Triathlon Training Day 68
This morning was all about perspectives.
Getting out of bed has become a win-some-lose-some fight every morning now, especially since we’ve jumped forward that hour. The extra daylight is great. It’s nice not having the sun go down before 6 p.m. But now it’s dark outside again. I’m literally done with a workout before dawn. That’s begun wearing on me a little bit. There was just something about walking out into sunlight that made the workouts worth it, or at least easier to move past.
This morning we swam, and it was a day with Lance, and as you know by now — unless you’re one of my new readers — is that Lance wears us slam out. We swam 2,500 yards today. I swam 2,400 and my triceps and shoulders are as sore now as they’ve ever been after a swim. He worked us good.
During the drills and whatnot I started getting really frustrated that I was falling behind. I was leading our lane most of the morning and every time I took a breath, I’d check where the leaders of the other two lanes were. I could usually stay with them for about a length, then they’d smoke me on the turn and end up finishing anywhere from a couple strokes to a dozen yards in front of me. I hate that.
But then I found that perspective: as I was making a turn into the second half of a lap and again felt that frustration rise as I watched people take off well ahead of me, I thought, Two months ago I couldn’t make it 1,000 yards without wanting to throw up. Two months ago I was choking on water and gassing out after two laps and about as worthless as a triathlete gets. Heck, I was no triathlete then. I was a guy in a pool wearing boardshorts and goggles trying to swim with triathletes. Now I’m trying to beat the best in the group. Who gets frustrated when they fall behind people better than them? We can’t follow people we’re not behind, anyway, and who wouldn’t want to follow someone better than them? I know. It’s different. I’m swimming. But something inside me pushes me constantly to get better.
Yeah. This is one addicting sport, triathlon.
My second perspective came as I was walking outside and cold and wishing the sun was further up. I thought, It’s literally the crack of dawn and I’ve already busted my ass for an hour in a pool. Two months ago I was sitting around on a coach wearing running shoes and wishing I could make myself get back into shape. Two days ago Katie told me my stomach’s flatter than she’s ever seen it, and she’s known me for 12 years.
That’s worth a little pain, a little less sleep, a little money. Totally worth it.
Great perspective today! The funny thing is, on Tuesday, I felt the same way about you! I was in the middle lane next to you and it totally irritated me that I couldn’t keep up with you! I-just-did-a-race-for-goodness-sake and here is this newbie – leading in the “slow lane”. Sandbagger! You know how I coped in hopes of getting faster? I moved over to the fast lane this morning. Well…..for half a workout anyway. Great job! We’re all going to be chasing you in no time flat (probably next week). See you then.
ahh, more pool talk.
more of “heidi being jealous when she wants to swim”
and then comes the feeling of “wow i would die doing all that swimming”
haha, loving these updates, broski. keep em comin!
Interesting post. My concern about your triathlon training was that I felt your motivation was all wrong. I’m not sure if you really wanted to do one, or simply thought of it as a a way to help you hone your feature writing skills and present an interesting challenge. There are all sorts of people in the sport, and while I can’t count myself amongst them yet, I sense triathletes are a different breed. Maybe it’s something in the genes. They’re just drawn differently and I think you’re scratching the surface of understanding what makes them tick, and maybe discovering a triathlete inside you. I certainly don’t have the answer as to what makes them different, but I’m discovering things about myself as I do this (not unlike yourself I’m guessing) that I’m proud of and wish I’d known earlier in life. Traits like perseverance (no one likes swimming, but we find a way to do it), self confidence, empathy, and yes, competitiveness I feel are just innate for the triathlete. I don’t know that other sports (individual or team) bring out this particular set of traits. I”m not sure if you intended to learn these things as I don’t know you and you seem pretty put together even if you are young. But that self discovery is what’s been most appealing and engaging in my training so far. And it’s what keeps me going. Keep up the good work. I appreciate your chronicles.