When an investment, of any kind is made, it’s important to figure out if that investment is worth the return.  This is something usually thought of in dollars and cents, but lately I have been thinking of ROI in many other ways.  Triathlon, like any sport or hobby, can be expensive but as I gain more experience I start to realize that if I consider the return it really helps in my decision making.  I look back and I made mistakes, but as always I am trying to learn from them.

When I first started running, I already had most of the important stuff from my days of Muay Thai and BJJ.  I had sports bras, tank tops, rash guards and shorts or capris.  The one thing I really didn’t have, was a good pair of running shoes.  The sneakers I had weren’t exactly cutting it, but at the same time I didn’t want to pay $100+ for shoes.  I also didn’t really want to go into a running store and be hounded by some sales person.  Now that I think about it, it was probably more the sales person than the money.  I never like dealing with sales people.  What did I do?  I researched, of course!  I spent probably hours online reading about running shoes, what’s good for what kind of foot, etc.  At the end of the day, I realized that I can pay $60 for a pair of shoes that won’t make it long, or I could pay $100-ish for a pair that would get me 400 or more miles with proper form and comfort.  No brainer there.  The return on  investment was sound.  The trouble was I still had to face the sales person issue.    Even if it was uncomfortable, the return on that would maybe be the experience or learning something new.  I went to Runners Depot and to my surprise, the people there were very helpful and not at all pushy.  It was a great experience, and now we run with them and their group almost weekly.  Not to mention, if you buy shoes there and run in them but they don’t work well, you can swap them for something else within 30 days or something like that.  I have done so already and it was a great experience.

When it came to cycling clothes, I messed up.  I shopped around and found that most really good cycling apparel is really expensive!  I still can’t find much information on how long they should really last, so I had a hard time wrapping my mind around paying $100 for cycling shorts.  I mean, I don’t think I have paid that for one piece of clothing other than a dress for a wedding.  Could they really do so much for my butt that I need to pay that?  Took me a while and some research to figure out why you don’t just get a big old padded seat for the bike, but that is a story for another time.  Anyway, I ended up finding a pair that were on sale for $50 but that was still a little much for me.  Sports Authority was going out of business, so I checked there and found some for like $20.  SOLD!  Sure, I could tell the fabric was a little different and the cushion thing wasn’t as soft as the fancy bike shop ones, but who cares, right?  My butt cared.   The shorts didn’t do very well on the ride, and they certainly didn’t do well after the wash.  I followed the instructions to the letter but they still were wonky after the first wash.  Not to mention the bands seemed to shrink and cut into my legs after that.  I tried another cheaper pair, which didn’t work out either.  Long story short, I ended up getting the $50 dollar quality ones that were on sale.  So, I spent somewhere around $90 on one good pair and two useless pairs, when I could have just bit the bullet and spent $50 to start with.  Lesson learned? No.

When it was time for my first triathlon, I started researching tri-suits.  My go to is Amazon, so if it wasn’t available there, I wasn’t getting one.  I ended up finding one that was pretty good quality, not what I really wanted but again, I could not justify the $200 price tags.  The suit worked out pretty well for my first race, especially for the bargain I got, but on the second one, I was not thrilled.  I could tell it was not going to hold up as well as I had hoped.  I waited for the season to end, knowing that the suits would be on clearance.  Sure enough, I was able to order a very nice suit that was typically $250 for only $80.   Even better, I had some issues with their customer service when I tried to process an exchange and ended up getting it for free!  All it cost me in the end was a little time!  Great return there!

Speaking of time, I have been really making sure I get the return on time spent on things.  When I train, the return on the time and effort is immediate.  My happiness levels are way up, I feel great, and my day generally goes much better when I start the morning with a workout.  Other than some cuddle time with the boys, training is probably where I get the biggest return on my investment of time.  I have started to eliminate things that don’t give me as much of a return.  I don’t really watch much television anymore, and I don’t miss it.  Once in a while, we will sit and watch a show as a family and just un plug, but that’s about it.  Don’t get me wrong, when Game of Thrones comes back on, I will invest that hour each week and enjoy it.  Otherwise, if I am stir crazy or need to unplug, I will read or go for a walk.  Something other than just plugging my brain into an electronic device.  This is something I am really trying to help D2 with too.  I’d much rather him go out and have a Nerf gun battle than get on the iPad.  I’ve cut back on Facebook and Instagram, though I do like to post.  I think it helps me be accountable to myself.  I  have filtered whose posts I see so that I get inspiration rather than the woes and recipes for all too tempting desserts.  Time spent with the family gets some of the best return, but I am also trying to work on the quality of that time.  Yes, we can sit and watch a show together once in a while, but I would much rather go for a walk or sit at the table and talk about our day rather than stare at an electronic device.  Nerf wars, bike rides and Legos have a much better return than video games and television.

