Tri-umph!
I did my first triathalon today, and I achievd all four of my goals. I’m tired (had to get up at 5 in the morning), but don’t feel too bad overall — I have a feeling I may have trouble going down stairs in the morning though.
Someone asked me today what’s the appeal of doing a triathalon. I have two answers, which are both true, although the balance between them varies:
- Signing up for a race is a commitment device, a way of forcing myself to prioritize getting to the gym to swim or out on my bike for a ride. Without a goal, it’s too easy to say "not today, I’m too tired to get up early," or "not today, it’s too hot out." Once I get out the door, I generally enjoy it, but getting out the door often requires a kick in the pants. Meeting someone for a workout is also a good commitment device, if you can find someone whose schedule and fitness level meshes well with yours.
- Part of the appeal is precisely the fact that I wasn’t sure I could finish the race, that even lining up this morning terrified me. I like pushing my limits, doing things that I’m not sure I can do, overcoming my fears. It makes me feel brave, and alive. This morning I was walking around the set-up area saying to my friend "What am I doing here? What ever made me think this was a good idea?" and I realized that what I was really saying was "Aren’t I brave for even trying to do this? Isn’t this exciting?"
August 27th, 2006 at 9:13 pm
A hearty congratulations!
August 27th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
Good for you!!!
August 28th, 2006 at 1:35 am
Congratulations!
August 28th, 2006 at 5:49 am
Congratulations! I hope it inspires you to many more…
August 28th, 2006 at 9:17 am
Congrats, Elizabeth. That is a HUGE accomplishment!
August 28th, 2006 at 10:50 am
Congratulations! I love the last bullet point especially– how brave of you for even attempting it, much less finishing it!
August 28th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
brava to you, elizabeth!!!!! i don’t know how you manage to do all that you do — work full time, have two small children, volunteer, and to train for a triathlon on top of it. wow!
August 28th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
Good job!!
August 28th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Amazing. Congratulations!
August 28th, 2006 at 8:19 pm
Way to go!!! I’ve done a few triathlons myself and I love the rewarding feelig of crossing the finish line and knowing you just finished a race.
August 29th, 2006 at 12:28 am
Congratulations!!! Were your boys at the finish line, cheering for their mom? I know you didn’t do this for them — but what a fantastic example!
September 3rd, 2006 at 10:41 pm
From a frequent-reader-but-infrequent-commenter: CONGRATULATIONS! I’ve done Danskin and a few other local sprint-distance triathlons. I love the camaraderie as well as the feeling of accomplishment. And I loved this little onesie I picked up at my first Danskin for my then eighteen-month-old that said “My Mom Tris.” As Moving Comfort says: “a fit mom is a powerful mom.”