Let the Race Begin

My desire to get back into the pool turned into a much bigger aspiration when I met a few members of the Brigham Young Triathlon Club at the pool one morning. It didn't take much convincing on their part to get me signed up. I competed in two triathlons a couple years ago and already loved the sport. I would still have to wake up at 5:48 a.m. to train with them at 6:00 a.m., but I'm more motivated when I have a team. However, my early morning workouts no longer consists of just swimming laps. To be a triathlete, I also need to bike and run. My experience with swimming gives me an advantage in the water, but I am definitely a fish-out-of-water when it comes to the biking and running workouts! 

The two triathlons I completed in 2010 and 2011 were Sprint distance, which fortunately didn't require much biking and running. Sprint is the shortest distance of the four triathlon competitions:

1. Sprint: consists of a 0.47 mile swim, 12 mile bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run.
2. Intermediate (or Olympic distance): consists of a 0.93 mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, and a 6.2 mile run.
3. Long (also known as a Half Ironman): consists of a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run.
4. Ultra (or the Ironman): consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26.2 mile run.

The BYU Triathlon Club is currently training for an Olympic distance race in Arizona on March 23.This will be the longest race I've ever completed. Despite the daunting 25 mile bike ride and 6 mile run, the Ironman distance becomes  enticing the more I train for the Olympic distance triathlon. I am confident in my ability to complete the 2.4 mile swim, and, I am confident that with the right amount of training, I can complete an Ironman. Granted, this hefty goal will take some time. In order to properly prepare my body for the stress that comes with completing an Ironman I am giving myself a year. Within that year I plan to:

• Compete in 4 Olympic distance triathlons.
• Run a Half Marathon in Summer of 2013.
• Run a Marathon in the Fall of 2013.
• Compete in a Half Ironman in the Spring of 2014.
• Compete in an Ironman in the Summer of 2014.

Sadly, I already strained my body. Running with the Triathlon Club proved to be too much for my legs. Being a swimmer for 12 years minimized the amount of impact my body was exposed to. I kept running through the pain in my legs that I naively diagnosed as shin splints back in November. However, the doctor's educated diagnosis turned out to be micro-fractures on my right tibia. This means walking with crutches and no weight bearing activities for at least two weeks! Fortunately, that doesn't rule out swimming or calisthenics. I've already made a workout schedule that will hopefully keep me somewhat in shape as I hobble around with my boot. I am determined not to let this injury keep me from pursuing my dream to complete an Ironman in 2014. 

While my exposure to triathlons is still minimal, I greatly admire triathletes with the little knowledge I do have. Triathlons are in a league of their own. They  require mental endurance beyond any other sport because technically they are a combination of three sports: swimming, biking, and running. Triathletes have to prepare their mind and body for the amount of stress that comes with the three stages. This requires an unusual amount of training. Triathletes alternate training in the pool, on the bike, and around the track. A recognized triathlete isn't just a runner, or a biker, or a swimmer; they become all three.

Even though a triathlon is composed of three stages, that doesn't mean a triathlete gets a break at the exchanges between the swim, bike, and run. The race must go on. A triathlon is usually set up around a single transition area where  competitors leave their gear for the bike and run. The race continues here just as it does in the water and on the road. Wetsuits are ripped off and shoes are slipped on. Experienced triathletes learn to put their shoes on after mounting their bike in order to shave a few seconds off their transition time. Whatever the distance, the goal is to be out of the transition area as quick as possible.

Gear can also play an essential part of the race. Unlike typical swimmers, triathletes wear wetsuits. These wetsuits help with buoyancy allowing the competitor to spare energy for the bike and run. As for the bike, triathletes purchase various accessories to optimize their ride. Aerobars and helmets contribute to an aerodynamic position on the bike. Components and clip-on shoes maximize each cycle while wheels reduce resistance and weight. Bikes are constructed out of carbon for the light, yet strong frame. Whatever level a triathlete is competing at, there is a selection of accessories they can choose from to equip their bike. When it comes to the run, shoes are crucial. Not only do triathletes want supportive and lightweight shoes, but they also want shoes they can slip on fast. Some shoes come with special shoelaces that tighten with a tug, others don't even have shoelaces. Throughout all three stages, competitors wear trisuits. These trisuits consist of biking shorts and a tank top. However, competitors are welcome to change out of a swimsuit into shorts and a T-shirt depending on the amount of time they want to spend in the transition area. The great thing about triathlons is, despite all the gear that is typically associated with the race, anyone can race with a basic swimsuit, bike, and tennis shoes.

I don't have the best bike, or special wetsuit and shoes, but I'm counting on my training to get me through my Ironman. It can take years to build up the physical stamina required to complete such a lengthy race. Hopefully my years as a swimmer have given me a proper foundation to start training on. Competitors have been known to become delirious and sick towards the end of an Ironman, yet their mental drive pushes their exhausted bodies across the finish line. Despite the physical demand, I am excited by the challenge an Ironman brings. Although I won't be registered for the Ironman until 2014, the race starts today for me. Let the training begin.