I have some work to do when it comes to making sure I get the bang for the buck on gear sometimes, but I’m happy to say that while I could probably do even better, I am pretty happy with where I am with regards to investments on time.  At one point, I even questioned the time spent on this blog.  I want to post weekly, but with my midterm this week, I struggled to find the time.  Then I thought about what it brings me, and hopefully one day brings my son.  I enjoy going back and reading over how I felt during training or races.  I go back and learn from my own experiences all over again.  It’s a way for me to share my experiences not only with myself, but with others.  That is time well spent for me, and hopefully time well spent for those that care to read it.  Time is limited, so I challenge anyone reading this to take a moment and think about how you will spend your time today.  Are you getting good return on that investment?

We are tested nearly every waking moment of our lives.  As free thinking beings, it just comes with the territory.  From the moment the alarm goes off to the moment you put your head down on the pillow you are being tested.  When that alarm sounds, are you one of those people that pops up out of bed ready to start the day?  Then maybe you aren’t tested the way I am.  I wish I was one of those people.  The moment that alarm goes off, all the voices in my head start.    Push the button, ok done.  Now, get up!  No, just take a minute to gather your senses.  Yeah, just a minute.  I can get out of bed in 5 minutes.  I need to let my body wake up.  Why do I need to be up this early?  I can miss a day.  I probably need rest.  You know, I didn’t really sleep all that great anyway.  Looking over at the clock again…. Ugh ok it’s 10 after.  I really need to get up.  Do we have to? Yes.  Once in a while, I can be one of those people that pops out of bed, but most mornings that is my inner dialog.

Lately, its been a little worse.  I think the reason for that is I am still getting used to a change in my routine.  I’ve been getting up at 4:00am and trying to study before I train.  That has been a test too.  I love reading, and learning but there is something about the fact that I have to retain what I read, that is messing with me.  I started this personal trainer certification class because I want the knowledge.  I don’t want or expect to go work in a gym somewhere, but I do want to use that knowledge not only to help myself, but to help other people as well.  Yes, there will be actual tests, but lately it’s been like even reading the chapters is a test.  I just haven’t been able to keep focused.  I am not absorbing the knowledge like I expected too.  I think it’s the pressure of having to, rather than wanting to right now.  I pieced together what I thought was a lite training plan to allow for time to study, but I am finding that I didn’t do a great job of it.  Since I still have something on the training plan 6 days a week, I find myself either racing though the materials so I can get to my workout, or I find myself with my nose in the book, but my eyes looking over at my bike longing to take it out for a spin.  I am being tested!  Sometimes I fail, sometimes I pass… I think.  I am not sure!  More on that later.

My nutrition has been a big test for me lately too.  If you think about it, it is for everyone, every day.  Every time we go to put something in our mouths we are tested.  What food to cook, or pick off the menu.  How much of it to eat.  For the most part, when we eat at home I am pretty good.  I may not eat as many veggies as I should, but at least I am not eating a ton of processed junk.  Ok, maybe bacon, but that’s probably the worst of it, and it’s bacon so that stays.   When we go out, I struggle more.  There are some restaurants where the food choices are easy and I generally don’t have an issue, but then there are others.  Do you know how hard it is to go to Flanigan’s and not get ribs and fries?  If you don’t know how hard it is, then you don’t eat ribs and fries – good for you.  I can’t tell you how dry the grilled zingers at Ale House are compared to the fried ones.  It’s hard not to get the fried zingers.  Don’t even get me started on Italian food.  I just need to stay away from Italian restaurants  altogether.  How do you choose a chicken salad over a chicken parmesan stromboli?  You don’t… ok, maybe I don’t.   Not always, but sometimes.  It’s a test every time.  Sometimes, I fail, other times I pass.

