Terrier Triathlon Team
Posted by Admin on December 11, 2009 in Training
After much thought, I’ve decided to finally join a triathlon team. As I go into this, my 10th season of multisport, it’s become apparent that the margins for improvement are becoming increasingly smaller. That’s partly due to some speed – I have gotten a little faster each year – but mostly because I don’t have enough training time with people who will push me to my limits. I can only push myself so far. Some friends find it remarkable that I can get up early to swim, do twice-a-day workouts, play sports on weekends after long rides/runs, etc., and while I suppose there is something to be said for self-discipline, the reality is that I don’t feel that the quality is there. Sure, I follow general themes of establishing a base fitness level in the winter, speed/interval work in the spring, and race preparation/peak maintenance in the summer, but not as well as I should… and I know this.
A couple of weeks ago, I spent an hour with the head coach of the NYC-based Terrier Triathlon club. I actually met him at the Malibu Triathlon in 2008, and again at the St. Anthony’s Triathlon in St. Petersburg, FL in 2009. I had seen him around the city countless times previous to these destination races, but it was the fact that we were both NYers in a faraway land that made my introduction to him seem more appropriate. When we talked a couple of weeks ago, it was to see how good a fit the club would be for my goals, personality, and lifestyle, and for him to get to know a little more about me and my history. The local triathlon community is somewhat small, so he knew my triathlon coach for the Lake Placid Ironman in 2005, and various other people who have mentored me over the years. In the end, he invited me to a couple of workouts to see if I liked how they did things. I did go to a spin class, and unfortunately missed out on the swim session, but I felt immediately good about the people and the style of instruction.
So, without much hesitation, I made my decision. I’ll join as just a regular club member without many perks for the bulk of 2010, but come the Fall, I’ll likely up the ante and get one-on-one customized coaching in anticipation of Ironman South Africa which takes place in April 2011. I’m excited about this new approach to multisport training and racing. With teammates, many of whom will likely be light years faster than me, I’ll be pushed to work much harder but also smarter. I want and need this. I feel like I’m ready to get to the next level. This might be just what I need to achieve some of the lofty goals I’ve set out for myself.
My only concern is their color designation. It’s brown/beige/white, kind of like the colors of a Jack Russell Terrier. No blue. I love blue. This is going to be a problem.
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