I’ve been spending my early mornings, lunch breaks, and late evening training for a triathlon. It’s been over two years since my last race. And now with two young kids,  I’m determined to get back in the water, my running shoes and, yes, on the bike saddle.

But with two young kids, it’s been difficult finding time to train. My favorite only time to train is during my lunch breaks and after I help put the kids to bed. And with my youngest going through the terrible twos, or rather the terrible glue (i.e., glued to my hip), putting him to bed before I leave is a must.

My favorite workout is the outdoor swim. As a lifetime swimmer with limited time, having a dedicated coach, practice set, and lane buddies is imperative. Which is why I love being a member of Masters Swimming, and particularly during the summer, when outdoor pools are open. Who wouldn’t love swimming under the stars after a stressful workday or after a querulous dinner because someone didn’t want to eat their peas…or decided to smash them in their hair? Or, even better, in mine.

Getting my cycling time in has been most difficult. I schedule my long rides over the weekend, during my youngest’s naptime. An advantage to living in the Washington, DC area is the accessibility to great bike trails. During weekdays, I use my lunch breaks at work to run through my bike-run transition. I fortunately work on a sprawling campus with plenty of roads. I give myself 30 minutes to bike followed by a 30 minute run. I fortunately have workmates who are nose-blind to my aroma. Thank God for clinical deodorant, dry shampoo, and wet wipes.

With my next triathlon quickly approaching, I am excited and ready, as ready as a sweaty, working mamá can be.