The Things I've Forgotten

With all the running around from one gym to another, from one workout to the next (sometimes the same day), I often feel like I am losing my mind. I can almost guarantee I will have forgotten something in the flurry of bag packing – no matter how diligently I try to go through my mental inventory. Here is a list of items I’ve discovered missing in my training bag over the past few months:

• Running sneakers (thank goodness for an extra pair, slated for Goodwill, in the trunk)
• Towel for bike class (had impressive sweat puddles that day!)
• Deodorant (bar soap works better than you might think)
• Work Socks (wore shoes barefoot)
• Workout Socks (wore work socks)
• Shoes (stopped by home before work)
• Goggles (OK, somebody just hid mine as a joke, but it was a scare that had my traipsing around the locker room one morning)
• Pony Tail Holder (looked like Medusa by the end of the workout)
• Watch (spent the day looking at my bare wrist)
• Sports Bra (wore regular bra)
• Regular Bra (wore sports bra (this was after a swim, but before work, then weight, bike training))
• Underwear (don't ask, but it reminds me of a Seinfeld episode...)
• Water (TRIgirl Devil Face shared an extra bottle with me)
• Make-up (had an extra set of most items in my pocketbook)
• Hair Spray (borrowed some from TRIgirl LD)
• Tennis Balls for Guppy Class Drills (well, that was slightly intentional - though I've been told if I "forget" them next week, I'll be carrying everyone else's while they swim without)

Active Wear vs. Slacker Wear?

Wow – it has been awhile since I’ve been able to get my act together to post something new.

Last Friday was a rest day – a much relished day of relaxation. Yet, the remainder of the holiday weekend included over six hours of swimming, biking and running. As a result of this gradually increasing training, my active wear wardrobe has started to get more and more use – as I’ll wake up on weekends or holidays and throw on exercise clothes, even if my workouts are scheduled later in the day – like Sunday’s 5 pm swim practice. This gives my gym bag a slight break – and may also reassure my dad - who sent me a very funny email, “never thought my little girl would ever be a ‘bag lady’ ha ha. You are doing great!!!”

So in addition to my emerging hobo habits, I find myself running all over town in my workout attire between training classes. On Monday, after a lunchtime swim but before the evening's weight training and bike class, I made a quick detour to pick up some groceries - still bearing lovely raccoon goggle eye marks, wet swim cap hair and no make-up. As I was leaving the store, I heard someone call out my name. I reluctantly turned around to discover it was one of my clients. As we stood there talking, I thought to myself - we’ve compared running races in the past – there is a chance he might chalk off my less than stellar appearance to training – ugh – but there is also the embarrassing possibility that he might think I am just some slacker who can’t pull it together on a day off. While we chatted, I tried to figure out a graceful way to drop a “Oh, I just came from the gym – I don’t normally look like this – I’m training for an Ironman so I have an excuse” type of comment into the conversation, but the right opening never materialized.

Then I had an even scarier realization – he had recognized me right away – in a quite out of work context. Yikes!

Why My Gym Bag is Tired

Sunday – Put on bathing suit, sweats, flip-flops. Pack gym bag with dinner clothes, shoes, socks, make-up, brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer. Go to swim practice. Swim 1300 meters with Coach S and TRIgirls. Shower at gym. Wrap wet bathing suit in towel. Put in gym bag with swim cap and goggles. Meet friends and hubby for dinner. Go home. Unpack gym bag. Hang bathing suit up. Cross fingers that bathing suit is dry by next morning. Repack gym bag with work clothes, make-up, etc.

Monday – Put on bathing suit, sweats, flip-flops. Breathe sigh of relief that bathing suit is mostly dry. Go to Guppy swim lesson. Swim 1400 meters. Spaz out during drill using tennis balls and buoys. Shower at gym. Wrap wet bathing suit in towel. Put in bag with swim cap and goggles. Go to work. Meet friends for dinner. Drive home. Unpack gym bag. Hang bathing suit up. Repack gym bag with bike shorts, shirt, bike shoes, socks. Realize another bag is needed for tomorrow’s work clothes. Pack second bag. Lay out running pants, fleece, sneakers, socks and Garmin for next morning’s run.

Tuesday – Put on running clothes. Run 3 mile negative split. Go to gym near work to shower. Go to work. Drive to bike and weight training. Change out of work clothes into bike shorts, shirt, sneakers, socks packed in second bag. Do weight exercises. Run back to gym bag, take off sneakers and put on bike shoes. Shoot, forgot towel. Bike on trainer for one hour. Hit level 10 for first time. Go home. Unpack both gym bags. Repack one gym bag with towel, bathing suit, swim cap, goggles for tomorrow’s Masters class.

Realize that I haven’t showered at home in three days.

And that I’ve been getting dressed from clothes stuffed in a bag way more often than from hangers or drawers.