How Do You Eat an Elephant?: tri-bloggers

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Results

It's the end of the semester and Summer marks my midway point of my Master's degree, which I am sincerely hoping allows me to transition back into one of those kickass PhD's I applied for about 2 years ago (doesn't seem that long, but it was.)

So I am sitting here knowing that I should be working on something, but trying to remember what.

Hmm, let's see.

Final #1 - done.
Final paper #1 - done.
Final paper #2 - done.

Ok, so I only have final #2 and I've already started working on a piece of it.

Could it be I actually have a free (and guilt-free) half hour on my hands?!?!

With that in mind, I wanted to take a few moments catching up with some of my fave bloggers like Karen and Bob. Karen has a great race report up about Rev3# Knoxville, and it got me thinking . . .

I used to write half-decent race reports.

Where did they go?

I flipped through the last year's worth of races and I couldn't tell ya. Half of them aren't even really documented and the other half are "Hey I raced . . . here are the results." In fact, it looks like I pretty much just skip right to the results for ALL of them lately with some lame excuse like, "I'll tell ya more later." Then I talk about what I learned from this race.

I haven't even told you about how I'm almost back to my normal size, and how I lose weight at the rate of 2 pounds per year compared to most people's a few pounds a month (that is not an exaggeration; last year at this time my low was exactly 2 pounds more than I am now). Thanks to my no-thyroid. I could tell you how I need a new wardrobe but that ain't cheap, and how happy I am to get back to my normal size again, but instead I just say, "thanks to the thyroid meds, I'm still losing weight." No backstory. Just results.

At first I wondered why this was. I used to love sharing my sorrows and triumphs. What I did wrong, what I did right, how the weather was, what my friends said. But lately it just to take more creative energy and time than I have.

And then I also realized that I've spent the better part of last year waiting on results - from my dad's tests for his heart, from my cat's tests for his tumor, for my mom's chemo schedule, and for the latest round of tests I am going through to find out if my cancer is back.

Next up for me is an upper endoscopy, which won't even be scheduled for another month or so, so an ENT doc can look around inside my neck and confirm what's going on. The CT scan and ultrasound say the tissue is recurrent cancer, but my bloodwork says it is not. So the endoscopy results will confirm which one of those is right.

Results, damn it.

Here's the funny thing. With all of this chaos going on in my life - both what I share here and what I don't - you would think I would be kind of down in the dumps. You would think I would be slogging through a mire of misery. You would think I would be sad, angry, and frustrated.

And I have those reactions. I have VERY strong reactions. (Ask anyone who's ever lived with me - I get SUPER emotional when I first find out about something upsetting!!) And I doubt myself. A LOT. (Ask anyone who's ever gotten one of my two-paragraph philosophical text messages.) But every second after that is filled by amazing people and places and experiences, and it doesn't take long for me to remember how lucky I am - blessed, some would say.

No, I don't have a perfect husband, I don't make a bazillion dollars, I'm not the hottest chick on the block, I'm not some award-winning PhD - I am just enjoying my life and the people in it. No matter what happens, I pretty much fast forward to the fact that I am so happy to have the right people in my life, to have a job I enjoy that pays the bills (even if I can't go out and afford my new wardrobe), to be overall healthy and enjoying everything around me, and learning every single solitary day.

No, lately, I skip right to the results.

For once, I don't think that's such a bad thing.

BLOGS: 12 You Should Read in '12

I originally started blogging for several reasons. One was to keep me straight as I trained; the accountability was important, and my original tri mentor told me it was important to get my goals written out. And one was because I like to write and wanted to become a better writer. And another was because I liked the other bloggers a lot.

So, for 2012, I am going to do 2 things: one is share some of my old writings with you so I can inspire myself to get back into "writing" to actually write (and try to improve at it). Maybe there will be something that sparks a creative flame.

The second is this: I'm going to share a list of 12 people I follow, and why you should follow them too. (Hint: you'll notice the theme of balancing "real" life with "tri" life is common!) There's something for everyone here - whether you're trying to juggle a social life with training, parenthood with your own hobbies, or learning what it's like to be yourself for the first time in years.

Muppets on Parade

Although it focuses on the fantastic accomplishments of her training (HELLO! Ironman much?!?!), Molly's blog is always full of ridiculously cute pics of her "beardie boys," the bearded collies she raises and shows. (She recently added a St. Bernard puppy and he . . is . . ADORABLE.) Follow along as they bark, bounce, and run.

