The Goal
My goal is to run an Ironman Triathlon in 2010. It currently seems a bit daunting to me as I have yet to even try a sprint triathlon. But what is the point of having a goal if it’s easy to accomplish?
I have little experience planning for something like this, so let me know if I am making a huge mistake, but to learn the basics of running a triathlon, I think it is best to start small. I plan on entering three or four sprint triathlons in the coming year and then stepping it up to Olympic-distance to close out the summer. Next year maybe run a few Olympics, step up to a half-Ironman, and then finally go for the big one.
I have good endurance cycling skills, though I do need to work a bit on speed.
I have never run before and it was suggested that I’d be doing my knees a favor if I lost some weight before starting to run. So I’m working on that.
I am a fairly decent swimmer, though I have not even tried to swim any kind of long distance in years. I have more qualms about the running part than I do about the swimming part, but that might change once I get into the pool.
Starting everything might have been easier had I started this in the summer or the fall, as Grand Rapids winters are not really conducive to running, biking, or swimming. But I suppose an indoor lap pool, spin class, and a treadmill are better than nothing.
Filed under: Cycle, Run, Swim
|
Digg! this story.
|
Leave a Comment
A bit of history and the grand plan
Hello and welcome. My name is Jim, I am a former professional bicycle mechanic, presently enrolled in Law School, and currently training for a triathlon. Well “currently” is not really accurate, I currently have several fractured bones in my foot. It’s healing nicely and I should be back at it soon.
I have never really been in shape before so this is somewhat of a challenge for me. I’m 6′1″ and about 215lbs. I’m not obese, but I’m certainly not in shape. I played sports as a kid and kept relatively active, but I was never really all that fit.
Throughout my undergraduate years, small fitness efforts had all failed to catch on, I needed something larger. After I graduated from college in 2007, I decided to ride a bicycle across the country. It was something large and momentous, and I had hoped it would it would jump start my initiative. I had done a few organized bicycle rides before, and a few weekend trips, but never anything major. A buddy and I rode from San Diego, CA to El Paso, TX in about 2 weeks, and I completed the trip the next summer riding from El Paso to Jacksonville, FL.
The problem, at least as it appeared to me, is that although I could sit in the saddle for hours on end and log copious amounts of miles, my fitness level really had not changed the way I thought it would and although I geared a large portion of my life around riding a bike, it was a very limited engagement. Two weeks after I rode into the Atlantic Ocean I was back doing nothing for the rest of the summer.
So the new goal is completing a triathlon. I picked the triathlon because it will force me to get into shape. I already dropped fifteen pounds just preparing to get in shape, although I probably have another fifteen yet to lose.
So here we go. I’m registered for a Sprint Triathlon at the end of April. That gives me about 120 days to get my ass in gear and make it happen.
Filed under: Cycle
|
Digg! this story.
|
Leave a Comment
Hi, I just joined the Sweat365 community
I’m a man from Grand Rapids MI United States of America, born in 1984.
My favorite sports include: cycling triathlon
My goals are: Run my first triathlon.
This is my training blog which I am using to keep track of my fitness progress.
Please come by and read my blog. It will help me stay motivated and keep me on track as I achieve my fitness goals!
Filed under: Uncategorized
|
Digg! this story.
|
Leave a Comment
