The Colorado Way - Triathlon Edition

After two young children and a year of job stress, my girth expanded as my job in Michigan evaporated and we were forced to move for work. So here I am in uber-fit Colorado weighing a decidedly un-svelte 241 pounds.

For those who don't know, Colorado is one of the fittest states in the union. Exercising here is a strange and pervasive disease. Everyone works out. In fact, I'm convinced the the state motto "Nil sine Numine" actually means "Go workout now!"

Coming from Michigan, where per capita potato chip consumption leads the nation and cheap take-out pizza was pioneered, I felt large and out of place in my new home. Granted, my weight was also becoming a health issue.

At my new job, I mentioned my desire to start working out to a couple of co-workers. I was soon inundated with calls for spinning class and team workouts. I began slowly at first, and after a few months, increased the intensity. Soon, I had lost five pounds and was fully infected with the Colorado exercise disease.

I was invited to join a workout team led by a personal trainer on Wednesdays. If you haven't ever worked out or are looking to get into shape, I would highly recommend a trainer, even if its for one or two sessions. Pre-trainer, I thought my workouts were intense. I was wrong.

Our trainer, Sherri, is a grandmother who bikes 60 miles uphill and climbs 14,000 foot mountain peaks for fun. (I'm not kidding.) She is intense, friendly and supportive, and she kicks my butt every Wednesday. She will scream "COME ON!!" in a guttural voice that scares me into working harder for fear she may drop me off the top of a mountain if I don't actually work harder.

One of our regular workouts was running intervals on the treadmill and I hate running. Well, at least I used to hate running. I always believed it was a form of self-imposed torture. However, one of the benefits of working out with a trainer is that you're forced to do things you wouldn't normally do. Much to my surprise (shock) I actually began to enjoy running.

The problem with losing weight is that it is phenomenally boring. You work out, you weigh yourself...workout...weight yourself...on and on. After about ten pounds, my weight loss plateaued and I started to get bored and frustrated.

On impulse, I decided to step off the scale for a few months and work towards a different goal, a triathlon. Since my fear of running had subsided, I thought that I could give triathlons a go. I scanned active.com, an appropriately named website for workout junkies, to find one that would give me enough time to train, and would be a manageable distance.

I picked the Fat Tire Mountain Triathlon scheduled for August 30. It wasn't ideal, the bike portion is a 12 mile mountain bike run on a single track course and its a 4.8 mile run, unlike most sprints which are 5 kilometers. There just weren't any sprint triathlons in the area that would give me enough time to train. Before I could change my mind, I spent the $65 and registered for the race.

I pulled a twelve week training plan from on online triathlon coaching site (sprint triathlon training.org) and I began working out six days a week, two days each of swimming, biking and running based on the training program. It was also filled with tips and support. I printed the twelve-week guide and tacked it to the wall in my office. I checked off each day as I completed the workout and it became a personal challenge to make every workout.

I have to admit, I was starting to appreciate the crazed Colorado way. Pushing myself harder became fun.

I did have one setback. I rented a mountain bike and rode the triathlon course in preparation for the race. Since it was my first time mountain biking, I should have taken it easy. Instead, I went a little too fast, missed a turn, crashed and separated my shoulder. It set me back a week with the swim, but I was still able to run and bike through the injury.

I also did a practice open water swim run by a local triathlon store. I thought I would be fine, but I hit the 250 yard buoy and was completely spent. Exhausted, I had to call for the kayak to come over allow me to catch my breath. I had made the mistake of doubling up my workouts that day and I paid the price in embarrassment. Though, I told a fellow swimmer what happened and she related a story of her first time when she reached the buoy and had a panic attack. After hearing that, I didn't feel so bad.

So with that in mind, I'm all set to do my first triathlon this Sunday. I have a wet suit, running shoes and a rented mountain bike. I've also lost a total of 25 pounds since I started working out. You gotta love the Colorado way...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBdfW7kjKa0

http://withoutlimitsproductions.weebly.com/fat-tire-triathlon.html