Triathlon – Just Do It

So many new and budding triathletes start their journey worrying about things that are out of their control. And to often their excuses, fears, lack of confidence and assumptions result in them “not doing it”.

Does this sound familiar?

• “I can’t join a swim squad because I’m not good enough”
• “I’ll start once I’ve lost 5 kilograms”
• “I’m not fast enough to do the club brick session this Saturday”
• “I’ll join a group ride once I’ve bought a better bike”
• “Besides, I won’t keep up and they’ll get mad”
• “If only I had a Garmin Fenix 3”
• “I’ll look stupid being the last one”

If so, you’re not alone. I did the same thing.

For a while there I never thought I’d be able to run more than 500m, ride more than 10km or swim more than 100m without stopping. I waited for over a year before I had the courage to join a swim squad. I ran alone until I could run 5km non-stop. I even bought a new TT bike but was then too scared to use it because I thought people would see me as an imposter.

The problem is, when spend your time comparing yourself to others, nothing actually happens.

So my simple tip is to follow Nike’s advice: Just Do It!

Stop comparing, stop worrying, stop over thinking …… Just … Do It.

Triathlon is about changing your life one hour at a time. It’s about learning something new each time you turn up for a training session. And it’s about the incremental changes you feel, see and experience along the way.

Just getting out of bed one hour earlier in the morning is more than most people will be doing today. It doesn’t matter that you don’t run the whole way or if you’re the slowest in the slow lane. All of us were at one point. It’s about being a better you. Not a better “insert someone else’s name who swims, rides or runs faster than you do”.

It doesn’t take guts to turn up to a training session when you’re the best. The real courage is turning up for a run session when you know you’re probably going to have to walk most of the way. Or turning up for a swim squad in the middle of winter when you know everyone else in the house is toasty warm in bed. Or joining a new training group despite not knowing anyone. But you turn up anyway. That’s courage!!!

I reckon Nike’s on to something. To often we let things get in the way of “Just doing it!”

So all you new or budding triathletes out there please take a chance, step out of your comfort zone and try something new despite being afraid. Change your life one hour at a time. I dare you.

How will you change your life this week? Let me know.

Keep Smiling Tri Monkeys.