A Code Geek's Tail
Check your ego at the door. Not only is Wes capable of spinning a killer race report, he's also one of the most "real" people on "teh interwebs." He is the antithesis to the obsessed triathlete - he loves life, and he balances training, coaching soccer games, eating, and drinking all with such zest and wit that you can't help but love him.

140 Point 6 Miles...Of Awesome!!
KC has had an amazing journey through the world of Ironman. One of my favorite things about KC's blog: gear reviews! Also: I can't tell you how many other amazing athletes whose blogs I've found because KC follows them or they follow KC. (KC's blog was nominated for one of the Top Blogs of 2011).

Running down a dream and Tri-ing to have a good time
Speaking of balance . . . Alili's latest challenge is figuring out how to balance new motherhood with a career and triathlon. One of the latest introductions into her life (besides her toddler) is dance. Alili is positive, grateful, and upbeat. She has also struggled with some thyroid issues very similar to mine recently.

Run Bitch Run
Isn't the title funny enough? RBR's blog is not for those lacking a sense of humor or afraid of the occasional f-bomb. Whether it's a ridiculously full race schedule (marathons and trail runs and ultras, oh my!) or the people who annoy her at work, this is the place to go for a hearty chuckle.

Couch Potato to Ironman

Prepare to be inspired. Duane started out tri-ing to adopt a healthy lifestyle and lose a significant amount of weight. Along the way, he has been completing triathlons, getting closer to his goal, and learning a lot about himself. He is a fantastic, caring, and positive individual who spedns a great deal of his time encouraging others to be healthier, too.

Everything Good

Tea is the first blogger I read who made me realize that any situation could be fun and funny (and she inspired me to learn how change fonts and colors.) A mom, triathlete, marathoner, and business owner, over the years, her blog (like mine) has seen many incarnations. One thing remains unchanged: her posts are always unique, insightful, and interesting.

My little corner of the internet ...
Marlette is not a triathlete. Marlette is, however, a young lady who has had a lot of interesting experiences moving back and forth from Florida to New York and exploring issues of living live and promoting equality. (She did just get her first road bike, so there's hope she may tri some day. I'm working on her.)

Discom-BOB-ulated Running
BoB's a feisty Floridian who is pretty much always running and laughing. One of the things I love about her blog is that she admits she used to be your typical 20-something party girl. Now, while she is still a knockout in a cute outfit, she is an accomplished athlete who still finds time for a cocktail with friends every now and then. How can you not love that?!!?

Heather Stanford, Professional Mom
Remember when I said that some of you could relate to balancing motherhood with your own hobbies? While I haven't succeeded in convincing her to do a tri (yet - she hates swimming), she does like to run. One of my favorite recent entries focuses on how to be a positive body-image model for your daughters.

Working it out...
Karen is not only a serious triathlete, she's a tennis player, too. (Talk about balancing.) Her blog is full of fun giveaways from her sponsors, awesome race reports, and the occasional blurb about food. Since I like all of these things, I follow her regularly. (Oh, by the way . . . she just issued a 70.3 fitness challenge).

TriathleteTalk

Kyle's blog is very new, but he has a lot of potential. He's a younger guy who attended one of the schools where I TA and RA. Kyle is trying to qualify for the Ironman World Championships - he went from being inactive and overweight to an 18-minute 5k. Yowza. I found Kyle through my friends at Cat One Fitness and Central Florida Cycling.

ENJOY!

Postcards from the Road, Day 3

You've probably noticed that I've decided to go private with my blog (you wouldn't be reading this if you didn't know that, right?) I started thinking about how I also put a lot of this on MySpace, but I only share the MySpace entries with friends. I kind of wished I could do the same here, so that I wasn't putting all my "bidness in the screet," so to speak. Then another blogger made me realize we could go private, and I thought, lemme give this a try.

I know I can be off-putting, if not offensive, with my observations about my life and the lives of those around me. I grow a huge pair of balls behind a keyboard; whereas in real life I'm afraid to tell you what I really think because you may not like me, in the blogosphere, if you don't like me? You're only two clicks away from closing my page and hitting up someone else's. When my blog was public, I started feeling like I had to sensor myself. For example, the comment I wanted to make to my IT Manager the other day, which I ended up deleting. If you saw it before I deleted it, you understand.

