The Training Begins
April 02, 2009 | filed in: Sports
As of Tuesday, I started training in earnest for the
Sharks Olympic Distance Classic.
It's combination triathlon/duathlon event. I'll
be competing in the duathlon, which is a 5K run,
a 40K bike, and then a 10K run. It's 34 miles
overall, and since it's not until May 9, it'll
probably be getting pretty warm by then. It'll
be a challenge.
My running is reasonably good right now. I just competed in the SpringFest 12K (~ 7.4 miles) and finished in 62:41, which is an average pace of 8:24/mile. That's not bad, at least for me. I finished in the top half of my age group, so that was a small milestone.
I still feel new to cycling, although I have been at it for a few months. I am embarrassed to admit that today I took my first ride with actual clip-in cycling shoes. What a difference -- I should have gotten them sooner. Yes, it's going to take a little time to get used to clipping in and out, but it's not as bad as I thought it might be.
While the idea of cycling 40K in the race doesn't bother me, I need to be able to do it at a fast pace, and still have energy left for a decent 10K run. What's fast enough? I don't know. I think I might be able to average 20 mph, and perhaps a little better, by the time the race rolls around. I'm not going to be in the 24+ mph club like some of the animals that will be in the race.
It's hard to describe the combination of pleasure and pain inherent in endurance events. Like all participants who try to do their absolute best, I reach a point in every event where my body is pleading with me to stop. My legs feel like anchors. My lungs are working so hard it seems impossible to go on. My heart is ready to burst. I have to play mind games with myself, and recall every cheesy inspirational slogan ever written, to overcome the instinct to quit.
Yet... it's fun. It's rewarding and satisfying. Making the last turn to the finish line, realizing that I am going to make my goal of whatever time, hearing the clapping and exhortations of bystanders (even one person on a corner cheering is ridiculously energizing)... it's all so great.
Why did I wait until I was 42 to start running? Why did I wait until I was 43 to start cycling? I know that, given my late start, in any given race I'll likely never finish first in my age group, much less overall, but it doesn't matter. I am competing against myself... and winning.
My running is reasonably good right now. I just competed in the SpringFest 12K (~ 7.4 miles) and finished in 62:41, which is an average pace of 8:24/mile. That's not bad, at least for me. I finished in the top half of my age group, so that was a small milestone.
I still feel new to cycling, although I have been at it for a few months. I am embarrassed to admit that today I took my first ride with actual clip-in cycling shoes. What a difference -- I should have gotten them sooner. Yes, it's going to take a little time to get used to clipping in and out, but it's not as bad as I thought it might be.
While the idea of cycling 40K in the race doesn't bother me, I need to be able to do it at a fast pace, and still have energy left for a decent 10K run. What's fast enough? I don't know. I think I might be able to average 20 mph, and perhaps a little better, by the time the race rolls around. I'm not going to be in the 24+ mph club like some of the animals that will be in the race.
It's hard to describe the combination of pleasure and pain inherent in endurance events. Like all participants who try to do their absolute best, I reach a point in every event where my body is pleading with me to stop. My legs feel like anchors. My lungs are working so hard it seems impossible to go on. My heart is ready to burst. I have to play mind games with myself, and recall every cheesy inspirational slogan ever written, to overcome the instinct to quit.
Yet... it's fun. It's rewarding and satisfying. Making the last turn to the finish line, realizing that I am going to make my goal of whatever time, hearing the clapping and exhortations of bystanders (even one person on a corner cheering is ridiculously energizing)... it's all so great.
Why did I wait until I was 42 to start running? Why did I wait until I was 43 to start cycling? I know that, given my late start, in any given race I'll likely never finish first in my age group, much less overall, but it doesn't matter. I am competing against myself... and winning.