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!
Friday, January 25, 2013
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Here We GO!
Last year about this time, I was in the process of relocating to Charlotte, NC. An old friend who lived there mentioned- in the middle of selling our house and packing, no less- that once I made it to Charlotte, I should do a triathlon. Was she CRAZY?! In a word, no. She had a brilliant idea. At the time, I was thinking she was suggesting that I subject myself to something along the lines of an Ironman Triathlon. You know, the one they show on TV, where they highlight the people at the end, when they are running a full marathon, after having swam an biked some ridiculous amount? They always show the old men who are fainting, and the people who are just about to miss the deadline for coming in dead last. Sounds like a real hoot.
She didn't have that in mind at all. What she was thinking I would enjoy was a called sprint triathlon. They range a bit in the distances that you run, bike and swim, but the one that I would end up training for was a 250 meter swim, an 8 mile bike ride and a 2 mile "out and back" run. Totally doable. Kind of like one of those days where you head to the gym after a venti latte and end up accidentally staying for 3 hours. Yeah, okay, I don't do that more than once every 2 years, but it's been known to happen.
I was a little distracted (moving, packing, dealing with the completely ridiculous demands of the people who bought our house), so I kind of missed the part where she told me I could do ALL my training with a group that specifically trains people who have never done a triathlon. The group is called Tri it For Life, and I had literally never heard of anything like this before. Here I was thinking, "Man, I am really not sure about this. I'm going to have to find someone to teach me how to swim better, get a bike, AND do all this crazy training on my own?!?" It didn't sound like fun, honestly, even though I was pretty excited about potentially completing a triathlon. Eventually, I got bored and looked up this training group she mentioned, and the rest is history.
I will do more blogs about my specific training experience as well as my first triathlon later, but the bottom line is that this experience changed my life. I met an ENORMOUS group of fantastic women- ranging from couch potatoes (at the time) to marathon runners looking for a new adventure. I got the training I needed, the confidence I lacked, and an overall amazing experience.
The mentors were INCREDIBLE. Everyone had their own inspiring story of how they got started and what the journey has meant to them. Everyone was SO nice. And the best part? It wasn't like I imagined, where I walked into a training group where everyone was good at all three sports, a size 2, and perfectly groomed and beautiful. Not at all. There was such an amazing range of shapes, sizes, abilities. One thing was the same- everyone's attitude. Everyone who stuck to it was so awesome to be around, so inspiring. I never regretted going to training session, although there were several I wanted to skip. When triathlon day came, I was far more cool, calm, and collected than I had anticipated. My mentors and training friends had made me TOTALLY prepared.
None of the ladies from my tri group know this, but when I finished my very first tri, I went to the bathroom to pee and I was overcome with emotion. I remember looking at my medal and absolutely shaking with happiness. Tears were shed (in private- ask any of my training partners- I come across as kind of a hard ass, but I'm really a mushball at heart).
To be honest- and I think this is totally okay: I didn't get bitten by "the triathlon bug" at first. After all was said and done, I just wanted to take a break. Get a massage. Take a week off from working out. And as time flew by, I found that I wasn't getting to the gym much without a goal to work towards. I had the best intentions, but I kept making excuses. Plus, I missed my Tri it For Life girls.
So, I signed up for the Ramblin' Rose Charlotte 5-Mile Race on Saturday, September 29th. It was a mini-reunion for a lot of my training pals, and I did get a little bit of "the bug" then.
I realized that I really like being part of something that is so positive and so visible within my community. I like having an instant group of friends who are fitness-minded. This is something that I've never had before. I knew on that day that despite the inner part of me who hates to be on display, doesn't like celebrating herself, feels constant gym anxiety and has many, many cases of the "I Can'ts", this group makes me realize that despite all the ways that feel like I am not an athlete, I AM.
And even when you sign up thinking, "I'll just do this one race, just to see what all the hoopla is about", it's really not enough. Not when you align yourself with several hundred positive role models, who are constantly posting training updates and race results to their Facebook pages. It makes you want to be a part of the action so that you can continue to work towards breaking free from a past life of negative body image and feelings of self-doubt. I want to strive to shake with happiness at the end of the race. Again and again.
With that said, I'm challenging myself BIG TIME this year. With what, you ask? Not only will I agree to give back and become a mentor for the 2013 class of Tri it For Life ladies, but I am also going to strive to complete the entire Ramblin' Rose Series of Triathlons!
May 5th, 2013: South Charlotte
May 19th, 2013: Raleigh,NC
July 14th, 2013: Rock Hill, SC
August 18th, 2013: Winston-Salem, NC
September 22, 2013: Huntersville, NC
October 6th, 2013: Chapel Hill, NC
Yeah, I can't believe it either. A little bit of me is worried I'm going to miss a sign-up deadline, or schedule something on top of one of these, but this is my goal and I'm going to work really hard to make this accomplishment happen.
