i just registered for a triathlon! the danskin triathlon in webster MA on sept. 26. it's a sprint-distance, beginner event. from what my friend who's done it before told me, it is unique in having more of a supportive, you-go-girl vibe than a competitive edge. i'll be participating as part of a relay team, responsible for the 1/4 mile swim. however, since nobody calls themselves a unithlete, i'm going to go ahead and call myself a triathlete. i'm a triathlete!
in tandem with my switch to part-time to create space for living well, the triathlon has been a great incentive to get back into the pool. as i've been swimming laps, i've been trying to think about how race day will be different. it will be a lot more crowded and hectic, the water will be colder, it will be a lake (with creatures! kind of a fear i have to work through), i'll have to look around to see where i'm going, and it won't have the metronomic rhythm of my usual volleys from end to end of the lane.
over the next three months i'll likely post some training updates as i work on increasing my fitness, stamina, and preparedness. this week, my goal is to just get to the gym every day for half an hour, for either swim or elliptical. i figure that once i get a baseline level of activity/routine going, i can start to lengthen and structure my workouts more. but at this point, i want to focus on feeling positive about just showing up.