Du or Du not....or do I just Tri?
Mind you, this is more of a mental game for me than it is him. Because I'm...well...the queen of indecisiveness (it's one of the many queenship crowns that I wear).
So in yet another act of RBF co-dependency, I turn to you for advice.
The Du - 2 mile run--16.8 mile ride--4.2 mile run
The Tri - 660 yard swim--16.8 mile ride--4.2 mile run.
Now, initially I had been leaning toward the Du since lakes give me the skeevies (hey, in lake michigan you're apt to find a body in the water...okay, maybe not, I just threw that in for dramatic effect...really in lake michigan you get that gross weedy feeling of slimy things from down under grabbing at your ankles to draw you into their netherworld...ew...but i digress). But yeah...not so keen on the open water swim thing, but understand that if I want to do a tri, I need to pony up and get my feet wet.
Hah. I'm sooo cliche. Moving on...
The swim is only 660 yards...which is about a .375 mile swim. Regardless of it's short, sweet distance...open water swim still freaks me out just a bit. I can't remember the last time I put effort into swimming. I think the last time I was even in the water was on our honeymoon two and a half years ago. And lets face it, floating around lackadaisically on a raft in the british virgin islands doesn't exactly constitute swimming.And that's only the beginning.
The bike...oh gah...the bike...the elevation chart is...uhm...intimidating to say the least. The last time I biked (which was a year and a half ago in San Fran) was a complete joke. Granted, we were on mountain bikes...but those hills were brutal. I was wimpy and would walk the bike up the hill. Mike was not amused. ...but the bike course in Galena is admittedly challenging as it winds up and down beautiful country roads. At least the back 8 miles of the bike are downhill for the most part...greeeeeat...let me build up momentum, fall off beacuse I am predicting I will be clippy shoe inept, and go tumbling to my death...
And then there's the run. Ain't no thang. 4.2 miles. Easy. Consider it done. ...but doing it after the other two events? That's questionable. I'm not a big fan of the jello leg sensation that is inevitable on this here event...or any tri for that matter.
Swim + Bike + Run = scary...overhwhelming...but in a good way. i recognize it's potential toughness.
Run + Bike + Run = not so bad. easy to stomach without having to worry about the swim. but just how much of a challenge will this be.
I want to walk away feeling accomplished and feeling like I've overcome a tough race. I don't want to set myself up for failure. I just want to go out there, finish, and not be handed a complete and total ass kicking by the time I reach the finish line.
:sigh: Doubting the unknown. Gotta love it. I'll sort it all out in my head soon enough.
Labels: Triathlon
posted by Iron Jayhawk at 1:42 PM
13 Camper Comments:
My first reaction was to go for the tri but after reading the rest of the post, I think the du might be better. It would give you practice on the bike and doing the whole transition thing.
Swimming 660 yards in open water is not an easy task. Your sighting will not be great and you may even end up doing closer to 1000 yards without even trying. If you'd been swimming recently I would say try the tri. But you haven't. You want to start with something that is not too overwhelming so you don't freak out.
I also think that both of you should do the race.
du the du...I love Galena. we stayed at the Pine Hollow Inn there last winter...so cute and cozy.
From what you have said, I think the Du might be a good choice... to focus on bike/run and then add the whole swim factor.
AND I think I might be in the Galena/Dubuque area that weekend (even though it is the weekend after graduation) to go to the dance recital of a little girl I babysit for. So let me know what you decide and I can come be a cheerleader! Rah!
I agree with everyone...do the du! :) I sound like a mountain dew commercial now!!
I have ADD.
I guess I'm on the fence on this one. My gut instinct is to say "try the tri!" If you think you even have a chance of finishing, you should go for the gusto.
But, as Laurie said, if you wont have any time to get in swim practice, perhaps you should just "do the du!"
*sigh* I guess I'm not being very helpful here. But I can at least remind you that whatever you decide (one of you or both, du or tri) you are bound to have a wonderful time. I can't wait to hear about it!
I think you should jump in with both feet and tackle the tri. You can do it!
I think I'd say the du. Tackling two new sports while marathon training might be tough with your work and other commitments. Plus, if it's a huge race it seems like the open water swim is a massive free for all and I think that would freak me the hell out and I'd end up in a fight.
If it's been that long since you've been in the water? I say go with the Du. It'll give you a good feel for the whole "multisport" thing, but you don't have to worry about the swim quite yet.
I have to agree with the majority and suggest the "du" especially since you'll be trianing for Chicago then as well. Plus, that way you can avoid the ickiness of being in a swimsuit in front of the masses.
Congrats on being mentors.
I say do the do the du!
i agree with everyone on the du thing...practice the whole multisport thing and put the tri on your list for after chicago.
do some open water practice swimming for sure! bridgette got real freaked out at her tri in the open water....
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