Next up is getting a road bike. I did the last tri with "Heavy D", my mom's hybrid bike and if you couldn't guess, it was pretty heavy and very challenging to ride at times. I had to hold onto a road bike for a friend and realized that I have purses that weigh more than that bike did. Imagine the possibilities with such a lighter bike!
She didn't have that in mind at all. What she was thinking I would enjoy was a called sprint triathlon. They range a bit in the distances that you run, bike and swim, but the one that I would end up training for was a 250 meter swim, an 8 mile bike ride and a 2 mile "out and back" run. Totally doable. Kind of like one of those days where you head to the gym after a venti latte and end up accidentally staying for 3 hours. Yeah, okay, I don't do that more than once every 2 years, but it's been known to happen.
I was a little distracted (moving, packing, dealing with the completely ridiculous demands of the people who bought our house), so I kind of missed the part where she told me I could do ALL my training with a group that specifically trains people who have never done a triathlon. The group is called Tri it For Life, and I had literally never heard of anything like this before. Here I was thinking, "Man, I am really not sure about this. I'm going to have to find someone to teach me how to swim better, get a bike, AND do all this crazy training on my own?!?" It didn't sound like fun, honestly, even though I was pretty excited about potentially completing a triathlon. Eventually, I got bored and looked up this training group she mentioned, and the rest is history.
I will do more blogs about my specific training experience as well as my first triathlon later, but the bottom line is that this experience changed my life. I met an ENORMOUS group of fantastic women- ranging from couch potatoes (at the time) to marathon runners looking for a new adventure. I got the training I needed, the confidence I lacked, and an overall amazing experience.
The mentors were INCREDIBLE. Everyone had their own inspiring story of how they got started and what the journey has meant to them. Everyone was SO nice. And the best part? It wasn't like I imagined, where I walked into a training group where everyone was good at all three sports, a size 2, and perfectly groomed and beautiful. Not at all. There was such an amazing range of shapes, sizes, abilities. One thing was the same- everyone's attitude. Everyone who stuck to it was so awesome to be around, so inspiring. I never regretted going to training session, although there were several I wanted to skip. When triathlon day came, I was far more cool, calm, and collected than I had anticipated. My mentors and training friends had made me TOTALLY prepared.
None of the ladies from my tri group know this, but when I finished my very first tri, I went to the bathroom to pee and I was overcome with emotion. I remember looking at my medal and absolutely shaking with happiness. Tears were shed (in private- ask any of my training partners- I come across as kind of a hard ass, but I'm really a mushball at heart).
To be honest- and I think this is totally okay: I didn't get bitten by "the triathlon bug" at first. After all was said and done, I just wanted to take a break. Get a massage. Take a week off from working out. And as time flew by, I found that I wasn't getting to the gym much without a goal to work towards. I had the best intentions, but I kept making excuses. Plus, I missed my Tri it For Life girls.
So, I signed up for the Ramblin' Rose Charlotte 5-Mile Race on Saturday, September 29th. It was a mini-reunion for a lot of my training pals, and I did get a little bit of "the bug" then.
I realized that I really like being part of something that is so positive and so visible within my community. I like having an instant group of friends who are fitness-minded. This is something that I've never had before. I knew on that day that despite the inner part of me who hates to be on display, doesn't like celebrating herself, feels constant gym anxiety and has many, many cases of the "I Can'ts", this group makes me realize that despite all the ways that feel like I am not an athlete, I AM.
And even when you sign up thinking, "I'll just do this one race, just to see what all the hoopla is about", it's really not enough. Not when you align yourself with several hundred positive role models, who are constantly posting training updates and race results to their Facebook pages. It makes you want to be a part of the action so that you can continue to work towards breaking free from a past life of negative body image and feelings of self-doubt. I want to strive to shake with happiness at the end of the race. Again and again.
With that said, I'm challenging myself BIG TIME this year. With what, you ask? Not only will I agree to give back and become a mentor for the 2013 class of Tri it For Life ladies, but I am also going to strive to complete the entire Ramblin' Rose Series of Triathlons!
May 5th, 2013: South Charlotte
May 19th, 2013: Raleigh,NC
July 14th, 2013: Rock Hill, SC
August 18th, 2013: Winston-Salem, NC
September 22, 2013: Huntersville, NC
October 6th, 2013: Chapel Hill, NC
Yeah, I can't believe it either. A little bit of me is worried I'm going to miss a sign-up deadline, or schedule something on top of one of these, but this is my goal and I'm going to work really hard to make this accomplishment happen.
Next up is getting a road bike. I did the last tri with "Heavy D", my mom's hybrid bike and if you couldn't guess, it was pretty heavy and very challenging to ride at times. I had to hold onto a road bike for a friend and realized that I have purses that weigh more than that bike did. Imagine the possibilities with such a lighter bike!
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