Friday, April 24, 2009

Still Undecided on Triathlons

I'm seriously at a loss. I'm in the worst shape I've been in in nearly 4 years and I'm following an Ironman training routine. After yesterday's [disasterous] run (dare I even call it a "run") I have no choice but to consider my life as a triathlete and if it's worth it. If someone has a strong opinion or knows I'm doing something wrong please leave a comment or send me an email. Otherwise, no matter how alluring the call of an Ironman distance event, after this year I'm done with triathlon and going back to strictly running and biking as cross training.

We as athletes spend far too much time training to be spending it unwisely. That said, I've been doing two workout per day for the past several months: morning cardio and evening weights. I've been doing this in as much as my body will let me. I'm very conscious about when my body says it needs down time and I give it to my body.

After spending months following an Ironman training program and skipping out on my running I've reached the following conclusions:

  • Cycling and swimming in no way keep a person in excellent athletic shape unless done in extreme distances or conditions. Need proof? Go to any lake or pool and check out all the overweight swimmers who are actually good at swimming (hint: there are a lot of them). As for biking, go to any place bikers like to go. You'll make the same observation. Good bikers are a mix of thin and overweight but mostly overweight.
  • The return on the investment of time made in swimming and biking in no way matches the return from running. I've spent more time exercising for this Ironman than I have for any marathon and I'm in the worst shape I've been in in recent memory.

I'm very seriously trying to give this sport its due but to be perfectly honest I'm not seeing what people enjoy so much about it and after this season am most likely going to give it up unless someone can point out what I'm doing wrong. It's expensive, there's a very short season in which it can be done, and a lot of these people I've met are very elitist (go to Gear West for a healthy portion of I'm-better-than-you attitude). Marathons have been an amazingly rewarding experience. Triathlons... almost exactly the opposite.

Below is the horrible run I had which spawned this note.

9 comments:

Kris said...

Hey Jim!
Sorry to hear Triathlons aren't working for you but you need to go with what you love. You are a runner and that's where you are happy. The take-away is that you spent time trying something different, have the experience and now you KNOW what you love to do. For me, I have some of the same negative feelings about just running. It's not rewarding for me to just run, my body hates it, I'm more fit from my triathlon career and crossing the finish line of a run race doesn't compare to the high level of excitement standing at the edge of the water at the start of a tri and crossing the finish line at the end.

We are all different and find different passions in life for different reasons. Go with your heart and as your friend I support you 100%.

Marc said...

Jim,

I am a 6’3” 300 pound cyclist. My passion is cycling. I am neither attractive in my cycling clothes nor ashamed of wearing them. I am a strong biker. I am down 60 pounds from where I started initially. I could be down more if I parted from beer and eating what I wanted, when I wanted.

I have completed a century ride, and a marathon, and recently have started training for a triathlon. I can understand your discontent with combining all three disciplines. I myself wonder if I can do all three proficiently to complete an Olympic distance tri. Kris is right, follow your heart and do what you love.

I know that when I complete my tri season that I will return to cycling as my main fitness component. I want to suggest that you not judge anyone overweight who is out there bettering himself or herself through exercise that they are comfortable with, (be it running, cycling, or swimming). To do so indicates that you are uncomfortable with your own weakness in an area that someone who is overweight excels in while you struggle.

I am not trying to indicate that you are wrong for your feelings, just that you might be short sighted in your statement. Through struggle, we all grow stronger. Stick with your training. Stick with your passion. I wish you success in whatever you decide to pursue athletically. But please don't disparage those who are heavy from chasing their dreams, because they are stronger in a discipline than you may be.

Jim said...

Well spoken Marc. I was writing this in the heat of the moment after a spell of bad weeks in training as well as a lot of frustration in other areas of my life. I won't delete the blog post only because I wrote what I wrote and don't want to ruin my little bit of integrity. You're absolutely right about my rash statements being short sighted and judgemental. It just feels too often that biking and swimming don't have a place in my fitness goals.

What I've come to learn is these emotions are seasonal. With these long winters I cannot get outside to bike and swimming in a lap pool can be frustrating. Top that off with following a workout routine that isn't satisfying and you find yourself questioning your fitness map constantly.

I just did my first century ride and LOVED it. The sense of being out in nature, one with your surroundings, and kicking the extreme crap out of yourself is satisfying. It's as satisfying as a long run. It's that satisfaction I feed off of in running and I've been unable to find in cycling until now. I'm still looking for it in swimming but we cannot make a flower bloom before its time. I'll find it when the time is right.

Thanks for your comment. I'll do better about posting with more fervor and integrity.

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