So now that I've done a marathon, my Tough Cookie running buddies have convinced me to try triathlons. Thinking this will get me moving, challenge me, and teach me some new things, I decided to give it a go. This is despite the fact that I'm bike challenged and although I can swim, I've always been the one with my head above water unless I was scuba diving, so there will be a bit to learn there too. Quite a bit I'm guessing.
First hurdle for me is not the sports, but the actual outfits they want you to willingly wear in public. First, let me say, most triathletes already have gorgeous bodies. So they design clothes for those bodies, not the wanna-be's who are using it to get in better shape. The suits and tops are so skin tight, that unless sausage sexy somehow comes in Vogue really quick, there is no way I wanted to be caught dead in it.
Even though I've lost a lot of weight, I would rather go out in Zubaz (and you wouldn't have caught me dead in those in the 80's). I was so grossed out by my body in this suit, that I was seriously rethinking being in this program unless they let me wear a sweat suit over it. Drama aside, they finally showed us the new tri-suits last Weds. While I wouldn't say I'm excited to wear it, its very doable. So already, I'm trying new things.
Having run a marathon, I thought I had the running portion down. But my coaches have already given me some tips to even improve my form, which is great. I'm really lucky to have such great coaches, its part of the reason I signed up for the program. I'm hoping to be a sponge and learn as much from them as possible, because I'm pretty much starting at square one for 2/3 of this sport. I have a lot to learn on the bike handling, including how to work the gears on my 20 year old bike (but its a good bike, so it will work for this season). I will also be learning entirely new swimming techniques, way beyond what I learned in swim class back in 3rd grade. Its almost like I'm learning to swim all over again. If I can figure out the breathing, I should be golden.
I'm actually excited to "tri" it all.
Comments