A lot of people think a lot of things are impossible. If I look back ten years ago, I would have never imagined myself doing the things I do now. Me, running for more than 15 minutes? Not possible. Riding a bike for half a day? Ridiculous! Me, doing a triathlon? Never thought it could happen. And now, five triathlons later, I realize, we can do things we never thought possible. Oh, so cliché, I know. But it all starts with just a thought. As you read my recollection of my first triathlon race below, think of something you never thought you could do, and work from there. Who knows, your 30-minute jog-walk around the village could someday turn into a four-hour marathon time. Good luck!
I did it. I finished my first triathlon! Ex-tri, a 750-meter swim in the ocean, 20 kilometers of offroad biking and 4.5 kilometers of a beach/trail run. And not just that, I was even lucky enough to bag a gold! It was in December 2005 at San Juan, Batangas. I started training for it a month before. I also got a tri suit from my sister, an early Christmas gift. I picked it out, it’s an electric blue two-piece suit and I really liked it! I figured, if I can’t perform well, I might as well look good.
‘Me, doing a triathlon? Never thought it could happen. And now, five triathlons later, I realize, we can do things we never thought possible’
The biggest challenge for me was the swim. I knew how to swim, but not for 750 metres! I knew I had to work on that, big time. It was amazing, too, because at the start, I couldn’t even cross a 50-meter pool. I swam almost everyday, and after a week, I was able to finish a non-stop 250-meter swim! I added a few meters every few days, trying to shorten my rests in between laps. I just needed to survive the swim. It went on like that, until one day, I actually swam the whole 750 meters nonstop! Whoohoo! I had actually registered for the race before I was able to do that, a sort of no-escape way to ensure my race participation. It was my first time to swim in open water during the race. To make it worse, we were to swim in a counter-clockwise direction! Uh-oh… I thought, I can only breathe from my right side! But no choice, I had to do it. I kept swallowing sea water, from the waves coming in whenever I’d breathe. My usual 19 minutes in the pool for 750 meters turned into 33 minutes in the sea! Truth be told, the description I saw in a triathlon website about the swim start scared the hell out of me. “Like a washing machine,” was what it said. I swore, I was the last person to finish the swim, but after I reached the transition area, I saw that there were still a few bikes! Yipee! And as I put on my shoes and race number, I felt a silent celebration in my stomach (I’m not last!).
‘I kept swallowing sea water, from the waves coming in whenever I’d breathe. My usual 19 minutes in the pool for 750 meters turned into 33 minutes in the sea!’
It was bike time next. I already felt tired. I felt sad, too, because I couldn’t see any other racers on the course. I felt like I was so far behind! My spirit started lifting when I saw a few people cheering for me, and giving me high-fives! I felt a five-minute fame type of feeling. Then came the run, the final thing I had to do! I tried to psych myself at the transition area. Although this is a really short triathlon, I already felt like giving up. As I strapped on my hydration belt, I told myself, “Nina, this is just running. Anyone can run! Don’t give up now!” Yes, in triathlons, as I’ve learned, you often have to talk to yourself. The run was better than the bike. There were cameras! For some reason, when someone is taking a picture of you, it’s required to look as if you’re actually relaxing on some beach, about to walk off and get some umbrella-endowed cocktail, instead of huffing and puffing to the finish line, knees ready to give at any moment! The technique works though, because you smile at the camera, and it feels like you’re not tired at all!
Several minutes later, which actually felt like several hours instead, I crossed the finish line. I swear, I had a “moment”. It’s cheesy, but it’s true. The seconds ticked by just a wee bit slower than usual, like those slow-motion parts in B movies. And all at once, I was tired, hungry, dirty, and… the newest triathlete in the world!
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