Oops… I Did It Again

Friday, 07 November 2008

I just can’t seem to stay away from triathlons! I participated in a Sprint triathlon this past weekend, and I am compelled to sing its praises. First of all, the triathlon had a few things going for it:

• It was local.
• The distances were short.
• The weather was fantastic.
• It was fun.

I did the bare minimum as far as training, so I did not expect fast times. I just did it to do it! Sure, I went as fast as I could, and just like life in general, there were people both slower than me and faster than me. I even recognized some familiar faces from past events, and it occurred to me that there is an entire sub-culture of triathletes! Just this morning, I noticed yet another bumper sticker that said SWIM, BIKE, RUN.

I highly recommend triathloning because it is do-able, and you don’t even have to be a great athlete. It isn’t expensive either, and other than a half-way decent road bike, you don’t need anything other than running shoes, swim goggles and a swim cap. Most importantly, it involves cross-training, which works the body more holistically. You are less likely to get injured than when you just stick to one sport and use the same muscles over and over again. Cross-training really shakes things up; it boosts your metabolism and stimulates weight loss when you’ve reached a stubborn plateau. Not only is cross-training good for your body, but it’s also good for your mind. It’s hard to get bored when you get to do something different each day!

I also like to work on manifesting my desires utilizing the Law of Attraction while I’m training. When I go for a run, I dedicate the first mile to thinking about everything I am grateful for, and the rest of the run is spent visualizing. (I do, however, admit to occasionally running with my IPod and listening to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Bee Gees and Badfinger!) When I’m swimming laps, I repeat a positive affirmation for every lap I do.  When I’m biking, well, I mainly focus on not falling! All in all, it is a wonderful way to get in shape and stay in shape. And you are never too old to do it! Well, I have not seen any triathletes in their 80’s…yet.