This week, I looked at the 2009 and 2010 race results for the Lanikai Triathlon and compared the various winners' times to my training times. I think that might have been a mistake. I am a naturally competitive person. I think most lawyers are. I played competitive sports growing up and into college. I love to win and I hate losing. I also think it's really important to push yourself to try new things, have different experiences, and learn as much as you can. Obviously you don't have to compete in sports to do all those things, but that mentality has carried over into my training. I originally set a goal to finish in 1:10:00. However, looking at the results from the last two years, I have a new goal. I want to finish in the top 10-25. The only problem, of course, is that to do that in the last 2 years would have required a time of less than an hour. Right now, my times are nowhere close to that. Yeah yeah, I know. It's still early and it's my first triathlon. I don't buy into those excuses. I'm a relatively athletic person who should be able to make a strong showing.
I went out and bought two books on triathlons the other day - Your First Triathlon (yes, it does sound like a child's book) and Triathlon 101 - and have found them both informative, but maybe a little simplistic. They each say that the goal of your first triathlon should be to "finish with a smile." Yes, I swear it says that. I feel like the book is written for parents whose kids are retarded but still get the "everyone's a winner" trophy. I smile when I win. You should not be smiling when you finish in 100th place. I understand that the book is designed to encourage everyone, but this whole "you're a winner if you try" crap is exactly the kind of mentality that led Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to say that America has turned into a country of wusses. That said, I think the books' nutrition chapters about the proper foods to eat to boost energy and build muscle will be incredibly helpful.
Anyway, I am getting off track. So far, in week three I have been doing a pretty good job of staying on pace with the training. My uncle was nice enough to send me his really nice triathlon bike so I have a fighting chance out there. When I told him that I planned to just get a Craigslist mountain bike, I believe his exact words were "hey rook, get serious. converse high tops and gym shorts ain't gonna cut it." I appreciated his enthusiasm. This is another reason I love having a big family. There is always someone there to encourage you and help out whenever they can. I'm pretty excited to get it all set up. In fact, there is a triathlon club here in Hawaii that holds weekly bike rides, seminars on fixing/tuning up your bike, etc that I am going to start participating in. Island Triathlon & Bike is going to be a great resource, I think.
So here was my Week 3 Schedule:
Monday - Swim 25 minutes
Tuesday - 40 minute run (was supposed to be 48 - I got bored) and 20 minute bike (again, should have been longer, but I got bored and tired)
Wednesday - weight training + 45 minute bike
Thursday - Off
Friday - 38 minute swim + 29 minute run
Saturday - 45 minute bike + 10 minute run + weight training
Sunday - Pro Bowl - too much drinking to train
And of course, if anyone has any training suggestions, post them in the comments! Now that I will be riding a bike outdoors (I have previously been riding stationary bikes in the gym), I'll be posting pictures of my training progress.
I thought you weren't drinking during your training, yet every week you get too drunk one night and don't train?? That isn't going to get you 10-25 place dear!
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