PB and Jen

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I completed my first indoor triathlon today. With the encouragement of friends, I signed up months ago thinking it would be fun. By the time this race came around I was not ready fitness-wise or nutritionally. December is a crazy month for me and I inevitably take a long break from exercising and I indulge in rich holiday treats.

Blurg

I am not sure why I thought a race right after New Year’s was a good idea. Anyway, given how December is for me, I sort of dreaded the race. It was just plain inconvenient time all around.

I was like starting over.

The indoor triathlon was time based. 10 minute swim, 30 minute bike ride and 20 minute run. I like triathlon because I can break it down to the three events and make it manageable in my head. At the start of each leg I felt a bit miserable: out of shape, out of practice and out of breath but I as reached the halfway time I began to feel better. By then I was warmed up, was able to find my groove,  kick things up and finish strong.

As I started each event, I imagined that this is what those who are new to fitness are going through when they begin. It’s hard, it’s not fun, it might even hurt. You want to quit right there and then because it is simply not comfortable. But if you stick it out, get past the initial hurdle, it is so worth it.

The start of fitness is never fun but we need to challenge ourselves all the time.  Apply what we did in today’s race to your first time out. Give yourself a time goal and don’t quit until you reach it. Walk, bike, swim, run, walk in the pool, run/walk. Do sit -ups, push-ups, squats, planks …. choose something. Pace yourself so you complete the time that you set.  

Today I raced next to an older man who was doing a triathlon for the first time. He knew his limits and paced himself – he ended up walking during the swim and run. Most importantly he DID NOT QUIT. The race kicked his butt and in the end he loved it. It was great to see his face after he completed it and to be able to high five him at the end.

I am not writing this now because it is the time for resolutions. I am writing because every January I have to start over and I get a glimpse of how it feels to be new at it. It sucks but it’s worth it to get off that couch.

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fitness motivation, running, triathlon