I’ve always wanted to do a triathlon. Seriously. Since I was a swimmer in high school, triathlons have been on my list of goals to achieve before I die. But as a teenager who didn’t plan on dying like ever, I figured that I have lots of time left for the cardio-trifecta.
Fast forward to today, and despite my youthful ambitions, swimming past, love of spinning classes, and obsession with running I am not writing the Amanda Runs/Bikes/Swims New York blog.
I’ve thought about it from time to time. I even signed up for the New York Road Runners Sprint Tri, and then never showed up for race day. So what gives?
Triathlons are hard. The Olympic distance involves a swim of 1500 yards, a run of 6.2 miles, and biking lots of miles. We’re talking 2+ hours of racing and three outfits.
Also, they are expensive. I don’t want to buy a bike. Where would I put it? A friend of mine soberly and quite earnestly suggested that I buy a bike rack and mount it to my…ceiling? Ummm, really?
Open water swims freak me out. This video demonstrates why I am scared out of my mind to attempt a triathlon swim in a lake, ocean, river and even a pool.
Things I’d rather do than an open water swim: go to the dentist, clean my apartment, eat raw garlic.
The transition stations scare me. How am I supposed to change out of my Speedo into my cycling gear in two minutes? And what if I accidentally knock my bike over? Do we play domino bikes?
But those are not the real reasons that I haven’t done a triathlon yet.
Those are real excuses.
And the thing about an excuse is that once I realize I am inventing a silly reason to avoid a goal, I cannot justify my procrastination any longer. But that doesn’t mean all the fear goes away. On the contrary, it’s magnified a bajillion times.
So I did the only thing I could thing of to deal with all this excuse-making and scary-thoughts: I signed up for a triathlon.
Well, actually, I signed up to volunteer for the New York Triathlon this summer which will give me guaranteed entry into next year’s race. Best guaranteed entry program ever.
Which means that in 2013, I am running, swimming and biking a triathlon. Finally.
How do you conquer your fears? Does committing to a race or event motivate you?
THAT IS SO EXCITING! I bet that after volunteering at the race you will feel much more comfortable with the idea of participating. I’m interested in triathlons also, but a lot of the same factors are holding me back.
Committing to a race is definitely a huge motivating factor for me. If I have a training plan I do a pretty good job of sticking with it. When I don’t, I tend to do a lot of piddling around.
Or it will just give me a thousand new things to worry about! Ok, i’m going to stay positive about this.
triathlons intimidate me too! I’m just starting to get into swimming, but can’t imagine actually competing with it AND biking. Like you, I don’t see myself buying a bike anytime soon. Running is my only true love for now!
Running is my true love too! I doubt triathlons will become a thing for me. But never say never!
Congrats on signing up! I was intimidated by triathlons and had just about every excuse you have (except I have a bike it’s just a really heavy crappy bike that doesn’t fit me). My friend talked me into doing a sprint tri last summer and now I’m addicted! I bet you will become addicted too!
Haha, I don’t think I can afford a triathlon addiction.
you’re brave! tris scare the CRAP out of me! i prefer both feet on the ground, so i’m sticking with running. i have a fear of drowning (and getting kicked a lot) and then a fear of crashing on the bike. but i’m so very impressed by triathletes. finding time to run is hard…finding time to run, bike, AND swim is really hard!
OMG, I forgot about bike crashes. That scares me too.
that would scare me SO MUCH. you are so brave.
awwww, thanks. I am scared too!
That’s awesome! The idea sometimes pops into my head of doing a tri- but then I remember I can’t swim to save myself and I would be so far behind the I would probably be still getting out the water when most people started the run!
Sadly signing up for a race doesn’t always motivate me. I think its because I know I can always pull out with no fall out. But if I am focused on it and I know it will be an awesome day, then it does give me some training motivation.
I agree that signing up for just any race doesn’t motivate me, but if I sign up for one and make a big deal of it on my blog and to my friends and family and that does motivate me. But I’ve dropped out of races before too!