For the folks who doesn’t know what is a triathlon, here’s what Wikipedia says:
"A triathlon is a multiple-stage competition involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance disciplines.While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall course completion time, including timed "transitions" between the individual swim, cycle, and run components. The word "triathlon" is of Greek origin from τρεις or treis (three) and αθλος or athlos (contest)." – Wikipedia
The Trigger:
The trigger for me occurred when some of friends did a mini triathlon organized in Pune and I volunteered to run the last 5K with my runner friend Hitesh. I offered my bike(cycle) to Hitesh and planned to run the 5K with him. I reached at the venue and when I saw a bunch of triathletes starting swimming and transitioning to biking and later running. The thought came in my mind that I’ve to do it, it’s gonnna be FUN!
The Challenge:
The challenge for me was the first part i.e., Swimming. Yes, I don’t know swimming and I’ve just three months to learn swim and complete 1500 meters(15 laps of a 50mts Olympic size pool). The very next day I enrolled myself to Deccan Gymkhana Tilak Tank to learn swimming. Just for the reference this pool is at the heart of the city and I live in the suburbs so everyday I’ve to travel 16kms up and 16kms down without disturbing my running schedule.
FYI, I run four times a week Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. My friend Arun supported me and we planned to run on Prabhat Road near the pool on Tuesday and Friday and go for swim afterwards. It worked! we started and some other folks joined us for running as well as swimming. Now I’m motivated by two things, first to swim the 1.5K and to run with the folks who are new to running and only showing up coz I’m there.
I told my swimming instructor Mr. Ashok Deshpande about the triathlon and he assured me that I can. It was a confidence booster for me so I started with the Free Style whereas the rest of the group started with Breast Stroke. Learning freestyle requires lot of patience and I realized it after first fifteen day when I was just learning to flutter my legs and rest of the groups were able to do the Breast Stroke. The only thing which was pushing me was the GOAL that I’ve to do it coz I’ve chosen it! It was giving me some sleepless nights and I was only thinking about swimming these days.
Everyday without thinking twice I used to go to the pool do my practice, pushing myself a bit more. I started watching lot of Youtube videos and some of them really helped me. Here are some of the videos/links I would like to share. I especially loved the drills taught by Coach Robb.
Coach Robb: Swimming: Swim Drills: Breathing Freestyle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ePIQb7bXw
Freestyle Swimming - Breathing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJHmWRIpD4I
Top Tips for Dealing With Breathing Problems in Swimming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIbSsad0z9U
Early Vertical Forearm EVF- High Elbow Freestyle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF93rZpczaU
breathing technique in the freestyle stroke
http://www.swimsmooth.com/breathing.html
Triathlon Training : Proper Swimming Techniques
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a0Q-IAqO8U
The Mock:
Three weeks before the actual event we(me and my fellow triathletes) decided to do the full mock of the event i.e., 1.5K swim, 40K cycle and 10K run. Till that point I’m still not very confident and efficient in swimming but we have to do it to gain the confidence. The maximum swim distance till that day that I’ve done was 500mts and from 500 to 1500 is quite a gap! I estimated that I’ll take around 1.5 hours and I was quite right. Cycling and running was easy for me.
As I started cycling everyday to work as I’ve had no option/time to do cycle it worked for me. Running was the strongest for me coz I’ve been doing it from last one and a half year and now I really enjoy running.
With the support of our families we finished our first mock triathlon and I became so confident that I’ll do it. For next couple of weeks I started working on my swimming technique.
The D-day:
After a week of carbo-loading and tapering down we were ready for this day. We reached the venue and after the registration and basic formalities we were at the pool. As the Half-Ironman event was still going on we have to wait for a while. Me and one of my triathlete friend requested the side lane coz of that we have to wait a little longer. Finally, I was in the pool and the first surprise was that the pool was uniformly 7ft deep, there were no place to rest you feet even on the side!
I started slowly and did took breaks in between. First 500mts are always challenging but once you get the hang of water, it becomes normal. The only thought which comes in my mind was “The people who don’t stop, can’t be beaten”, lap after lap I kept going and finally finished my last one.
As soon as I jumped out of the pool I was so happy coz the hard part was done and now this is the time to catch up! Within 4 minutes I was on my bike after eating a granola bar. After first 5K you’ll realize that Hyderabad is a tough route coz the route goes through some hills and later went on outside the town with a road full of rolling hills. One lesson I learned on that day was leaning forward on the bike and that helped me a lot to make it more aero dynamic whenever there was a drag due to the breeze.
Running although I consider as my strength was tough coz I started at 10:45am when the sun is on the top of my head and the route was really really tough coz of rolling hills without any shade! I started slow but kept going. One thing I was doing constantly was cheering up my fellow triathletes and I don’t know but that gives me some synergy to move forward. After some of the steep rolling hills and crouching heat I managed to reach the stadium and like always sprinted the last 200mts.
It was an amazing journey for me, especially for a person who doesn’t knows swimming and does 1.5K in just 3 months! It’s a proof of the determination and pure will.
I’m ready for the next!
Jai Ho!
fantastic buddie...
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