Having made the decision to compete in my first Sprint Triathlon, I thought it best to enter a training program through a local sporting goods retailer that specializes in running and related activities. My wife, Kimm, participated in the program over the winter and found the structure, training, positive atmosphere, and motivation to be of great assistance. Seeing how much it helped her, I signed up for the program that has targeted the Sherman Lake YMCA’s 10th Annual Triathlon a.k.a. “The Shermanator” as the event to prepare for. Come August, I will swim 500M in a lake, bike 20K, and then run 5K. It actually scares me when I read those words.
Having sat through the introductory meeting, I was glad to see that all the praise Kimm heaped on the staff involved was spot on. I was really glad I chose this route.
There were about 15 of us that were there. I’m not sure how many were or have signed up for the program. It starts Friday morning at 6:00 a.m. We will be meeting at the pool on the campus of Kalamazoo College. We will have a swim work out, move on to bike, and then a run. Eventually we move out to Woods Lake and swim in open water…something we better get used to if we are going to swim in open water with 424 other people all wearing the same colored swim caps with a number on the side. (Mine will be the one stretched REALLY TIGHT) What a sight THAT will be!
When I started this blog, my intent was to get to where I could "run" again. At least run without feeling so out of place. What I've come to understand is that not participating in life is what makes me feel out of place.
As a result, my goals have changed. I have found the concept of "challenging myself to do things I’m not sure I can do" to be exciting. Getting out and participating in trail races is a lot of fun! Kimm and I can do this with the boys as a family.
You set off on one adventure and you find yourself off on another. Isn’t it funny how life does that?
I have not yet completed the first training session but I have already mapped out a “To Do” list of events that a few years ago I never would have imagined myself considering:
1. There is a one mile open swim in a Gougac Lake in Battle Creek in July. I am going to do it…
2. Two separate opportunities to swim 2K in a lake at Camp Roto Kiwan. I am going to do both…
3. I will be leading a group of Cub Scouts on a 5 Mile hike of the Appledorn Trail at Roto Kiwan in order to help them earn badges. I want to do at least one trial run before I have a bunch of boys with me. They can earn a badge in each “season” they do it in and a larger badge for earning all four… I am going to lead these boys on each one.
4. There are several 5K runs my wife is looking at running. I know I will get sucked into a couple of them…
5. There is a Triathlon in Niles in September….
6. There is a Triathlon on the campus of MSU in October…
7. The indoor tri’s will start in December.
Doing...Doing...Doing.....
What the hell happened to me?
Last year I was fretting about signing up to run a couple of sprints at the State Games of Michigan.
Oh yeah. I’m throwing Shot Put and Discus at those again in June.
…and running the 100 Meters…
…and the 50 Meters…
…and participating in the Long Jump (Why the hell not?).
As I was signing the boys and myself up for our events, I noticed a posting that “Champions may participate in the State Games of America”.
I Googled “State Games of America” and learned that this is the “parent” event of the games the boys and I have participated in the last two years. It will be held in June of 2013 in Hershey PA and to qualify, you must have medaled in your States events in 2012…or 2011! Cool!
I then realized that based on our efforts from last year, Max, Sam, and I qualify already!
I think my “To Do” list just got a bit longer….
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