Olympic versus Sprint

St. George Triathlon 2010

Last weekend was my first olympic distance triathlon since September 2007. Wow. That is even longer than I thought. I did not race at all in 2008 because I was pregnant with Max who was born in August. I decided to take things easy in 2009 and focus on sprint distance triathlons. I was not sure how much training I would be able to get in having 2 little boys (and one ultramarathoning big boy) and how long it would take me to get back in shape.

After racing a few sprints, I realized that they are super fun! Here is what I love about them:

Being able to go all out from start to finish.
No pacing involved.
No need to worry about nutrition.
Short recovery.
None of that 2-loop-stuff.
Empty finish areas. This means lots of food and no wait for a massage. Most everyone else is still out on the course!
If you are the winner, you are actually the first one to cross the line. Olympic distance winners just get swallowed up in the sprint crowd.

This year it was time to change things up a bit. While I would love to stick with sprints, I really feel the urge to go a little longer again. The reason why I have a love/hate relationship with olympic triathlons is because they hurt. By the time you are hurting in a sprint, you are pretty much to the finish line. In an olympic tri you are almost going as hard as in a sprint, but for a lot longer. However, I am ready for the challenge! I think...

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I am so lucky

I feel the need to write. My thoughts are all jumbled. Can I make sense of them on paper? Writin g gives me perspective and makes it easier to let go. Last weekend I was very frustrated, mad, self-centered, unhappy , wallowing in self-pity. This weekend I was more balanced, a little more patient, trying to be less selfish, happy . How did it happen? I have had to deal with myself for almost 30 years now and, luckily, have figured out a few things on the way. Like how to feel at peace with myself , my family , my life . It shouldn't be complicated to be happy in my circumstances. I realize that. But sometimes it still is. Sometimes being a mom and wife doesn't come easy to me. Sometimes I think everyone would be better off if I wasn't a mom and wife. Sometimes I wish it was easier to just take off and do nothing but swimbikeruneatsleep for a week or two. It's not helping that my German teammates are doing just that. Right now. On a beautiful island. In the warm...

Swimming in Germany - Lakes Galore

Baggersee Weingarten Let's see.... I've been in Germany now for 4 weeks and have had the privilege to swim in 5 different lakes. Let me count how many times I have swum in a lake in Arizona since moving there 2 years ago... That would be 1 time in Lake Mary during the MountainMan. And I am not planning on swimming in it again until this year's MountainMan. As you might have already guessed: I am in heaven ! Baggersee Weingarten So are the kids. Appropriately dressed in German swim wear. That's my mom next to me in the picture above. You see where I get it... Growing up we would either go on a hike or bike ride every weekend and take a dip in various lakes along the way. Good memories! My niece Lynn at Bad Waldsee This lake was especially fun. It was basically at the center of a beautiful old little town. I saw people walk out their front door and go for a little swim. No motorized anything allowed as on most lakes here. Pl...

Feat of Fortitude - Half Triathlon

The alarm went off way too soon on Sunday morning. 4 am? Really? Well, it was time to move my butt out of bed for Feat of Fortitude Part II: the Mountain Man Half Triathlon . Why did I choose to run a Half Marathon one day and do a Half Triathlon the next? Because the prize for the fastest combined time of these events was free entries to both events next year! Considering our financial situation, I had to give it a shot. I knew I was not going to have enough time on race morning but I just could not handle the thought of waking up at 3:30 am. And I paid for it. I forgot to tape a couple of GUs onto my bike. Lesson #1 : No matter how early the race starts, I need to be there at least 2 hours early . Most people don't need that much time but I do. I always have. I like to get a good spot, set everything up perfectly, take my bike for a little spin (when allowed), run, stretch, chat, etc. Those might be my favorite 2 hours of race day! The swim was great! I was loving it...

Sarah Borst Jarvis

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