Training for a Triathlon

For the last couple of weeks I have been considering the possibility of participating in a local triathalon.  I have never partaken in any sort of athletic event outside of high school gym class.  Completing the triathalon will be a challenge but I know that I will be able to cross the finish line if I train hard.

There are three phases of a triathlon; swimming, biking and running.  This one has a quarter mile swim, 15 mile bike ride and a 5k run.  Today I hit the gym with these numbers in my mind.  I hopped on the stationary bike and began peddling.  I have a suspicion that the odometer on these bikes isn’t very accurate as I only managed to peddle 3 miles in 20 minutes.  That doesn’t seem to be on par with what I am able to do while out on the road with my bike, where I am able to go 10 miles in a half hour, without really breaking a sweat.  I was sweating profusely during my 3 miles on the stationary.

After my bike ride (which I had intended to be 15 miles) I got on the treadmill for a jog.  I ran for half an hour and didn’t quite make my goal of 5k (3.1 miles).  I kept trying to push myself but my body didn’t want to go any further.  Running is going to be the most challenge for me.  First, I am not very good at running.  I’m trying to get my average time down around 10 minutes for 1 mile so that I can finish the run in half an hour but it is a challenge.  The second problem with the run is that it is preceded by the swim and bike ride.  I’m not sure how the swim will affect me overall, but I expect to be slow as I have not practiced my swimming in a long time.  The bike ride should be okay but I know that by the end of the 15 miles I won’t be looking forward to a 5k run.

Obviously I have a lot of work ahead of meand I will be spending a lot of time practicing the various skills I will need in order to complete the triathlon.  I expect to be spending a lot of time at the gym and on my bike over the next month.  I know that when I cross the finish line, even if I am dead last, I will have a great deal of pride knowing that I accomplished something that many people wouldn’t even have the ambition to attempt.  All of my hard work will have paid off.