[Forked from the entire race report for ease of reading]
The actual triathlon training started in April 2018, but in reality the idea was sown in December 2017 (no actually it all started in 2012 when I ran my first race, but that is a post for another day).
I have always loved the idea of having a goal, and having a stretch goal for which I have no preparation whatsoever, makes me feel in touch with my half Punjabi nature (I leap before I look). In December last year, I realized that I have always wanted to push myself to my physical limits and see how far I got. I don't have significant weight issues (though losing a few pounds is always welcome) and I don't have ambitions of becoming a pro sportsperson either. But for the past 5 years since I ran my first long distance race, I would train and run for 3-4 months, and then I would carb-load for the next 4-5, until it was time for my next racing goal. This trend worked well as I finished my graduate school, moved to NYC, switched jobs, until I moved to California in March 2017. Now, I love south bay, but it is also no NYC. I no longer had the same busy schedule of being at work for part of the day and being out on the streets for the rest during the week and all of it on the weekends. I started to feel a little restless. I love my research area, so I completely pushed myself at work!
In June 2017, I auditioned and joined an amazing theatre group for Improv (again a post for another day), but my urge to push myself physically stayed. In July 2017, I ran the SF half marathon (the second half) and finished, which has always been my goal. However, I didn't train as much as I had in the past and again, the pace was nothing to be proud of.
I have always been fascinated with the idea of a triathlon, especially the fact that it pushes you to not one, but atleast three different body limits. Before I had moved to California, I used to visit often. I have close friends here, some of whom I have known since undergrad, Neha is one such awesome friend. She and Sumit have been involved with Team Asha and have been running/biking/triathlon-ing (?) with them for several years. I had so far only been on the contributing via money side of that effort, but whenever I discussed it with both Neha and Sumit, they were both super encouraging and very much gung-ho about it- this was a huge impetus! When Neha forwarded the announcement for Asha Triathlon program for 2018 on December 5, my mind was already set. By December 6, I had submitted my 'application.'
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I talk about all of these since each one of these elements will play an important part in my actual training and mindset throughout.
December is the time of the year when I really think about life etc more deeply (not that I don't do it at other times!). But I realized that precious time is ticking by, and if I don't set myself down the road of pushing myself physically now, then it'll unnecessarily become harder for me, given my tendency. Around the same time, I signed up for another race, where I totally struggled to run 15k. Of course, the medal and the hot chocolate on the course made it worth it, but at times like this, I have to ask, is this all I have?
Next: [Part II of Race journal: Tri Santa Cruz, August 2018] March-May 2018: the actual training begins
The actual triathlon training started in April 2018, but in reality the idea was sown in December 2017 (no actually it all started in 2012 when I ran my first race, but that is a post for another day).
I have always loved the idea of having a goal, and having a stretch goal for which I have no preparation whatsoever, makes me feel in touch with my half Punjabi nature (I leap before I look). In December last year, I realized that I have always wanted to push myself to my physical limits and see how far I got. I don't have significant weight issues (though losing a few pounds is always welcome) and I don't have ambitions of becoming a pro sportsperson either. But for the past 5 years since I ran my first long distance race, I would train and run for 3-4 months, and then I would carb-load for the next 4-5, until it was time for my next racing goal. This trend worked well as I finished my graduate school, moved to NYC, switched jobs, until I moved to California in March 2017. Now, I love south bay, but it is also no NYC. I no longer had the same busy schedule of being at work for part of the day and being out on the streets for the rest during the week and all of it on the weekends. I started to feel a little restless. I love my research area, so I completely pushed myself at work!
In June 2017, I auditioned and joined an amazing theatre group for Improv (again a post for another day), but my urge to push myself physically stayed. In July 2017, I ran the SF half marathon (the second half) and finished, which has always been my goal. However, I didn't train as much as I had in the past and again, the pace was nothing to be proud of.
I have always been fascinated with the idea of a triathlon, especially the fact that it pushes you to not one, but atleast three different body limits. Before I had moved to California, I used to visit often. I have close friends here, some of whom I have known since undergrad, Neha is one such awesome friend. She and Sumit have been involved with Team Asha and have been running/biking/triathlon-ing (?) with them for several years. I had so far only been on the contributing via money side of that effort, but whenever I discussed it with both Neha and Sumit, they were both super encouraging and very much gung-ho about it- this was a huge impetus! When Neha forwarded the announcement for Asha Triathlon program for 2018 on December 5, my mind was already set. By December 6, I had submitted my 'application.'
---------
I talk about all of these since each one of these elements will play an important part in my actual training and mindset throughout.
December is the time of the year when I really think about life etc more deeply (not that I don't do it at other times!). But I realized that precious time is ticking by, and if I don't set myself down the road of pushing myself physically now, then it'll unnecessarily become harder for me, given my tendency. Around the same time, I signed up for another race, where I totally struggled to run 15k. Of course, the medal and the hot chocolate on the course made it worth it, but at times like this, I have to ask, is this all I have?
Next: [Part II of Race journal: Tri Santa Cruz, August 2018] March-May 2018: the actual training begins
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