A crisis of confidence; that is what I am facing right now. My faith in my swimming ability is being tested to the limit this week. I was always very worried entering a triathlon that my swimming would be my biggest challenge to overcome. No matter how hard I try, I seem to be hitting a brick wall in technique and progress. How am I going to be able to complete the first discipline of any triathlon – the swim! I am confident in the water and used to murky, cold waters when scuba diving in the UK but, I have decided that I must also be one of the worlds worst front crawlers. I just can’t seem to be able to swim continuously in a pool for 450M without stopping every two, four or six lengths, let alone the whole distance open water! My timing for 450m at best, has been 14 minutes, which is like a snail! Now add in lots of thrashing arms and legs, chilly murky open water, strange wetsuits and the adrenaline and excitement of a race environment and I am on course to fail and drown in the middle of a lake at this rate. How on earth can I get past this? I feel I need to swim seven days a week to try and improve but realistically I don’t think that will help *sigh*. Ok, someone give me a virtual slap and tell me to snap out of this! Advice needed and appreciated!
On a positive note, I have had a more successful week with training. I managed to fit in a couple of runs, swims, some yoga and I did a cracking bike ride – I was very proud of myself that I managed a speed of 27.5mph on my mountain bike! Wooohooo! I was thinking at the time, “Please don’t fall off” as it could get gruesome with cars flying by me but wow, that wasn’t too shabby on mountain bike. Just think what I could do on a road bike. On that note I have now decided to do this first tri using my tried and tested mountain bike. I will look out of place I’m sure but who cares? At this rate I won’t make it past the swim anyway!
My running is just plodding quite nicely – I am really not worried too much about the run or bike part as, being a super sprint, the distances are very manageable. I know putting them all together will certainly be a huge challenge but for me, the swim is the biggest hurdle to overcome.
I have been trying to get inspiration by watching the World Triathlon Series this last weekend. I often had my mouth open in awe at these amazing triathletes and what they are achieving. I can only dream of being that good. I try to get some inspiration and some tips on transition watching these things. What do other triathletes do for tips and inspiration?
I so want to be able to finish this Triathlon. That is my goal and ultimately my inspiration to keep trying to get better at my worst discipline.
Triathlon Tales 