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.

More About Swimming

I just learned something interesting about myself the other day.

When I got back from the 20K in Des Moines it was humid and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. I was trying to figure out what I should do with myself. It was hot and I couldn't go running. My actual schedule said I should be cross training and this gorgeous day needed to be utilized. As I was putting my stuff away I noticed a little bag tucked away at the back of my closet. It was my wetsuit. At that moment I decided it was time to bust that thing out and see what it's all about. I grabbed the wetsuit, hopped on my bike and headed over to Shady Oak Lake.

It was exciting. I was putting on my expensive piece of latex for the first time since buying it. Standing on the shore of the lake I was plotting my course. I'd swim literally straight across the lake from one beach to someone's back yard.

Did I care if they didn't like that? Absolutely not. If they wanted to stop me they could come in after me.

As I slowly walked out into the water it felt nice. The sun warmed the shallow part of the lake very nicely and it felt great. All my gear was on and I was ready to do. I hopped into the lake and took about two strokes when it hit me. Not a rock but a sensation. A horrible sensation.

After two strokes the pretty shore turned into a deep and dark chasm.

The bottom? No where to be found.

What's down there? I don't know.

And with that I turned right around and made a mad dash for the shallow part again.

Yes folks... apparently it's true.

I'm afraid of the water.

Seriously. For about an hour I tried to work up the courage. Out and back... out and back... for one hour. That was the pattern. I just couldn't summon the strength to get out into that water. After all, there's no telling what the heck is out there just waiting for me to hop in.

If someone was with me I know the story would have been different. But by myself? No chance. And with that my swimming adventure was cut short. That was not cool.

But, I do have a small sense of relief. After checking out the Department of Natural Resources, I see I was swimming at the deepest part of the lake.

Hopefully tomorrow will help shed this irrational fear.