Now, this whole business is a double-edged sword . . . I started blogging to hear myself talk and had this deranged thought that my crazy-ass stories about my truth-is-stranger-than-fiction life and my bizarre sense of humor coupled with my half-decent writing skills would get some attention called to me and help me realize my long-forgotten pipe dreams of having more writing published. When I got pregnant and then lost the baby, I really lost patience for sugar-coating shit and my newfound gumption "in real life" translated into even cheekier, snarkier bloggery. So I thought I'd get closer to that whole getting-published-nonsense if I started really being me and writing about the REAL stuff. After all, it's funnier, more dramatic, and I don't have to hide anything or make anything up - and wouldn't people rather know I had a soul, instead of knowing me as this overweight-frustrated-medically-challeneged-newbie-triathlete, training like a fiend just to make the middle of the pack?

Nope. They sure as hell wouldn't.

All most of my blog visitors cared about was my miles on the road or yards in the pool. "Oooh . . . 40 mile ride! 18pmh! NICE!" "Aaaah...3km swim! Sweet!" "Hey! 8.5min/mile time trial! Good job!" But let them see a few lines about a trip or my relationships and all you heard was fucking crickets. You see, when it boiled down to it, few people gave a shit about the real person behind the keyboard. And those of you who did, for whatever reason, have hung around over the years for both sides of the insanity, and are here reading this drivel right now.

So, anyway . . . .

I'm sitting at Mom's feeling unspeakably depressed. I was supposed to fly back Tuesday, but I am borrowing Dad's spare car and I need to drive it home, so Dad has suggested I leave tomorrow morning, cutting my visit down to only 3 days from 4.25. (He offered to let me drive it so that I can offload my payment-heavy Prius and cut back some $$$$. Which I desparately need to if I want to pay my bills and actually afford a gym membership. Don't think I'm all that lucky; he's making me pay the payments while I drive it. Which means I need to get rid of the hippiemobile, like, yesterday.)

I hear Kona still has a limp and Girlie is still hiding from Karime. Even so, I don't want to leave. It's beautiful and quiet here; so drama-free and comfortable. My parents are here to support me, and I need the support so badly. No one really knows how "not okay" I am right now. I'd like to think I'm bulletproof - I'm not. I pretend everything is getting better - it isn't. I'm not the recklessly optimistic, carefree person I was 3 or 4 years ago - I've gone from being a little intimidated by my illnesses to flat-out fragile and sad and scared and lonely. The weather here is nice, too - less humidity to make me feel yucky. I could run every day or cycle up and down the mountain.

I actually priced apartments and did salary research on the area, because I've thought for a long time about going to grad school at UT Chattanooga, which is about 45 minutes away. Now, with my job boring me endlessly and my future looking shit-tacular, I'm trying to figure out a way to make some serious changes.

It just seems like I haven't had enough time here to enjoy being out of the loop of my normal life. I feel as if the calm, safe cocoon around me is going to dissappear the minute I step foot on Floridian soil, and it's making my last day here unbearably sad. I cried silently through most of lunch, although I don't know whether that was out of hunger (I didn't get enough to eat and I couldn't decide what else to have) or actual sadness. Either way, that's pretty pitiful. And bless my parents' and aunt's hearts - they're going to get more of it when I drive home tomorrow, too.

What I want to know is, why does an almost-30-year-old woman still need her mommy so bad, and what can I do to make it stop?

(And no, I have not run/walked yet today.)

I'm Sorry if I Lost You

I was getting sick of my layout. I wanted to give myself a nice, fresh bloggy start, maybe with a pretty background that didn't look so much like all the standard ones. And, while the couple I picked are very cool, they automatically replace a lot of your widgets {and gidgets and gadgets and whosits and whatsits} with their own. I have a QTF - Quick Trigger Finger - and I forgot to copy things down before it replaced some of my stuff, like pics and blog rolls and things of that nature. So those of you whose blogs I was following, I'm sorry if I lost you . . . I am trying to get everyone back on, little by little. It is hard to keep up with everything on the intrawebnet, so it will take me some time.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch . . .

