2.4 mile swim done
110 mile bike done
26.2 mile run done.
Off the checklist
When I first began on this journey 9 months ago to do a triathlon, there were 2 very daunting blocks in my mind. The first was whether I could swim, bike or run any distance in a sustained fashion. The second was if I could do any real long distance at all.
So I broke it down. I took lessons to learn to SWIM. I took down my bike from the hook in the garage and dusted it off and started to learn the basics of BIKING. Thankfully I have some amazing friends who came to my aide and gradually taught me how to bike, and build confidence on roads, hills and longer trips. I then showed up every saturday and RAN with the group. I challenged myself in each discipline with out question. I pushed passed my very secure comfort zone and took the risks.
I was enamored by my friends who were already signing up for races and doing really well. I to date had never really done any competition prior to this experience. So I decided to sign up and commit to a sprint, an Olympic and an Iron distance triathlon.
Sprint Tri. 0.5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5K run
Olympic Tri 1 mile swim, 24 mile bike, 10K run
Iron Tri 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.3mile run
So systematically I have been tackling each distance starting with the sprint triathlon. I became confident that I could do each distance INDIVIDUALLY. But here is the rub. Triathlons are not 3 separate sports. They are ONE long sport. So the only time I could really see my effort to fruition is on race day !!
That is the magic that I am working on. Building each piece individually and then practicing them efficiently with bringing a few together at a time, but in the end I will only know the true experience on race day.
Yet this is like any dream or big goal. It is fine to chase them, but one must create action steps to get there. Moreover, those action steps must be broken down into viable chunks.
ALong the way I get to meet so many amazing athletes, create long lasting friendships, and most of all discover limits that I never thought existed in my mind and body and then I get to break them.
The journey of 140.6 miles begins with decision to TRI. Anything is possible, nothing is impossible.
“Pick a challenge in your life that is so big that your brain cannot handle it, and keep moving forward”-Dr Bhatnagar
PS The pumpkin was made for Halloween decorations. The iron man M was made by my son, and my wife thought the swim, bike, run carvings would just be perfect for me. They were right.
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I love you
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