What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. This past Saturday I survived my first triathlon. I was born in Erie, PA, and was wondering if I’d die there, ironically within sight of the hostpital where I was born.
I had trained well for it, but was most concerned about the swim. Over the past couple weeks, I had become confident enough that I’d be able to do it, albeit probably more slowly than most of the others that would be in it. What I hadn’t trained for, though, was water that wasn’t calm.
The swim was in Lake Erie, but it was in a bay that is largely protected by the peninsula that makes up Presque Isle State Park. These weren’t large waves, but the small waves were enough to make me swallow water every time I tried to take a breath when doing a freestyle stroke. I quickly abandoned plan A and moved on to plan B, the side stroke. It was slow going, but I didn’t drown!
After I got out of the water, I knew I could do the 13-mile bike ride and 3.5-mile run, so I was home free.
There’s something very cool about putting three endurance sports together, back to back, and I’m looking forward to improving in my next tri.
Have you tried something new and challenging lately?
Gather no moss!
Brian O’Keefe, Chief Activangelist
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Brian, it was great doing the triathlon with you this year, and I look forward to our next one! You did awesome, and I am inspired by the fact that you put yourself to the test doing something way out of your comfort zone. Looking forward to the next one …