When I first got into swimming there was a lot to learn: getting side breathing down, avoiding backward propulsion while kicking, not drowning, and, the focus of this post, what NOT to wear. I had just graduated from my adult learn to swim class and joined a Masters group. One morning, before leaving home, I was packing my gym bag for the day’s workout. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find either pair of my usual swim trunks. I dug through the pile…
Possibly more difficult than actually competing in a triathlon is the onerous task of convincing your spouse to let you train for one, especially if you have a lot of kids. Well, don’t fear. After reading this post, you’ll have all the tools necessary to not only get your spouse to support your decision to train but practically kick you out the door to do so. The Life Expectancy Argument I’m going to make an assumption here that your spouse…
Way back in 2011, I trained for and finished my first marathon. Notice that I didn’t say I ran my first marathon. At about 18.5 miles, I approached an aid station to grab a drink. As the volunteer handed me a cup of water, I fumbled it a little in my hand. The next thing I knew, without making any conscious decision on the matter, I had stopped running and began to walk. From there on out, despite a few…
People who have never competed in a triathlon are often surprised to discover that the clock does not stop between events. This rapid changing of shoes, gear, and clothes, or transition as it’s known, is just as much a part of triathlon as swimming, biking, and running. In fact, quick change artists have nothing on elite triathletes who can breeze through the entire process faster than you can guzzle a cup of Gatorade. Beginners are often told that they can…
How many times have you been in the middle of a 500+ yard swimming set only to ask yourself, “was that just 325 yards or am I at 275?” After scouring the recesses of your mind, you most likely gave up and decided to swim another 50 just to be safe. Combined with the monotony of swimming back and forth, this might be enough to drive you a little crazy. Instead of losing your mind next time you’re at the…
The date of my first triathlon arrived a bit before my ability to perform freestyle stroke for any significant distance—dang side-breathing. Beforehand, quite a few Google searches ensued such as “can I wear a snorkel in a triathlon?” and “can I swim backstroke in a triathlon?”. After scouring through lots of forum posts, I was able to find my answers. To answer the first question, most triathlons allow the use of a snorkel (check the rules of your event), but…
Last Saturday I completed my second marathon. It had been quite a few years since my first, so I had forgotten about the “post-marathon marathon”. That second marathon starts the minute you cross the finish line and suddenly realize that you still have to get back to your car, drive home, and survive the rest of the day. So, here’s a mile by mile breakdown of the post-marathon marathon based on my experience: Mile 1: Locating and then hobbling over to…
One day last year, my wife turned to me and asked if I’d like to do a triathlon with her. There were just two problems. One, I didn’t have a bike. And two, I couldn’t really swim. Yes, I was an elite dog paddler, but actually swimming with good technique for more than 25 yards? That was far beyond me. Next thing I knew, she had me signed up for an adult learn-to-swim class and I was back in the…