by Coach Eric

I remember setting up my transition area for my very first triathlon.  I was racing the Door County Sprint Triathlon and I was wondering if I even belonged there.  Sure, I had begun running a couple years before, and played recreational baseball until early high school, but I certainly didn’t consider myself a qualified athlete for this event.  One of the first things to strike me while waiting to start that race was that the people in that transition area were just normal people.  I had it in my head that only those who more closely resembled “Greek Gods” were able to be successful in this sport.  I quickly realized how wrong I was in thinking that.

As talk with people at various events and workouts, I have heard how there’s another idea out there that you have to be “so fast” in order to enter a triathlon.  That you need to swim a lightning quick 100, hold on to the highest cadences and mph on the bike, and finish things off with a sprinted run.  Let me tell you, that isn’t the case, certainly not for us age groupers.  Yes, there are time cut-offs and there is a minimum pace that you must maintain to finish within the time limit, and a decent cadence on the bike is absolutely beneficial.  However, those efforts don’t have to be superhuman.  Sure, those aiming to land a spot heading to Kona approach racing that way, but I for one, let them have that.  Under control and steady can, and will, get the job done.  If you don’t believe me, you can look up some of my own Ironman times and paces.

I encourage you to let go of this self doubt!  Everyday people compete in triathlon all the time and they have a wide variety of experience that they bring to the sport.  Don’t presume that you aren’t fast enough or question if you have the ability to complete a triathlon, like I did.  Give the sport, or a new distance, a shot.  The rush of wonder and pure awe that you get as you finish a race-from 5k to sprint to Ironman-is like nothing else.  But you have to experience it for yourself.  Trust me, you’ll be great!

Eric is a Triathlon Coach with Experience Triathlon. As leaders in the endurance services industry, Coach Eric and the Experience Triathlon team help athletes of all ages and abilities achieve success in training, racing and life. Learn more about Coach Eric and Experience Triathlon at www.experiencetriathlon.com