OSIM Corporate Tri

Yes! The weather held and I completed my first Sprint triathlon. Feels good to have achieved a goal I set out for myself this July. A goal that has completely revamped how I spend my time and what I do to my body. A goal that was nearly thwarted by bad weather in the Triladies triathlon back on 23 Sept. For the 12 week training plan, that was "d-day" for me. That was a week after my birthday and my way of ushering in 42 yrs. Just 3-4 days after Triladies, I decided to sign up for this. If at first one doesn't succeed, have to try and 'tri' again. But although the goal was set and is now achieved, it's really the journey that is so wonderful. I learnt so many new things. I learnt so much about myself.

What are the highlights?

Discovering the joy of swim training.

I never learnt to swim front crawl properly as a child. So 4 private lessons, 12 weeks of Yellowfish tri swim training and 8 weeks of Masters' swim classes later.....I can comfortably swim front crawl now. I still have a long way to go but this is a great start. The sacrifices don't seem like much now as I look back. Getting to the pool for a 7am private lesson. Getting into the pool a few times when the sky was threateningly pitch black.....and watching the clouds blow away with nary a drop in sight. Doing swim drills & endless laps for 90 minutes on Saturday evenings. Squeezing into my tight schedule the weekday Masters swim classes. 9am sea swims at East Coast with the Triladies. It all makes me smile.

Re-discovering the delights of cycling.

This really time-warped me back to time when I was 14-17 yrs old. The wind in your hair feeling. The efficiency of riding compared to two poundings legs. Learning the art of riding in a pack. Seeing Singapore differently simply by removing the windscreen, two wheels and a polluting engine. Amazed at the distances covered on cycling trips. Never even conceived cycling to Kranji and back....not once, but numerous times. Striving to optmize my cadence. Shopping for spandex. Ha! Who would have thought it'd be so addictive?

Running.

OK the truth is I run like a tortoise. I suspected it all along but it really hit home this weekend. People I overtook on the swim and bike.....overtook me on the run. My legs & my heart just couldn't keep up. There's something dreadfully wrong with my stride pace and width. Think I need to do start doing splits to widen my stride. It's so pathetic.

But....wait. Two years ago when I did my first 5km.....it seeemed like eternity. Now 5km runs are comfortable, 10km runs are very doable and even though I took a long time, I completed a 15km race. In a month, I know I will be able to complete the Half Marathon although I may not like my timing.

In conclusion, this 'mind over matter' thing is very good for me. Best part - I am thoroughly enjoying the process. Success is not a destination....success is a journey.