By any measure, 2013 was an awesome year for this slow, chubby and misinformed endurance athlete. It started with a nervous pre-dawn drive to a swim clinic. I didn’t know anyone attending the clinic but I knew that they were going to have a real live triathlon coach, John Hanna, there and that my swimming needed an intervention. It was a great call. My swim got better. I met and got to train with a great and inclusive group of triathletes, the Tri-Cities Triathlon Club. With their help and some assist from the Rocky Top Multisport Club, the odds shifted in my favor.
From that point things just got better. I had a great time in March at the St. Patty’s Day Dash and Bash in Greenville, SC. April brought John Hanna back to the area for a second triathlon clinic where I got the info I needed to set a new PR at the Sevierville Sprint Triathlon in May. July found me completing my longest ever bike event, the 45 mile White Lightning Ride in Kingsport, TN. In September I made it to the podium in my age group at the Barberitos Fall Triathlon. Yes I took third place in my age group at a triathlon! Didn’t see that coming. In October, I was living the dream by completing the Medoc Trail Marathon with my best friend, Frank, in Hollister, NC. I set a new PR cutting more than 45 minutes off my old time.
It was also a record year for blog posts, racking up more than 20. Topics ranged from meditation to nutrition to hydration to training. And hey I knew what I was talking about at least half of the time. I think my best work was A Tale of Two Triathlons: Part I and Part II; Race Report: St. Paddy’s Day Dash & Bash; and Weeks of Tweaks. The Week of Bulletproof Coffee got the most comments, proving that if you are willing to try bizarre nutritional experiments, people are willing to read about it. Week of green smoothies anyone?
Drumroll!
13. Turns out The Proclaimers were right. You should run about 500 miles training for a marathon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbNlMtqrYS0
12. Wetsuit rental is an inexpensive way to try out wetsuits or just get one for that one event of the year where you really need it.
https://www.swimbikestumble.com/wacky-world-of-wetsuits/
11. When doing long trail runs in the summer to prepare for a fall marathon remember products like Chamois butter aren’t just for bicycling.
10. The purchase of a trainer tire, used wheel and cassette makes trainer sessions much quieter and more convenient.
9. If you’re over 40 it’s a really good idea to make weight lifting a part of your routine. Remember that running is a single-leg activity so if you’re using weight machines do one leg at a time.
http://www.zentriathlon.com/home/2012/12/28/weightlifting-for-triathletes-part-1.html
8. Transition is the one portion of triathlon where a newbie can be competitive. Get out in that driveway and practice.
7. It don’t come easy, especially on the bike. Time in the saddle in the off season and early season should be one of your top priorities.
6. The truth is out there. Books like Timothy Noakes’ Waterlogged and websites like PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) can help you sort through the Matterhorn of information and misinformation.
5. Preparation is vital to triathlon success. You probably need a training plan from a coach, book or website, i.e., a source that knows more about triathlon than you do.
http://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week-Training/dp/0446696765
http://www.amazon.com/Your-First-Triathlon-Joe-Friel/dp/1931382859/ref=cm_lmf_tit_3
http://www.amazon.com/The-Triathletes-Training-Bible-Friel/dp/1934030198
4. There is a lot of nutrition information out today. Much of it seems to be wrong. Experiment and find strategies that work for you. Don’t get caught up in dogma. Your stomach and fat cells probably can’t tell Paleo from South Beach from Mediterranean.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/annanorth/8-food-trends-the-paleo-diet-has-crushed
3. Join a running or triathlon club. Really you need to get out more. Your spouse or significant other will back me up on this one. Also races and events are a lot more fun when you know the people passing you.
http://www.trifind.com/Clubs/FindATriathlonClub.aspx
2. One of the best things you can do to improve race times and enjoyment of your sport is to find swim, bike, run or triathlon clinics near you and attend them. You’ll get new information and make new friends. It doesn’t get a lot better than that.
1. Sometimes in order to make it to the start line on race day, you have to dial back workouts, skip workouts or maybe even take a week off to heal injuries. You’re not slacking off: you’re getting smarter.
What’s ahead for 2014? More of my merry misadventures. More attempts to make the science of endurance sports and nutrition make sense. More voices, it’s time to get some different perspectives and some knowledgeable expertise into this blog. And maybe, just maybe an e-book. Stumble on!
I have really enjoyed reading your blog this year Alfred. Miss hanging out with our MoTown crowd. Hope to see more of you next year.
Chris: Thanks for reading the blog. You, Lana and Dave have really helped me on my journey. Looking forward to sharing future adventures with you guys.
Al I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and didn’t know when I met you at the bike shop that I had already been reading some of your stuff and found it very informative. I don’t have my bike back yet but can’t wait to get out on the road. I’m signing up for the Sevierville Sprint Tri this year. I figure if I don’t sign up for a race I may find myself giving up the dream of being a triathlete. It was great to meet you, and I hope to train some with you.
Brad: Thanks for reading and thanks even more for the comment. I’ll see you in Sevierville in May. In the meantime, I’d be glad to help you get started training for it. There is nothing like your 1st triathlon. Just give me a shout, and we’ll set something up. Stumble on.