I never intended to blog because there's a certain ego-centricity to it all and I used to think Facebook and Twitter and Daily Mile sufficiently covered it all. But in the past few months, as I've spent countless hours trying to learn and glean all I can about triathlon training, I've stumbled on some informative and entertaining blogs all centered around training for events that most of the population has no desire to do...run, bike, or swim. I also learned that social networking can be done with purpose and not just to pimp my services...since I have no intention of trying to get clients using this format (though I may pass on useful legal tips from time to time).
What I've discovered are hundreds of fitness junkies out there, connecting, sharing, encouraging, and bonding. I also discovered that they're just like me: planning, training, questioning their training, looking for new techniques, new foods, questioning their foods, in fact obsessing about food, never feeling certain that they have all the answers and always seeking them from others. It doesn't take my Psych background to know that these are traits of most Type A personalities and that most endurance athletes have Type A traits, at a minimum. I've never considered myself a Type A personality, so I'll continue to hide in that closet. But I digress...
I want to inform and entertain, but to also reach out to the regular guy or girl, since that's what I am. I'll never be Craig Alexander, a Kenyan barefoot runner, or Lance Armstrong, and I'll never have the time to train like them. I won't even be the top guy in my Age Group...at least for a few years anyway. I didn't beat cancer, or lose 150 lbs, and I have no desire to consistently pound about barefoot running, anti-iPods in races, Road IDs, or sharing the road...though each of these topics will likely come up. But I do care about my health and fitness and I definitely have enough pride to care about my performance. Quoting BQ@40:
"A marathon is a race. Run your own. Yes, I know that there is a popular movement to “just finish” a marathon, but let’s face it: If you’re capable of finishing a marathon, you’re capable of racing a marathon."
I'm not knocking those who enter races hoping to just finish. I'm glad that they're out there and hope that they catch the bug forever. But that's not me. I think the most anti-climactic thing for me in a long time was last August when I ran the America's Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego. It was my first race in 14 years (HB's 4th of July 5K) and the longest distance I'd ever run, including that 10th grade summer when I wasstupid crazy enough to run X-Country to keep my soccer stamina up. I finished 13.1 two weeks prior to the AFC in my training and knew I could finish. When I ran the event, there was no elation for "just finishing"...in fact, I was disappointed that I missed my goal by 4 minutes. And why? Because I didn't properly Gu or eat at Mile 9 or 10 when I needed it for the last 2 miles that some genius decided to have finish off the race UPHILL! Sound like a familiar retro-view? Yeah...Type A.
Anyway, we all have seasons in our lives. Last year was my season to run and run and run and race a half marathon. This year is my season to enjoy my new sport of cycling, get my swim stroke down, knock 45 seconds off my mile pace and compete in various races...sometimes for charity, socializing or for competition within myself. This blog references 70.3, which is the number of miles in a Half Ironman. I learned last week that I didn't respect the triathlon (stay tuned). Registering for a Half IM at vineman.com in July 2010 is further evidence of that.
But then I figure I'm capable of "racing a Half IM" so that's what I'm going to do...
What I've discovered are hundreds of fitness junkies out there, connecting, sharing, encouraging, and bonding. I also discovered that they're just like me: planning, training, questioning their training, looking for new techniques, new foods, questioning their foods, in fact obsessing about food, never feeling certain that they have all the answers and always seeking them from others. It doesn't take my Psych background to know that these are traits of most Type A personalities and that most endurance athletes have Type A traits, at a minimum. I've never considered myself a Type A personality, so I'll continue to hide in that closet. But I digress...
I want to inform and entertain, but to also reach out to the regular guy or girl, since that's what I am. I'll never be Craig Alexander, a Kenyan barefoot runner, or Lance Armstrong, and I'll never have the time to train like them. I won't even be the top guy in my Age Group...at least for a few years anyway. I didn't beat cancer, or lose 150 lbs, and I have no desire to consistently pound about barefoot running, anti-iPods in races, Road IDs, or sharing the road...though each of these topics will likely come up. But I do care about my health and fitness and I definitely have enough pride to care about my performance. Quoting BQ@40:
"A marathon is a race. Run your own. Yes, I know that there is a popular movement to “just finish” a marathon, but let’s face it: If you’re capable of finishing a marathon, you’re capable of racing a marathon."
I'm not knocking those who enter races hoping to just finish. I'm glad that they're out there and hope that they catch the bug forever. But that's not me. I think the most anti-climactic thing for me in a long time was last August when I ran the America's Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego. It was my first race in 14 years (HB's 4th of July 5K) and the longest distance I'd ever run, including that 10th grade summer when I was
Anyway, we all have seasons in our lives. Last year was my season to run and run and run and race a half marathon. This year is my season to enjoy my new sport of cycling, get my swim stroke down, knock 45 seconds off my mile pace and compete in various races...sometimes for charity, socializing or for competition within myself. This blog references 70.3, which is the number of miles in a Half Ironman. I learned last week that I didn't respect the triathlon (stay tuned). Registering for a Half IM at vineman.com in July 2010 is further evidence of that.
But then I figure I'm capable of "racing a Half IM" so that's what I'm going to do...
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