else, time in the water. (2) My bike is getting better but I need to really push myself to climb hard and long and regularly - bridge repeats, spin class, whatever - just do it. (3) I have no run. I need to find a run. So I will keep foam rolling, stretching, strengthening and I will keep going out and running. No excuses. The really rude awakening came today when I saw photos from the race. What happened to my waist? When did I become so fat? Oh yeah, over the past 4 years....eating, drinking, and using food/drink as a stress reliever, a reward, and a security blanket. Well that's got to end. I'm counting calories, and focusing on what is in the food I choose so that I make better choices. Started today, but everyone starts somewhere. We'll see where I am in 2 weeks. And I spent 1:50 on my trainer today which is just as much a mental battle as a physical one. So, another solid workout in the books. I'm off to bed.....