What would life be like?
Monday, March 22nd, 2010Here’s something I thought about this weekend as I was taking my dog for a walk around the neighborhood.
Do you ever think about what life would be like to NOT be a triathlete?
I had that thought. You see over the weekend I had two days off from training. Yeap, two whole days! It was incredible. I slept in until 7:45 both mornings, had a leisurely breakfast and went about my day at a slow pace. I parked my car in the garage Friday night and didn’t get back into it until Monday morning. I didn’t have to go anywhere or meet anyone for two glorious days!
One of the things I’ve learned about my needs over the past two years of triathloning (is that a word?) is every once in a while I need one weekend day as a rest day. This helps me get caught up on stuff around the house and I also end up feeling like I had a real day off. Usually my rest days are during the week when I’m working….so yes, they are rest days from training, but not a “day off”.
So as I lay around in my pj’s and watched some tv while I tended to chores I started to envy people who don’t do triathlons.
Ahhh.....The Average Jane Athlete Life
“How Outrageous!” you might say to yourself. But I did. I actually started to miss the time when I was just an average “Jane”. Where all I would do was go lift weights 2-3 times a week for an hour, and then do some type of cardio 3-4 days a week. Life was sooo simple then. I had plenty of free time, I had weekends to lay around, I had time to read a book……you get the picture.
When I put it in those terms, I have to ask myself - why in the world would I want to put myself through the paces and training of being a triathlete and an long distance triathlete at that?
As I sit here writing this the one phrase that keeps coming to mind is- because I get to push myself! With pushing myself I get to expand myself. I get to know myself better. I get to face my insecurities. I get to see just what I’m made of!
A friend came over and brought lunch on Saturday. As we were talking she said that she didn’t think her body would be capable of doing the mileage that I do in my training. My response was, “you don’t know until you try.” See, I had no idea I could run 30 miles or bike 100’s of miles. But if I had not tried I would not have known. If I had just accepted my fears and not pushed through my insecurities I would never have known that I am capable of running 30+ miles or of finishing an Ironman.
While I secretly may envy the average Joe and Jane athlete….in my heart I am an endurance junkie! I want to continue to see “what I’m made of”. I want to expand my idea of myself. I want to continue to push through my insecurities. I want to explore the land untraveled…..
And while it may sound inviting to be an average “Jane” athlete again the truth is, I really do like the millions of hours of training I do. I love seeing what I’m made of. I love (ok Like) facing my fears and self doubts….I continue to be committed to Going The Distance.
