I am willing to bet you remember your first triathlon. I am also willing to bet there was more than one thing that caused you to fall in love with the sport and that one thing is probably as strong today as it was in years past. Maybe now you’re training for your second triathlon or maybe your fiftieth or quite possibly in the era of COVID you don’t have any races on your schedule.
If you are training for a race, in a maintenance mode waiting for registration of your next race to open or just having fun with your training, it’s always a great time to look back, reflect on what bought you to triathlon and maybe say thank you to someone that inspired or supported you though your journey to that first finish line. Remembering your first may also help you remember what your original ‘WHY’ was, if it has changed. I know my ‘WHY’ has morphed over the last few years but continues to motivate me.
Wow, thinking about this it’s almost hard to believe that in such a short time I have had so many firsts. Writing this list made me think about all the firsts I don’t remember, some of which are the most important, such as; The first-time meeting some of the world’s most wonderful people that I now call friends. The first time I was inspired by someone participating in a triathlon or similar event. The first time I realized that Triathlon is not an individual sport but a sport of community and friendships. The first time I realized that there are some elitist jerks in this sport as in all sports and life. Most likely one day I will write a rant about elitist jerks. It was at this same time I realized that I never want to be that person and if I ever come off as a jerk PLEASE tell me, forgive me and accept my apology. I don’t want to be that person.
My list of triathlon firsts goes back about 4 years. My list of firsts as a cyclist goes back about 10 years and to me are very important firsts. If they didn’t happen, I may have never become a triathlete.
I am going to try to put my list in chronological order as I think through it and if I remember the month and year, I listed it.
- A family health scare convinced me quit smoking – March 2010
- Started riding my bike to work 3 miles each way. I had an old steal fitness bike that weighed 47 pounds. I guess that’s how it made you fit by pushing a tank around – March 2010
- My first 10-mile ride – somewhere around May 2010
- My first 50-mile ride April 2011. This was a milestone. I made an agreement with myself that once I rode fifty miles in one day, I could spend money on a road bike.
- Purchased my first rode bike. A Cannondale CAAD 8 – I still have, ride and love this bike. It’s a great ride. I will probably keep it forever.
- My first 40k Time Trial – September 2013
- First bike accident – hit by a car in a parking lot.
- First Century ride
- First time someone asked me for cycling guidance and tips. I was ecstatic.
- Purchased a TT/Tri bike – My Cannondale Slice – I bought this bike because I wanted to race time trials. I raced in 10+ Time Trials. This was a great time in my cycling life prior to Triathlon.
- First time riding and racing in a Velodrome – June 2014 – I spent 3 years going to California numerous times to race in Velodromes in Encino and Carson.
- First bike racing podium and AZ Track State Championship age group winner – August 2014
- Purchased my first mountain bike
- First Crit Race
- First 40k Team Time Trial State Championship Race 2nd Place August 2015
- First swim lesson – November 2015
- First 5k race – December 2015
- First 10k race – March 2016
- First Sprint Triathlon – April 2016
- First open water swim
- First time I helped someone through the fear of open water swimming.
- First DNF – September 2017
- First age group Sprint Triathlon Podium
- First Olympic Triathlon
- First DIY 70.3 – March 2018
- First 70.3 August 2018
- First time I realized running a half marathon for training purposes is normal, or is it?
- First day not having a night cap or six after work – January 1st 2019
- First 140.6 – November 2019
- Bib Number collection reaches 50 – I collect the bib numbers from my events.
- First official ½ Marathon – Rock and Roll 2019
- First blog post
- First time running on the AZ Trail – September 2020
That’s my list. Please comment on some of your firsts. It always fun learning how and why we get in to this sport and why we keep up what some call ‘crazy’ and don’t understand. We understand each other and in my opinion that’s what matters.
Thanks for reading
Be Fast, Be Safe, Stay Healthy,
Mike