FOLLOW YOUR HEART.....Triathlon is NOT going anywhere. YOU have doing SUPER well at bike racing and having great success and it is YOU...you thrive in that environment, so do not fight it...
I love racing bikes. I love it. She's right. I do thrive in this environment. Even though I suck, I have hope for improvement - unlike triathlon, where I know I will always suck.
This is a picture of me after my second triathlon ever, taken 7/07, 3 years ago. I had my 1st road bike with huge clip on aero bars. An entry level Fuji. Look, the reflectors were still on it (I hadn't met Dominic yet). I went to the race alone. I didn't know anyone. I just showed up, raced, and then left. I was so proud of myself though. It was a 1500m swim, a 40k ride and a 10k run and I think I finished in 3:04 or something.
I was out riding early before work the other day and I had a kind of epiphany. I really do not miss triathlon. I don't miss the double workout days. I don't miss the insatiable hunger I could never seem to satisfy. I love being able to lounge, and not worry if I am going to get that 3k swim in. I love saying fuck it and just going down the slide with Dominic and laughing and splashing and having fun and enjoying my summer with my guy.
And not taking things so damn serious.
I have rode something like 2,450 miles since mid-March. That's just road bike miles too. That doesn't count any mountain biking. Add in a few swims here and there, and that's all I train these days. I've lost 6lbs and am leaner than I've ever been. I am consuming half of the calories I was consuming last summer.
I have raced 'cross. I have raced road. I have raced one criterium (ONE place away from the podium). I am not scared anymore. I love bike races. I love the vibe, the people (most of them), and most of all, the friends I have made this year. In last week's race I had people cheering from me in every direction, it was rad.
I was riding my bike the other day and this Madonna song, Ray of Light, came on:
Faster than the speeding light (* im not) she's flying;
Trying to remember where it all began;
.......And I feel...like I just got home!
It sounds lame kind of but I do feel at home on my bikes.
15 comments:
Alrighty then. Follow your heart it is. ;)
...nice, judi...i love it...with more trainer, you're only gonna get better & faster...
...besides...you can do some running for cross & if ya wanna swim on occasion for fun, hey, go swim..
...saw my favorite band on sunday in a beautiful location outside in the country...absolutely wonderful gig...
...the name of one of their albums from the past ???...
...'follow your heart'...
...whoops...
...that should read either (1)- with more training ...or else...(2)- with your trainer...
Me, too! :-)
I wish I had your courage to bike race. I did 2 big tours and after my crash I just am scared to take the chance. I LOVE riding my road bike... maybe someday I'll give it ago again.
It's good to know what you like. Makes things a hell of a lot easier.
I get bored easily so I like the variety of tri.
you are at home on those two wheels. your passion for it is evident.
and Jen is right...tri will always be here IF you ever decide you want it again. For now, do what you love
Here is an idea, just do what you want to do. You don't have to "make a decision."
One year I decided to start racing road bikes. I got my USAT license, had some good races and even catted up. The next year I couldn't be bothered and was back racing tris. I never made a decision, I just did what I felt like. This year I may do 2 races. Short ones.
You may decide one day that you want to do more tris. Maybe not. You may decide to form a punk band and give up racing completely.
I just like that you used the word "rad".
I don't care what you do as long as you keep posting on your blog ;) It's very enjoyable. Great work with everything you do!
That's awesome! It's important to do what you love and love what you do! Suggestion to try dropping the "I suck" comments and instead focus on what you did well and what you need to do to obtain your goals. In any sport you will find those who are better and those who are not as good as where you are at the moment so it's fleeting to compare (trust me - it's a path of never living up to your own expectations). Take the pressure off, keep having fun, and you'll get there much faster! BL
...i agree w/ anon 4:17pm...
...drop the "i suck" bizness...it just sez "i'm insecure & i'm self-conscious about it"...
...it's negative & it foments more of the same...pep talk yourself, don't play on your weaknesses...develop your strengths 'cuz you've got a lot going for you...surprised your coach hasn't read that shit & called you on it...
...even if you're not good at something, develop a mantra that reminds your subconscious that you're trying...
...positive reinforcement...
It's a great feeling to recognize what makes you happy. Just go with it. :)
BL - actually i DO suck. and i know it. it's hard to focus on what i do right cuz most of the time i suck.
awesome post. and i love that song.
Word, lady. I know exactly how you feel.
I think as triathletes (maybe because we're so used to enduring--you know, grit your teeth and get through it) we persist in our sport longer than we should. Like we're past the point where we enjoy it, and we forget that it's just a hobby. It's not like it's our job to do two-a-day workouts and suffer just for the sake of suffering. Sometimes we just need to move on to something that we'll be able to enjoy better.
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