I have mountains of laundry to fold. MOUNTAINS. And almost none of it fits. Thus, every morning goes something like: wake up (too late, because I couldn't sleep the night before and I just fell into deep sleep by the time the alarm went off ), rustle through whatever's still clean, make sure it buttons, see if I can wear it unbuttoned if it doesn't button, find something that covers all the ensuing fat rolls, and hope I have time for makeup and a dog-walk. (Neither of which happened today, by the way.) (By the way, please note that you should feel sorry for me, not the dog - Kona is one spoiled m'f'er.) This morning shouldn't have been too bad, seeing as how I only had 3 full glasses of wine last night and I stopped drinking (and eating) several hours before bed. But I've woken up some mornings, after drinking an entire bottle immediately before sleeping, and felt infinitely better than I did today. I'm not sure whether to blame it on the food coma or the crying jag. Either way, when I look in the mirror, my eyes are so swollen shut that I look like I'm a)from a different planet or b)have been doing drugs all week. (A is significantly more likely to be true than b, in case you were wondering, but even if it was true, my parents are obviously doing an excellent job of concealing my otherworldly origin, so even I do not know the planet from which I hail.) And, again, nothing fits. So what goes perfectly with exhaustion, physical illness, emotional trauma and pain? Ahhh, yes. Humiliation.

Let's weigh in, shall we?

I step on the scale (I will admit that I dropped a few f-bombs on it before I dropped myself on it), stood there cursing under my breath for a few minutes, and, momentarily, the digital readout responded: "Exactly the same weight as every other day this week." (It didn't say those words, of course, it said the NUMBERS. And not outloud. It doesn't actually talk. I just read what it shows me. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!!) I breathed a sigh of relief - this weight means being pregnant shot me up 7 pounds (but I had lost 5, so it's techncially only 2) -yet it still means my eating habits this week are not quite as bad as I remember. (And yes, in case you're wondering, I am one of those people who almost instantly sees the result of a bad or good week of eating/working out reflected on the scale by as much as 5 pounds) I toasted a whole wheat bagel with some light cream cheese and a few slices of lox, and headed to work.

I'm dying for rest. A hot beach and a cold drink, even though I can't swim. My eyes burn. My head aches. I'm supposed to be trying my contacts again today, but I guarantee they're not going to last, although I already feel so shiteous that maybe I can just blame it on them. One of my girlfriends asked me to go out with her tonight, but I don't know what's better for me - staying home, resting, and possibly not folding the laundry again because I'd rather read and sleep, but in the process being alone and feeling like a giant sad wussy for the 4th night in a row, -or- going out for a while and feeling like complete ass on Saturday morning. Besides, my motto is there's nothing you can't get through with a lot of sarcasm and a little booze. Important to note here that the operative term is a little booze. I've learned the hard way that a lot of booze just exacerbates your problems, particularly when you're puking and an emotional wreck the next day. Not a pretty combination.

Saturday is a big day - I'm going to a birthday party for my girlfriend's 2-year-old. It's going to be interesting to see how I handle it. I don't like many kids, but she is a trip. I call her mini-me - I swear that, every time I talk to her mom, who's one of my closest friends, this little girl is talking about, doing or eating the same thing I am. When I'm around, she follows me all over and expects me to get her out of trouble (which she gets into a lot.) That doesn't happen - I'm a tough customer, no matter how cute and 2 you are. Saturday afternoon, I get to meet one of my favorite tri-bloggers and soon-to-be spin instructor for dinner. After that, all I want to do is lay around with coffee and a book. Hell, that's all I want to do all weekend. Or, on the beach with a daquiri, as aforementioned.

Now, I know what you're thinking. A 25-year-old woman (again, fake age) with the weekend all to herself and plenty of friends should be going out doing stuff, right? In any case, I should be taking it easy on myself. The problem is, I don't know what taking it easy on myself constitutes. Does it mean trying to jam my time with all kinds of activities so that my mind doesn't wander, or does it mean trying to spend lots of quiet time by myself, resting and relaxing?

I'll figure it out. In the mean time, can someone bring me a pillow and a blanket? There is absolutely no concentration going on over here. My face hurts. (Yes, I know. It is also hurting me to look at it.)

For Jayme, Tea, Vic and Dawn

This entire post is dedicated to several women triathletes who have made a giant impact in both my tri-life and my real life. Their names are Jayme, Tea, Vic and Dawn. (And yes, there is a reason I listed them in that order.)

