A solitary light cuts through the early morning fog. A figure in reflective clothing flies through the darkness so fast it's impossible to even discern its features. Several hours later, it's spotted churning through the water methodically, rhythmically, machinelike. Sound like a gifted being from a superhero movie? No, it's just your average triathlete logging her workout before the daily grind begins.
Sometimes it feels like we almost have to be superhuman to keep up with the demands of three sports and our day-to-day responsibilities. After all, most of us didn't start our endurance athlete careers by simultaneously deciding to take up swimming, biking, and running. We all started somewhere specific. For me, it was high school running, As a good--but not stellar--runner, towards the end of my senior year I found myself beginning to ask, "Where do I go from here?" I did my first triathlon on a whim and ended up falling in love with the challenge of completing a multisport race.
Training as a triathlete, though, requires much more planning and patience than just training as a runner. It's so easy to get discouraged and feel as though we're neglecting certain aspects of our workouts in our quest to become the ultimate well-rounded athlete. "How many times did I swim this week?" we think, or "Have I been putting enough speedwork in on the bike?" Sometimes keeping up with it all results in us barely keeping our heads above water.
Though the learning curve is steep, novice triathletes often find it difficult to master new sports while maintaining their background skills. In my case, some things came easier than others. I took to the water well, and swimming soon became my next favorite thing to do besides running. But cycling? Well, let's be honest. Cycling and I don't always see eye-to-eye. Maybe it's because I was born with the legs of a distance runner, or perhaps it's because I'm not used to being stuck in a fairly fixed position for extended periods of time. Whatever the reason, it hasn't always been easy for me to get in a rhythm. But then again, I don't do this because it's easy.
However difficult the going may become, it's important to remember that we don't have to be superhuman to succeed. Sometimes endurance athletes are so stoic and self-sufficient that we believe accepting any kind of assistance is a sign of weakness when the opposite is actually true. Those who aren't afraid to accept support are those who eventually achieve the highest levels of success. The initial difficulty I had with riding somehow magically disappeared when I found myself cycling with my training partners--who also happen to be my best friends. Sometimes it feels vulnerable to lean on others. But the closeness our sport can foster is easily one of the best things about being a triathlete. Today I got the chance to talk to two of the girls who've helped me realize that being a lone warrior isn't always the only strategy, and it dawned on me. Yes, the feeling of personal accomplishment and victory when crossing the finish line of a race you've trained hard for is almost irreplaceable. But there is one thing better than that feeling of victory: sharing it.
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