Triple threat

Here’s one thing running has over most other sports — It’s simple. Put on your shoes, leave your house and go for it.  Cycling and swimming? Not so much.

For the past six-weeks I’ve been immersed in the world of triathlon and man, it’s complicated. Yesterday, for instance, I spent more than an hour at my local bike shop getting my bike “fitted”… for the fourth time. Turns out bikes are like wedding dresses — you can buy one off the rack, but it takes loads of alterations until it’s just right. And I’m still not sure I’ve got it. Apparently my “unique” figure — long legs, long arms, child-sized torso — is a special challenge that warrants an unconventional approach. Paul, the shop-owner, thinks it’s super-duper exciting. I just want the pain to stop.

What’s more, when actually riding my bike I’m constantly worried about being hit by a car, focused on figuring out my gears, working on clipping out of my pedals before I fall over and wondering what to do about that freaky squirrel that won’t stop following me. It can be overwhelming.

Swimming seems a little bit more straight forward and my twice weekly trips to the local Y are indeed slightly less adventurous. Nevertheless it turns out my technique is, um, well, total crap, I’m slightly allergic to the pool and  floaties are not permitted in the fast lane. That sucks. Next week I will be squeezing myself into a wet suit for the first time and braving the wilds of open-water (otherwise known as “a lake” to us non-triathlon folk).  On the bright side, wet suits are sexy. Check out the pic I took of me in mine this morning — streamlined in all the right places:

Of course, there’s also the cost of it all. Let’s just say my new bike, helmet, bike shorts, shirts, gloves, shoes, bike pump, wet suit and the Bugatti Veyron Diamond Ltd Model Car mean my kids are REALLY learning to love Mr. Noodles.

But what you should also know is, it’s kind of awesome.  My body is responding to the shock with a welcome sigh of relief. I’m down almost 10-pounds since running Around the Bay and I feel fitter than I have in a long time.  I’m loving that my long runs max out at around 15k, I feel like a total bad-ass on my bike and I’ve gained a new sort of self-confidence being forced to put on my bathing suit on a regular basis.

Of course, running is still “my thing” and the reason I’m training for the tri is to get faster at it.  That said, post-Peterborough, I won’t be parking my bike permanently or hanging up my wetsuit in the storage closet.  Nope you’ll find these things next to my marathon shoes and we’ll see what comes of it.

If you like my blog,  drop me a line and I’ll add you to my mailing list to let you know when updates are on the site. Don’t worry, your e-mail address will be safe with me and my best Nigerian banker friends.