At a certain point in some women's lives, we realize how vital it is to have strong, positive female mentors. I've reached that age. I won't harp on my circumstances, but what most people don't realize is that I have always been an athlete - and something or someone always got in my way. In elementary school, it was gymnastics with Olympic potential and not enough money to continue lessons; middle and high school, figure skating and not enough money to take lessons; high school and college, running and schedule conflicts and illnesses. I also used to be a positive, relatively quiet person - I wasn't always this in-your-face and grouchy about my situation(s), but I've (sadly) let the adversity make me slightly bitter.

The influence of the four of these women is helping me to slowly find that positive, self-assured person again.

Their ages range from 30s to 40s; their backgrounds and locations are all different; but these extraordinary women have a few things in common. First, all of them triumph over difficult circumstances ON A DAILY BASIS. Second, they've all learned to juggle their challenging lives with the challenging sport/hobby of triathlon. Third, they've managed to keep their sense(s) of humor during all this chaos; and finally, they are all the REAL DEAL. No sugar coating. Their chins and their attitudes are nothing but straight up. Finally, they've all been a huge inspiration in the short time I've known them, and I have learned something incredible from each and every one of them.

Jayme "IM Able" - Downington, PA

Jayme is first because she did the NJ Devilman this weekend . . . . just so you know, I hope to mimic her results on my upcoming half ironman, but I also hope to be more like her "when I grow up."

Time: 7:50:17
Swim 1.2 Mile 0:45:54 199
T1 0:02:53
Bike 56 Mile 3:44:44 202 Rate: 15.00
T2 0:02:24
Run 13.1 Mile 3:14:25 197 Pace: 0:14:51

Jayme is one of those people who has plenty of time to devote to all her friends and family - even though she has a relatively high-profile position at her company, hopes to be a homeowner soon and is planning a wedding. When you solicit her opinion (and some times when you don't), Jayme always gives you the truth, whether you like it or not. Over the past year I have watched her progress as she slowly educates herself about the trials and tribulations of long-distance racing, accepts - then challenges - her weaknesses, and learns to celebrate her strengths. Jayme has struggled with many of the same difficulties with which I have struggled. She has battled her personal demons with grace and strength - and tears, which have not compromised her tenacity and wit, and have done nothing but reinforce her self-efficacy.

Earlier in the year, when I was struggling with the realization that I have an eating disorder - which hit at the same time as I was getting divorced, suffering from a string of medication snafus related to my 4 different illnesses and trying to buy my first home - Jayme was one of the only people who did not make me feel like a freak or a liar for admitting openly that I was bulemic. But more than that, Jayme made me realize that, while I can't take responsibility for everything that happens to me, I MUST take control over my own actions.

Probably the most important lesson Jayme helped me learn: you have to be okay with not finishing before you even start. A heartbreaking DNF at IMOO did not lessen her desire or resolve to complete her first IM this year. (More on being okay with not finishing later . . .)

Tea aka "The Tea-Inator"- Denver Area, Colorado

Tea is a superwoman, plain and simple. Equipped with an iron will - NO pun - Tea struggles with a pack of dogs, a husband, kids and training for her first 140.6 in June at high altitude. {Some times we all think maybe the thin mountain air has gone to her head.} Tea attacks IM CDA this year and has seen amazing improvements in all her sports from the moment she took up running.

The thing about Tea is this: she's sort of an everywoman. She has a full, rewarding family life - which, like most of ours, can be insane - hello, why do you think they call one of her dogs CB?!?!?! - she's finishing her higher education, and she has to juggle being supermom with being superwoman. She's fun and funny and positive - she has good days and bad days, up days and down days. She shares a constantly-evolving, perennially entertaining take on her overall health, lifestyle and training in her blog, and her determination and acceptance of others make her stand out in a field of triathletes that can often be elitist and maniacal. Not to say that she can't be maniacal.

Tea has taught me that there is nothing wrong with people being faster than me, and she also reminds me on a regular basis that denial is a very comfy place. :-D (Obviously, Tea shares my very warped and somewhat sophomoric sense of humor.)

Tea is, without a doubt, my biggest fan. Sorry, Sherpa, but she is.

Vic "TriBrit" - Tampa/St. Pete, Florida

I've known Vic the least amount of time of all these ladies, but here is what I've learned about her in that time:

Beginners aren't always slow
Fast people aren't always snobby
We need more Brits in Florida
She's one of the best people you'll ever have on your support crew
Strangers are merely friends with whom we haven't yet become fully accquainted

Vic is one of the most warm-hearted, friendly, open-minded women you'll ever meet. Like all the other ladies on my list, she has plenty of animals, kids (and a husband) in her life. But that didn't stop her from adopting me, a total stranger, as one of her new tri-friends - or from searching me down at St. Anthony's just to say hi - or from sending me a string of indescribably helpful emails before the race. She has some of the same pre-race quirks I do, and we share the same strengths and weaknesses in our sport (we're both fastest on the bike and have the greatest opportunity for improvement on the swim, although she still whips my butt on both). We also both make pre-race bets with our friends.

