Hi again everyone. If you missed it, there's a recent (!!) welcome post below, written only minutes before this article. One reason I dusted off this old blog was to welcome all the new visitors the site is getting; another reason was to keep you up-to-date on my training, goals, and all that other, far more interesting stuff.
In case you missed it, I'm a triathlon fanboy. It's not because of any natural talent; I'm not fast, nor have I ever won even my division in a race. The reason is pretty simple: no other sport is as practical as the triathlon. Especially if you train the way I love to. Let me explain.
Think about those rare life-threatening situations. No, not with guns. If you've got one of those pointed at you, it's roulette and nothing more. I'm talking about the 4th grade type life-threatening situations, where there's a crowd of bullies and you're the nerd. You have two options: curl up in a ball and protect your vitals as best as possible or run fast and long. My recommendation? From 4th grade experience, I can tell you that it's better to run than to curl up. Believe it or not, kicks in non-vital areas can be both painful and life threatening.
Wait, so how does this 4th grade scenario play into triathlons OR adult life? I won't make the claim that 4th grade bullies are nearly as frightening and effective against me these days, but I can tell you that the ability to run long and hard has saved my hide many, many times. Running is a key part of the triathlon, of course (Swim, Bike, Run for the uninitiated), so you walk away far better prepared.
I know you're thinking, "So run a marathon. Why bother with the swimming and biking?" Fair point. Again, speaking from experience (not 4th grade in this case, though), swimming is a skill that can save both your life and another's. Strangely, if you hang out around the water, both opportunities will present themselves.
"Ah, but this biking thing", you say, "you certainly can't claim that this is a life-saving skill!" To you doubters, I ask: HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A JACKIE CHAN MOVIE?!!? Both the ability to ride and swing a bike you've "borrowed" from some hapless bystander can save your life.
I rest my case.
Triathlons are irrefutably the most practical individual sport on the planet. If all non-bully kids were triathletes, our nerd population would be far less emotionally scared and fit. Probably more socially adept too.
I apologize; I wax philosophic. My more legitimate personal reason for being a triathlete is because it's hard. In fact, at the distances I compete (well, ok, I'm not competitive *per se*), it's quite impossible without serious and consistent training. I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I'm pretty ADHD; if you know anything about the associated symptoms, you'll realize that "consistent" isn't a word used to describe my crowd. This is an effort to prove to myself that I can be consistent and in so doing find the tools that I can use to bring consistency to the rest of my life.
Surprisingly, to me at least, this has largely succeeded. I'm not as consistent as I should be in all things, but I've found means, previously unknown to me, to help me become more consistent. Surprising and nice, all in one package.
Before closing, I'll explain the "Broken Bones" bit in the title. I'm signed up for the St. George Ironman this year, but that's starting to look a bit doubtful. I have a fracture in my right foot that is going to make training (at least the running) very difficult. I'll give it a run (hehe), but I may have to drop out or at least drop the distance.
Enjoy the water, the ride, or the run (or all three)!
