Becoming a Triathelete {guest post by Cecilia}

Fitness has always been a way of life until I started homeschooling my oldest. Life just got so busy, having 4 children close in age and losing 4 children is hard on one’s body, mind and soul.

There were always some new fitness fad and diet that I was following but never finish nor did it hard-core.

I felt I had come to end of my rope with my weight and lack of fitness. One day sitting with a friend at the pool, she tells me the same as I was feeling. We had enough. She told me how long ago she did a triathlon. We talked about it.

I thought I have never done one. I have done most sports you can think of but not a triathlon. I was curious.

I knew that I can swim, run and bike. (Even though I didn’t have a bike until 3 weeks ago).

How to train for it was a different thing. But I found Swim Bike Mom. She is what you called your average mom in the USA, over-worked, stressed-out and not fit at all. She also had enough. Her blog and her book is a wealth of information. (Read to end to get a chance to win her book, which is very inspiring)

When I starteded to train, my heart wasn’t really in it. But once I started to use my faith into it, I turn it into my prayers.

Swim.

God

I am blessed to live in a community where we have 4 pools and one is a lap pool. I head out there early, 7ish and most the time I am alone. It is amazing how being there, I think of God’s beauty and calmness. How He always calms the storms of life. It’s so peaceful and helps my soul be calm and give thanks. The swim part is my favorite. I swam in High School and I loved it.

One needs just a bathing suit, goggles, swim cap and of course a pool or a beach or lake. I joined a Tri boot camp for 6 weeks and 3 of those weeks we will swim in the beach. That will be interesting.

Bike

 Holy Spirit

I finally got a bike about 3 weeks ago. It has been at least 20 years since I owned a bike. That’s not right. One should have a bike and know how to ride a bike.  I would say that it is sometimes my least favorite or not.  In my community we have an up & down road. I do ride my bike early to avoid traffic. I bring myself to think of the Holy Spirit. I feel the wind as I ride and I turn it to a prayer for the Holy Spirit. To inspire me to live a holy life, to inspire me to be a good mother, wife, daughter. I pray (or beg) the Holy Spirit so that I wouldn’t fall.

One needs a bike, helmet, water bottle, and you can do without, but bike shorts are great especially for women.

Run

Christ

I might say that the run is actually my least favorite. I was a runner in middle school and high school but short distance, 400m run.  But my favorite sport is soccer and running and soccer go hand in hand but there is something different, chasing after a ball and trying to score than just to run and run.  I tend to think of Christ, though He didn’t run to Calvary, He walked with such strength since He never gave up. He kept going with the weight of the world on His shoulder. I tend to think of Christ during the painful part of the run and think if I keep going and offer it up for those who can’t run, it is worth it.

One needs running shoes and socks. I went to a store that sold running shoes and I had them fit me for the best shoe for my feet.

Some extra things that I use are: few apps: First Time Triathlon, Runtastic Road Bike , headphones and holder for the phone so I can use it while I run (never on the bike) and a tri suit I got over a swimoutlet.com .  Ok. There is nothing flattering about this on me. But its a swim suit, bike shorts and running all in one.

So far with my experiences while training,  I have come to see that I need HIM for it all.  I pick this quote as my motto from Philippians to get me through the tough parts or when I feel I want to quit. When I did a search for this quote, one comes back with I can do all things through Him. But when you go to the Catholic Bible its I can do all these things in HIM. We are untied in HIM in all things.

 So no matter what happens at the race, I will finish it . Last if need be. I will do it for Him who strengthens me in all aspects of my life.

“I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

  

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No matter what you do, you can unite it all to Christ.

With Love of Christ,

Mama Cecilia

Catholic Fit Mama for Life

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”  1 Corinthians 6:19-20