Odd thing about Vic: she's terribly lucky and well-connected. I mean, terribly. Only her second year into the sport, and she's winning first overall, riding the course with the race director . . . okay, okay, here is what I've learned from her, for real: YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK. Luck is about 90% how you set yourself up, mentally and physically, and only 10% chance. She's actually fast, not just lucky. It's her winning attitude that also helps her fall into great circumstances.

"IronDawn" - Polk County, Florida

Now, Dawn is last because I probably have the most to say about her - I've known her the longest, and I've known her both personally and professionally. She is the person who convinced me that I could be a triathlete, too - something I've wanted to do since I first saw Kona on TV in my teens.

Self-coached her entire running and triathlon career with the exception of this year, Dawn has an uncanny ability to understand and analyze nearly any sport. She is meticulous, detail-oriented, incredibly organized, and remarkably focused. With absolutely NO professional coaching, while working a demanding, full-time job in sports marketing and rescuing stray animals left and right, she completed Florida Ironman - her first 140.6 - in about 14 hours. (In case you're wondering, she recovered in excellent physical condition, returning to race in 2007 with St. Anthony's as her FIRST race of the season, where she placed 40th in her age group with NO training for the event.) This year, for the first time in her life, she's training with a coach to see if she can qualify for Kona. Warming up for her season at St. Anthony's, she came in 20th in her age group - recording a PR of 11 minutes and 37 seconds.

If I told you the kind of support she reguarly gives to her friends and family, even those with mental and physical challenges, you would probably fall over. Dawn has supported and encouraged me throughout all of my decisions to race. She has never once done what I call "perp a fraud" (perpetrate a fraud, a.k.a. blow sunshine up my ass). She patiently answered every one of my newbie questions when I started racing and helped me earn a part-time job one summer at a local running store before I got really sick, where I was able to learn even more about my sport(s). She never once told me I was too fat to race, too sick to race, too inexperienced to race - even when I'm sure I annoyed her enough that she wanted to tell me one of those things just to shut me up and get me out of her face. She was there for my first Oly, she was there at St. Anthony's, and even though she moved about 1.5 hrs away from me and her life has completely evolved, she continues to be there for me. I wish I could talk her into coaching full-time.

I'm concluding this tribute to the important women in my tri-life with this email from Dawn following my next-to-last finish at St. Anthony's a few weeks ago. Dawn's words summarize much of what I've learned and felt from all four of these very special ladies.

"So now since you didn’t have the best race you need to change your perception.

"First, you didn’t have a great race if you go by numbers but you did race and you did finish. I don’t care how long it takes you short of immediate medical attention/death you always, always finish a race. People will tell you differently and give you excuses but those are not the people that support you they give you an excuse to fail.

"Second, every single day in life we are given the opportunity to learn something. Sometimes it is as obvious as don’t take in too much energy drinks prior to a race because it has negative effects. Now you know that and I guarantee it won’t happen again. Each day you learn something about yourself or your world or your environment. Unfortunately it sometimes comes as a hard lesson which you have had plenty of. Change your perception and you change your reality. I know its cliché but it is true.

"I think this was a great race for you. You know that there is not a situation that you cannot control. You controlled your situation and powered through a “crappy” race. What a great story of achievement your situation did not control you. You set out with a goal – to finish and you accomplished that goal.

"You learned you definitely need a swim coach….not a master’s swim coach an actual person that will teach you the fundamentals. Forget what you know…you need to be taught how to swim, I have seen you swim and I am not afraid to say it. You have an expensive bike/running shoes now you need somebody to give you a swim stroke that you can actually use to propel yourself forward in a fast manner. It will cost money but everything in triathlon is expensive including the tools to make you successful."

I rarely disagree with Dawn, but there is one tool that can make you more successful in triathlon (and life) that is not expensive at all - and that is a great support team. I may not be the fastest, fittest, thinnest athlete out there, but I can promise you I am one of the best-supported.