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Pique n' your interest

My First Triathlon

I suppose it’s official and there’s no turning back now.

They’re expecting me in Harrison mid-August to compete in My First Triathlon. And now I’m having second thoughts about the whole ordeal.

What seemed like a good idea two weeks ago is now starting to seem like something that’s going to ruin the leisurely summer I had planned for myself.

My excitement about this new endeavour has waned, to say the least, and now the prospect of this race is hanging over me like a black cloud.

Here’s a sample of the conversation I had last night with my boyfriend, who has been charged with keeping me motivated and inspired for the next two months.

Boyfriend: Did you run today?

Me: No.

Boyfriend: Did you swim today?

Me: No.

Boyfriend: Did you bike today?

Me (finally clueing in): Yes.

Boyfriend: You did?

Me: No (looking very ashamed of myself.)

He then took off on a bit of a motivational speech and I effectively tuned him out and sauntered away into my bedroom.

I was feeling guilty enough at that point. I didn’t need someone else telling me I had to get back on track, keep up the good work, blah, blah, blah. (I may have just lost my motivational trainer with that last sentence.)

Some Whistlerites, who train on a daily basis, may think I’m overreacting a little about the race. But a 400 metre swim, followed by a 20 kilometre bike ride and then a five km race is more than a little daunting for me.

Sometimes it can be a little disheartening having friends training for the Ironman. They make it seem so easy.

I’m worried about a five km run and they’re racing a marathon after a 180 km bike ride, not to mention their lengthy swim.

But here’s the thing. Whereas they’re seasoned pros with this whole exercise training thing, I’ve never done anything like this before.

Like most projects I embark upon, I began with gusto two weeks ago just before I signed up for the race.

I was swimming at Meadow Park, jumping on my bike, going for runs (well run/walks).

And I felt great.

At one point I was sure I’d be setting records at the race, although fortunately I kept that thought to myself.

Maybe, just maybe, I got a little ahead of myself. And now I’ve crashed. I’ve stopped dead in my tracks. The thought of putting on my running shoes again just fills me with dread.

What happened? How could I have burned out so early in the game, especially when I was doing so well?

I should have known this would happen. I tend to get really excited about projects when I first sign up and then the excitement fades away.

My mosaic project is a perfect example.

Last winter I decided I wanted to be "crafty." I wanted to be the kind of person who could make homemade jam on a rainy afternoon or design a homemade birthday card. You know the type.

For months and months I talked about doing a mosaic picture frame. I decided it would be my first project.

The tiles, the frame, and the grout all sat on a shelf high in the kitchen for months before I worked up the courage to get started.

By the time I had glued down five tiles I was ready to move on to the next project. I stuck with it for a few hours and ended up with a really ugly picture frame that sat on the same kitchen shelf for another few months.

Did I expect my first project to be a work of art?

To tell you the truth, I think I did. I was hoping to find my true calling.

And then there was the chair I was planning to reupholster. I picked that up outside the garbage compactor and decided I was going to give it a facelift.

I’d never done anything like that before but how hard could it be, I thought to myself.

Though I’ve talked about that chair an awful lot it’s still sitting at the back of the shed, tattered and worn and taking up valuable space.

It hasn’t changed one bit from the sad old chair I picked up from the garbage.

And then, much like My First Triathlon, there was the first year I signed up for the Vancouver Sun Run.

I’d never run 10 km before but everyone else in Whistler was signing up so it seemed like the thing to do.

As always I started off with all the best intentions. I downloaded the Sun Run training schedule from the Internet, posted it on my fridge, and planned the next 13 weeks for hardcore training.

I went to the gym twice in that time period and I think I ran outside twice. That was about the equivalent of training for Week 1 of the 13-week schedule.

Needless to say I walked the bulk of the Sun Run.

Despite all these patterns I still haven’t learned. And so at the end of May I signed up for My First Triathlon.

A few friends were signing up. I thought it would be a fun camping weekend in Harrison. I thought it would get me shape for the summer.

I didn’t really think about all the work and the commitment that was involved in it.

Despite this column, and despite the past week, I still believe that all is not lost at this point.

I think I’m just going through a particularly lazy week. I’m blaming it on the changing weather for lack of anything else to blame it on.

I’m sure I’ll get back on track.

I don’t really have much of a choice. I’ve told so many people about the event that I’m bound and determined now to complete the race.

But will I train for the race and attempt to get the best possible time?

I guess I can only do that if I get my act together, get my running shoes on and get to work.