Then there are extra curricular activities.  I want to go to the movies sometimes.  I want to go catch a hockey game or hang out with family and friends, but when I am behind a chapter or two is that the right thing to do?  Do I turn that down and study instead?  Do I go in the other room to read while my boys snuggle up on the couch and watch an episode of Stranger Things?  Or do I sit with them and enjoy that time, and the show?   There’s a certain balance that has to be achieved.  I don’t think there is a generic right answer.  Sometimes, I choose to resist the temptation and go study.  Sometimes, I don’t.  There are certain moments where maybe I can do both.  I know that I don’t want to miss living for the purpose of studying, but each of these little tests has been weighing on me lately.

Back to training.  I think that has been the worst of all the tests lately.  Last week I really wanted to swim but was really behind in my course work.  I decided the grown up thing to do would be to study.  Turned out, that wasn’t necessarily the best thing to do.  I skipped the pool and hit the books, but I had a really hard time focusing.  My brain just wasn’t in it.  I ended up closing the book in frustration after I realized I read the same paragraph twice and couldn’t tell you what it was about.  I missed out on what might have been a good swim and didn’t reap any benefit of studying either!  Other days, I stopped studying when I was doing really well, because it was time to train.  You see, I have some obsessive compulsive behaviors.  I know they are there, and some are ok, I think.  Others, not so much.  I use a training site called Training Peaks.  I love it, I can download training plans and move things around on a calendar view not much different from any calendar application.  The cool thing about it, is that when I workout my results and everything are automatically loaded.  It knows that if I had a run scheduled that day and I did the run, it’s complete and can turn green.  It’s when it turns red, that I have a problem.  You see, it turns red when you didn’t complete the activity that day.  Here’s where the obsessive part comes in.  I don’t like to see red on my calendar….. Anywhere.  So, what happens if I miss a day?  Generally, I move it to another day so I can make it turn green then.  Sad, I know but I do love my green.

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem.  I’ve come to realize I have a few right now.  These little tests that I have been noticing are my brain trying to tell me that something is wrong here.  First of all, I looked at my training calendar and the hours spent there.  I looked at the hours needed to be successful at this course, and I looked at the hours needed to be a good wife, mom, etc.  I also looked at the hours needed to get some sleep, and be good to myself.  There just aren’t enough in the day!  So, something has to give.

I also realize that my dear old friend fear, is at my doorstep again.  What am I afraid of?  Well, a number of things.  I’m afraid that if I slow my training too much and dedicate more time to studying, I will lose the fitness I have worked so hard to gain.  I am afraid that if I do lessen my training to focus on studying, and for some reason I still don’t pass the exam, then what excuse will I have?  I’m afraid that brain doesn’t work as well for this whole school thing anymore.  I’m afraid that maybe the knowledge isn’t sticking because maybe I just don’t have it in me to know this stuff.  I’m afraid that if, for whatever reason, I don’t pass this exam that I won’t do a good job of dusting myself off and carrying on.  I’m afraid to let everyone down, especially my boys.  How can I be a good example if I fail?

I had to snap out of it.  This morning, after finishing reviewing the lecture materials on nutrition (note to self to apply those to my food choices today), I decided to delete my training plan from my calendar.  Aaahhh!  I know, crazy, right?!  I reinserted some things that I know I need to maintain some of my fitness and to just make me happy.  I’ll run three times a week, swim twice a week, and if I get a casual ride in on the weekends it would be awesome but isn’t scheduled.  Other than that, it’s wide open.  If I find one morning I absolutely cannot focus on my studies, well then I might grab the weights or jump on the bike.  If one morning, I am on a roll with my studies, I will move the run to another day (I still have the red problem, I know.  Baby steps).  I also took some time to put the good things and habits I have learned to use.  I have to be able to accept that failure is a possibility, and if it happens, I need to figure out how best to learn from it.  No one wants to fail, especially when they put it all out there for everyone to know about.  I certainly don’t.  I am working to embrace this new kind of fear of failure that comes not from being able to achieve something physical, but something entirely different.  I never thought that there could be anything harder than an ocean swim in a monsoon, but here I am.  I was able to get from buoy to buoy in that ocean, so I should be able to get from chapter to chapter in this one.