I just got word via email today that I was accepted to be a mentor for Tri It For Life (TIFL)! I'm pretty sure everyone who applied got accepted; however, I suppose if they really felt you were a douche, they could politely decline, so I feel honored anyway! The mentors who helped me along the way in preparing for my first triathlon were priceless. I learned SO much more than I ever felt possible, and, as a result I completed my first triathlon with hardly any nerves.
Here's the top 10 things I learned from training with a group that included seasoned mentors:
1. What gear to wear. Plus, they are quick to share all the sales at local sports stores and great online finds. For instance, did you know you can get Speedo bathing suits WITH cups (it's important, I'm working with a little more "boob" than that average triathlete) at COSTCO for like $20-25? Amazing.
2. How to use the gears on my bike. Crucial, since I really had no idea, and hadn't seriously ridden a bike since like the 6th grade.
3. How to SWIM. I only swam recreationally, and only under water prior to my training, so I had kind of a long way to go. By the triathlon, I swam the entire thing freestyle and didn't have a horrible time. That was my proudest moment.
4. What to eat. I'm the first to admit this is something I could have worked harder at last year, but you have to take these things one step at a time. I did get a lot of word-of-mouth reviews on sports drinks, gels, "goo", good and bad snacks prior to training sessions, etc. Plus, there is a gentle push to pay attention to your overall nutrition and how it plays into your training. This is something I really want to hone in on this year.
5. How to avoid injury and when to take it easy versus push yourself. Midway through training, I started having terrible knee pains. I have had knee issues my entire life, starting when I was in 2nd grade with terrible "growing pains". My knees pop and crack like crazy and I have to be pretty gentle with them. It's nice to train with such a large group and to see how others handle times when they are sidelined. Plus they know all the good doctors and chiropractors!
6. How to be FIERCE. I mean it! Training with such a large, like-minded group of women just makes you feel great about yourself. There were many times while running, on my bike, or in the pool, that I just felt like a badass. And yes, I realize that the majority of those times I looked like a total noob, but it doesn't matter, because that is the magic that comes with a great training group.
7. The realization that you CAN do it. I mentioned before that I didn't get bitten by "the bug" right away, but becoming Facebook friends with my training partners and seeing their posts and blogs and other mentions of all the local races and fitness adventures really made me realize that I really like being a part of that scene. Plus, now it's pretty much a given that I will know people at races, so it makes it less awkward. :)
8. Inspiration. It's easy to look at the mentors and think they've been doing this forever, they've always been fit, or skinny, or into sports. But as you get to know them and you hear bits and pieces of their stories you realize things like: they have lost 50 pounds, they have 5 kids, they work 2 jobs and still manage to work out, they are juggling a full-time job and school, they want to run their first marathon. It makes you realize that you CAN put aside your excuses and make time for yourself.
9. That women of all backgrounds, shapes, sizes and abilities can be athletes. As a person with huge gym anxiety, and who makes scenarios up in her mind before working out that she will show up and be the least fit, least able person in the room- this means the world. The world.
10. What to pack to be absolutely prepared on race day. We went over and over this and it was wonderful. This is what helped me shake the nerves on race day. I knew I had everything I needed. I knew if I didn't, someone else likely would have me covered.
I am also pretty pumped because all I have to do is show up for the training sessions to help out as a mentor and it's pretty much like free training for me. And free motivation. Because I seem to be lacking in that department lately. I have started back at the gym after December took me down with travel, an upper respiratory infection, the effing FLU and then moving. I'm still going only sporadically, and might have to make some changes to my work hours in order to get this to be a more regular thing. I mean, I seriously need to start training for that May triathlon like in February. Which is............soon.
You don't have to get crazy, you just have to Agree To Tri!
