Thursday, March 5, 2009

Triathlon and bowling

Excuse my rambling. I have guests in from out of town (the nice thing about living in Vegas) and we've been drinking.

I am bowling. My 'best' sport ever. I am a self-professed loser in bowling. Hold on a minute while I put the lane bumpers up....

OK. I'm back.

It's only the third frame and I'm already out of the running. It's not that I am that far behind. I am close. But I can feel the lead getting bigger.

Much like my life in triathlon:

I am coming off the bike and onto the run and while I feel good, they feel better. I know they do. I can feel their power. This is 'their' game. It's all I can do, to make it to the mile marker.

I can run a 10 minute mile, they'll run 9:30. I run a 9:30 they'll run 9's. Just enough to stay in sight but far enough out of reach to make a sprint pointless.

That's OK. I am getting used to this. This is my genetic/physical lot in triathlon.

I don't mind this. I used to. It used to drive me crazy. I have hated this sport because of this. But I am getting better. I have "redefined what victory means".

Despite what my race results say, I am getting better. I run with a new; better; faster crowd. And yes, they will beat me. Be it a mile or minute.

But I don't care. I have learned that this is for me. I am out to beat myself.

I win!

5 comments:

Kelly said...

I couldn't have said it better. Most of us are never going to be in the front but that is what is great about tri's. It is a test of your personal endurance and training. It is about you growing stronger and better both physically and mentally and at the end of the day we are all in a better place for it

(that being said, It's still hard not to be bitter because your slower and "not a natural". But hey, that's part of growing too)

Team Brazo said...

Well said - I only worry about myself. I figure I end up at the same place as the 1st place finisher -- just a few (ok, many) hours later...

Calyx Meredith said...

You win! You are competing with yourself and improving. Great (GREAT) post!

ShirleyPerly said...

There are lane bumpers now in bowling? I might have to give bowling another chance. I thought it was just throwing money away last time I did it.

Good attitude about tris. I think 99% of us are doing it for ourselves only.

Unknown said...

Never forget the millions of people you beat every race who don't even try to toe the line. The biggest victory of all is in believing that you can and will do something that most people will never have the guts to even try.

Again...you win!