I am a runner at heart, and a runner through background. Although I have only been racing for about 2 years, I have been running on and off since my early 20s. I know running. I understand it. I line up in a race knowing I can hold my own.
When I started training for the half ironman last month, I was pretty ignorant about what training for a triathlon means and the progress I can make. I thought that I can swim a lot, bike a lot, and get speedy quickly, as I did with running. What I forgot, though, was that I have years of running (slow, sporadic, but running nonetheless) under my belt, but little biking and swimming background (like, none!!!). I did not swim as a child. Kids in Romania did not take swimming lessons. We played on the street instead. I did ride a bike as a kid, but only when I could sneak it from my brother. When I moved to the US, I had a bike that I used to get to Harvard Square, a 10 min ride one way. When I met Chris, he was using his bike commuting all around Boston (no helmet, I made him buy one a month ago!) and I was impressed. Our first bike trip involved me falling off the bike while blowing kisses his way, infatuation does that to you, you know! So the point is that it will take me years of swimming and biking to get faster. And I need to get comfortable with being slow, like really slow, both in the water and on the bike. I also need to get used to having a slow run after the bike, because even though I'll start doing bricks shortly, my legs will need time to get used to running off the bike.
But you know what, I actually like this. There is something nice about toeing the line with the expectation to just finish, work hard, and have fun. I could not do this in running. And all this training, I really enjoy it. Those few (but more and more frequent) moments when I get in a groove and feel one with the water, or when I go fast down a big hill and hit speed I can only hit downhill now. Pretty amazing, really! Plus, I love to have goals, and as a beginner, I can only get faster, and typically progress is quicker for beginners, so all is good. Oh, and lets not forget what swimming did to my arms. They may not be like hers, but this girl with chronically skinny arms, is very, very pleased:) I feel strong, I feel fit, I feel healthy! Now if I can get rid of this, my summer of training would really be perfect!
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12 comments:
Um, yeah, I'd give my eyeteeth to look like her! But you look great yourself and I think you will be happily surprised when you do the HIM. Glad you are enjoying it. Now go away to that pain!
You always have such a great attitude and you are going to do this HIM way strong. Glad you are feeling challenged in all the right ways.
You are so dedicated and enthusiastic...you are going to be great!
Woohoo to awesome arms, girl!! Sometimes we just need to take a step out of our routine to have a little fun, sounds like this tri is exactly what you needed. I know I plan to do a lot more "fun" running this summer!!
Hmmm yes love those guns! But I think it's great sometimes to take the pressure off that we now put on ourselves running - to PR and do better. Now you can "just" enjoy the face you're doing it. And I do agree with you on how slowly you get faster at these other sports but it will come!
I love your line about being content with getting to the line, working hard and having fun. I think we forget that SO much in races, and it is super to have some races where that can be our mantra!
So glad you are enjoying the new adventure. I definitely need something new, but not sure what it will be yet.
I'm guessing it won't be long before you are at the start line of triathlons out there to race, not just finish. Biking speed will come along quickly, swimming may take a while but you can make up for a slow swim at the longer distances. But enjoy the experience. I miss the days when I just wanted to finish.
It's great to read your post. Though I'm not a stellar runner, at least I can qualify for Boston if I work at it. I'm doing my first half ironman in a week, and am completely petrified to do the swim. And though biking used to be my strongest event, I'm simply not riding as fast as I once could. So I've accepted the fact that I won't be remotely competitive for this event - and my goal truly is to finish. But this is new for me!
i sooo hear you on the swim, and how a lack of early childhood swim lessons/swim meets, etc can catch up to you now in the tri world. it's a bit crazy how it takes more time to develop swim and bike vs. running. but like you said, it's b/c we've all been running in some capacity, all our lives
and that being said...i still predict you'll kick booty in your him. ;-)
I like this post a lot. It spoke to me. I will probably be slow tomorrow (with all your hills up here!), but I am ok with that and I plan on having fun. It is all a process and it is very exciting because it is constantly changing.
I can't wait to see you your HIM goes too! You will surprise yourself I think.
I read this post last week and it was a great warning or should I say, it was food for thought!
You and many others, have inspired me to give swimming and biking a try. I'm not saying I'm going to do a tri but I want to get my body doing something else other than just running, even though I love it! So, I start swimming lessons tomorrow night!! I'll head your warning and not have HUGE expectations to get out there and go crazy in the pool. At least my arms will look nice, right? Thanks for your inspiration!
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