Tri-Life Evolution
In the pool this morning I was thinking about riding my bike. Yeah, I don’t know…
I thought of the SEBA (Steelhead Epic Brick Adventure) workouts from a few summers ago… (click the link to visit the July 2005 archive page. The whole month is all about our Steelhead adventures). It was my first official big distance training during my first season, obviously to get ready for my A race at the time, Steelhead.
It was also my first half-Ironman, nearly my first triathlon for that matter. I was really terrified of the 56 miles. In fact, I remember wanting to die the first time my awesome training partners, VM and Shelley and I swam the 1.2-mile course, then turned around and did the 56-mile ride. Guys, I totally suck, how am I going to ever pull off this race!? VM assured me that he felt he sucked just as righteously the first time he swam, then rode the course, but with each time it got easier and easier.
And it did.
SEBA number two's ride proved to be better… VM was right. Race day came and after 30 miles I felt like I’d just gotten on my bike. 56 miles now is a pretty basic training ride. A pretty basic training ride!?
Damn……
I remember being freaked out just utterly at the prospect of a half-mile swim. Now 2,000 yards is the absolute bare minimum to justify even getting wet.
Wow... we evolve.
I know that shouldn't be such a profound statement because, yeah, duh, we practice, we improve, but to sit beside yourself and look back at who you've been, and at what your limitations were not all that long ago is pretty motivating for me. It makes me think... you know, I might think I suck at something right now, but this time next year maybe one of my current goals will be standard training fodder.
And I wonder how much else of life is that way – how many other obstacles or fears do we house, that with a little time and practice and perception adjustment can become as unthreateningly common as Cheerios in the morning.
Potential is amazing. Determination is liberating. So the way I see it, there's not much out there that need be terribly intimidating...
I thought of the SEBA (Steelhead Epic Brick Adventure) workouts from a few summers ago… (click the link to visit the July 2005 archive page. The whole month is all about our Steelhead adventures). It was my first official big distance training during my first season, obviously to get ready for my A race at the time, Steelhead.
It was also my first half-Ironman, nearly my first triathlon for that matter. I was really terrified of the 56 miles. In fact, I remember wanting to die the first time my awesome training partners, VM and Shelley and I swam the 1.2-mile course, then turned around and did the 56-mile ride. Guys, I totally suck, how am I going to ever pull off this race!? VM assured me that he felt he sucked just as righteously the first time he swam, then rode the course, but with each time it got easier and easier.
And it did.
SEBA number two's ride proved to be better… VM was right. Race day came and after 30 miles I felt like I’d just gotten on my bike. 56 miles now is a pretty basic training ride. A pretty basic training ride!?
Damn……
I remember being freaked out just utterly at the prospect of a half-mile swim. Now 2,000 yards is the absolute bare minimum to justify even getting wet.
Wow... we evolve.
I know that shouldn't be such a profound statement because, yeah, duh, we practice, we improve, but to sit beside yourself and look back at who you've been, and at what your limitations were not all that long ago is pretty motivating for me. It makes me think... you know, I might think I suck at something right now, but this time next year maybe one of my current goals will be standard training fodder.
And I wonder how much else of life is that way – how many other obstacles or fears do we house, that with a little time and practice and perception adjustment can become as unthreateningly common as Cheerios in the morning.
Potential is amazing. Determination is liberating. So the way I see it, there's not much out there that need be terribly intimidating...
posted by Wil at 11:15 AM
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