Tri/Bi/Du-athlon

On my bucket list is to participate in a triathlon (again) as a team member (read: I don't want to run). When my local YMCA announced its annual February triathlon with the option to NOT participate in one of the three events, I thought "this is for me!" ... so I'm counting it as a bucket list item. Because my original objective was do to a triathlon without the running. ;)

Which brings me to the name of the event. The Y has it listed as a Tri/Biathlon. Right? Makes sense?

A friend so kindly pointed out the actual meaning of Biathlon as: "a composite athletic contest consisting of cross-country skiing and rifle sharpshooting." Hmm....not exactly the intent of the club, I'm sure. But brings me a little grin.

The way the Y has it set up is you can choose from several levels, starting at 3 mile swim/20 mile run/60 mile bike (you have all of Feb to do it). I thought "I could easily do the swim and bike, but the point is to challenge yourself." Which means I went to the next level: 6 mile swim and 90 mile bike. I used to swim summer league, so I figured it wouldn't be a problem. And I've biked 90+ miles in one day before, so I knew that wouldn't be trouble. And it hasn't been (so far).

Here's the rub, though. I've easily done 2 sessions of 12 miles on the bike. Cake. On Friday, though, I decided to do a little swimming (1 mile = roughly 1600 meters). When I'd swim leisurely before, swimming 1000 meters was about par for the course. I wouldn't be too winded, could swim 200-300 consecutively, no problem. WELL ... let me just say IT AIN'T SO EASY AFTER PUTTING IN ALMOST AN HOUR ON THE BIKE. After 50 meters (down and back), I was huffing and puffing. Seriously. After 100 meters, I decided swimming an entire mile/1600m was unrealistic for the day. I felt like I was wimping out and only did a half a mile. When it was all said and done, I huffed and puffed my way into the hot tub in the ladies locker room and collapsed. Maybe this isn't going to be as easy as I thought?

My goal is to keep powering on the bike, and maybe work up to more time in the pool. But if I keep going at my current biking pace, I should be able to finish off the biking in about another week and a half, which will still leave me plenty of time (and energy!) to tackle the swimming.