If you have been following this blog since I started it (almost a year ago!!), you’ll recall that I normally train alone. It’s not that I choose to train alone, it is that I’m fairly intimidated by other triathletes- mainly those who have been doing this for a long time and have done longer distance races like 70.3 and IM. I still consider myself a beginner and worry that on a group ride or group swim, I’m going to get dropped. But you only get better when you train with others, so last Friday and Saturday I did just that!
On Friday morning, I got up bright and early to join other TriFit members at the pool workout led by Rad. He also coaches the USC Triathlon team. I’m glad I went because my coach was there and I would have been in BIG TROUBLE if I had hit that snooze button on my alarm. Anyway, I was nervous. VERY NERVOUS. But I got in and started. I was in the beginner lane and realized halfway through it that I was actually the fastest in that lane. Phew! Nothing to be worried about. I only struggled on one technique drill that required kicking. With one leg doing all the work, I was MUCH slower than the others. But I did it! So I’ll be there this Friday and the next and the next!
Then on Saturday morning, I got up bright and early (I’m not kidding. I was up at 5:45 so I could have my coffee and breakfast) and headed out to Malibu to meet the group for a bike ride. I didn’t feel ready for this step but I was confident that I would try my best and go from there. Well, I managed to do pretty well. I felt strong and kept up for the majority of the ride! I did some climbing and am feeling better and better each time I get on the bike! Woohoo.
So it just goes to show that new experiences might be scary and nerve-wrecking at first but often times do not need to be!
Until next time, happy training!
P.S. I also managed to get in a 1 hour and 20 minute run on Sunday. Needless to say, my social life is in the gutter again because all I do is work and train. Little sacrifices for the long term.
