Same Bat Time, Different Bat Channel

If you're looking for more witty commentary from yours truly you can now find it at www.thefamilyquiver.blogspot.com. A work in progress, but it's coming!

Tri, Tri Again?

I am totally undecided about what to do on Saturday. There is a triathlon I really want to do but I haven't trained for it specifically. It is only a 1/2 mile swim, 18 mile bike and a 5 mile run. How hard can it be?

So before you think I'm totally crazy hear me out. The swim shouldn't be that bad because I am a swimmer at heart...I could swim in my sleep so really it comes down to endurance. I figure a 1/2 mile swim should take me about 10 to 12 minutes at the most and since I can run at a pretty good clip for over an hour, what's the difference really. As long as I don't get kicked in the face or gut I figure I should be fine.

Next is the bike. 18 miles just doesn't sound like a big deal to me for some reason... again remembering that I run between 6 and 8 miles regularly.

The run at only 5 miles should be a walk in the park considering how far I usually run and the conditions I'm used to running in as mentioned in an earlier post. And it's a course I've run before...an added plus.

All in all I figure it should take me about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. I should be able to do that right? I'm usually at the gym for usually an hour and 15 minutes, working the whole time and then running for an hour or more.

Here are the downsides.
1. I haven't trained...although I plan on swimming around the lake in my backyard a few times between now and then.

2. It's been over 8 years since I've done a triathlon.

3. I've had 4 kids since I did the last triathlon.

4. It costs $80 just to enter...what a ripoff for 2 hours of grueling torture...actually 2 hours of an adrenaline high but still a ripoff.

5. It will take up the better part of a morning

However

1. Isn't training, training really? It seems as if it takes a lot of endurance and that I know I have

2. Don't athletes get better as they age? So what if I'm 8 years older right?

3. I had 3 of those kids without any drugs...that should count for something

4. $80 sucks no matter how I look at it

5. It's just one morning, is that really a big deal?

I don't know, I'm torn. I know that triathlons are almost as much of a mental feat as they are a physical one. My mind is strong...I know I can do it. My body is strong...stronger than it was 8 years ago. I would be teaching my kids by example that they can do anything...almost.

Then again, maybe I'm just nuts. I guess you'll have to let me know!