The 10 things I Love Most about Triathlon

Foreward:  I haven't written in a Month.  But I have clocked in hundreds of kilometers on the bike, thousands of meters in the pool (20,000 to be exact) and about 120km running along with a trip to Nicaragua and of course, loads of wasted time here on the computer planning my future (which will NEVER end up as I plan it anyway).  This is what I got for ya.  

10. Travel:  I have had the good fortune and ability to travel to many wonderful places.  Triathlon alone has taken me to San Andres, Colombia (twice), around beautiful southern Ontario, Teresopolis, Mangaratiba, Juiz de Fora, and Manaus, Brasil, Cozumel, and Valle de Bravo, Mexico. 

Triathon on the Radar:  Ironman France June 24, 2013

9. Alignment with my 4 Key Values:

Authenticity:  Blood, sweat and tears ... I have shed all three

Adventure: Reread #10

Health: I have a little chafing, but other that that, all systems go

Passion:  Steadfast and true, my heart goes into the sport, 110%

8.  Getting high:  there is nothing quite like the “all-natural” high.  That being said, yes, I do have several not-so-natural drugs to compare and conclude; natural is better.

High on "Ijustfinishedaloooongswimuanja"

7.  Hunting:  My friend Bernardo Fonseca (winner of the Arctic marathon and 100km, 2010) once explained his race strategy to me.  He explained that he acts like a hunter; stalking his prey and then pegging them one-by-one.  I have adopted this strategy, and I like it.  I think I might need to get an animal print unitard for future races. 

Musical Interlude time

6.  Weekend Workouts:  Last weekend looked like the following.  Friday we drove to a place called Estacas and swam 4km in a beautiful river.  1km upstream, one down, one up, one down.  After that we ran 17km.  The temperature was about 35^o .  We stayed in a little town called Cuernavaca and dined at a great little restaurant called Marco Polo.  We watched the moonrise and ate LOADS of food.  The next day we rode 140km from Cuautla to Axocopan.  This was an amazing ride with a few 5-10km climbs.  We finished the day with a 30 minute run.  Sunday I made a turkey because I think that’s what people eat for Easter.  My legs haven’t felt better.

5. Milkey Way, Twix, Tootsie Rolls:  No comment

4.  No line-ups:  Triathlon is perhaps the only event in the world where the line up for the female bathroom is shorter than the line up for the men’s.  Now, this is usually a non line-up for a port-o-let, but that’s beside the point.  One might also deduce from this fact, that the odds are great for all the single ladies out there. 

3.  Transforming Fear:  Many of you might already know, the greatest fear in my life, is open water swimming.  It’s where my mind constantly attempts to sabotage my efforts and ability.  Usually between meters 300-600 I start to panic.  I don’t know what brings it on, but it’s like someone fills my chest with radioactive fluid.  The point here is, I still get in the water, and it takes loads of courage every single time.  My sister wrote in a card once, “It doesn’t take courage to finish, it takes courage to start.”   Every time you feel fear, you have a choice; focus of fear, or focus on courage.

2.  I learn from my mistakes:  Often this is forgetting a necessary item on race day such as my towel, race belt, water bottle, gel, salt tabs, socks, hat or visor, tubes, bike tools, pump, sunglasses, bike gloves, underwear, all which I have forgotten.  I learn something new at each race.  Sometimes it’s that I need to relax more, smile more, pump up my tires in advance, apply glide, tell the person drafting on me to ef-off, to breathe, to hydrate, but the greatest lesson that keeps me coming back, is that pain does not lead to suffering; in fact, it can make you out-right laugh. 

1. Inspiration/people:  I feel like I am in a constant web of inspiration.  I am inspired by people who overcome that obnoxious self-defeating voice, and I get to inspire others to do the same.  At the same time, I get to train, talk, live, sweat, breathe, eat, and sleep triathlon with the most amazing training partner one could hope for.  

If you're going to be something, be passionate. 

Runner Ups:

Wetsuit Strippers

Privilages like being able (and encouraged) to farmer blow

Type A analysis of race results

Tight fitting clothing

Accessories 

Cheering/Spirit

Volunteers

Breaking personal records

And the last known survivor
Stalks her prey in the night
And (s)he's watching us all with the
Eye of the tiger!!
(Kudos to her!)