I sometimes wonder how I survived three seasons of spring triathlon training.
I am finding it so hard to motivate nowadays to do much of anything, let alone workout in the cold. I know there are some other factors in the question this time affecting my mood, motivation, etc. but seriously...it is tough! Gone are the days where I went to 5am swim practice and then hopped my bike on the trainer or ventured out for a run on my own after work.

Usually a race on the calendar is enough to at least get me out for a portion of the workouts. The Shamrock 1/2 is just four weeks from Sunday and I am seriously behind in my preparedness for it. I haven't run since last Sunday's short three miles at home (although I did go to yoga on Tuesday night with EE). I need more! Officially signing up for Chicago is definitely something. Although the race is months away it is always looming in my mind. I think about it often and even question my sanity daily. Can I really run 26.2 miles? Can I stay relatively injury-free and find the time to block off runs? Have I totally lost my mind? Hopefully the answer to all of those questions will be YES! (Well, maybe not that last one).

I am slowly moving out of workout hibernation mode. Last week I even got back in the pool and am planning another swim for this Sunday. I am also going to squeeze in a run while in DC this weekend. I'll probably even register for another race or two and sign up for a yoga class sometime next week. Baby steps all the way.

I'm also looking at other sources of motivation.

1. IPod and Nike +
I have gotten out of the habit of running with music because music players are totally illegal during triathlons, and for good reason. Riding a bike on open roads is dangerous enough! you don't need to add any more distractions. Still, I have come to appreciate the benefit of music on one's mood and psyche. Just today on my commute I read about a study that found the following:

"Listening to music boosts endurance. When subjects listened to upbeat music, they exercised 15 per cent longer than when they sweated in silence. Synchronizing with tunes may stimulate euphoria-inducing endorphins and interfere with body signals that communicate fatigue and discomfort to the brain, says investigator Costas Karageorghis, Ph.D., of Brunel University."

I definitely believe it. Walking into my office building today I was in a great mood (despite an early morning dentist appointment) as one of my favorite songs played through my headphones. This might be something worth looking into! Making the investment in a Nike + system for my iPod should help with running motivation. By securing the transmitter to my shoe not only will I get real-time updates on distance and speed. I'll get the added benefit of an extra push. The "power song" feature is a good one, as is the idea of downloading fitness podcasts and exercise mixes from a variety of sources. Now I just need to decide on what my favorite power song will be...

2. Nutrition
I would never consider myself a vegetarian...it is just not in my blood. Living on my own I do find myself eating much less meat than I did while living at home with my parents. It is not a conscious choice, maybe just one made out of economics or convenience. Let's face it..meat is expensive, relatively time-intensive when it comes to preparation, and finally, kind of hard to cook for just one. I know that protein is essential to any diet, let alone one of an endurance athlete. I am always looking for other sources of protein and new recipe ideas.
This is a good article from Runners World Magazine about running vegetarian/adding more protein to your diet.

Ideas include:

More Beans!

* Black beans, which are great in a burrito, or pureed as a dip with tortilla chips.
* Garbanzo beans, which can be added to a stew, soup, or chili, or eaten in hummus.
* Edamame, which are a great source of protein and can be eaten alone or added to a salad or a stir fry.

Adding protein to every meal!

* Quinoa ( a high protein grain) with spaghetti sauce with TVP in it
* Corn tortilla with black beans, salsa and soy cheese
* Lentils and rice with slivered almonds
* A smoothie made with soy milk, soy yogurt, and/or peanut butter (soy butter for me!)
* A trail mix with cereal, roasted soy nuts, sunflower seeds, and/or dried fruit

Lots of new things to think about!
Hopefully I'll find my motivation this weekend. I know it's out there.