A Stepping Stone

When I first started looking into training for a triathlon, all of the free training plans on the internet seemed a little too intense. I would have to train and get into some sort of shape to start actually training. Based on my limited knowledge of the theory of exercise through a brief stint with a personal trainer, various kinesiology classes in college (e.g. basketball, martial arts), and the public school system's health courses, I started my pre-training plan.

The pre-training plan is pretty simple and can be broken down into 5 parts. The first part is to take away objects that provide opportunities to be a lazy bum. This first part includes limiting or completely ridding my life of sedentary activities. I let my parents "borrow" my xbox 360 to learn guitar hero so I wouldn't be tempted by that. I didn't subscribe to cable tv when I moved to my place so I would be limited to the number of channels to which I could veg out. I don't even have the distraction of a roommate anymore. Am I going through withdrawl? Difficult to say since I've already lost my marbles working at home alone. Once you're drenched you can't get any more wet. The idea of the first part is that I'm seiging myself into such an extreme state of boredom where exercising actually seems like a better choice than chilling at home.

The second part is to make obviously healthy choices. These can easily be made and actually make you feel like you accomplish something even if you're not really doing anything lifechanging. Stairs or elevator? stairs. Beer or Hard Liquor and Coke Zero? Liquor. Eat at home or taco bell? home. Top or Bottom? Top. It's not that difficult. Noone's perfect with these decisions but 9 times out of 10 I aim to make the healthy decision.

The third part is to actually work out frequently and always beat my previous workout. My workouts consist of building my core muscle groups and an increasing portion of cardio. The whole point of doing a triathlon for me is not to compete with other people but to compete with past versions of me. It's a future dan vs. past dan face-off in everything I do (exercise-wise). Well I'm definitely not competing against any seasoned triathletes but if any of my friends want to bring it on, you will get served. Then you can try to bring it on again. But then it's all or nothing. And if by the 4th time you're not in it to win it, you might as well just slap yourself silly.

The fourth part is to buy healthy food. At the grocery store I focus on produce and healthy protein. If I don't bring unhealthy food into the home, I will have no choice but to eat healthy foods. At least at home. I need to work on not eating out so much. I'll have to buy a house or something so the thought of spending money is actually a deterrent to eating huge portions of fatty foods at restaurants. But I can't go out on a first date and order a salad. I have to at least pretend like I'm manly.

The fifth and final part is to record everything and make it available to the public (even if noone ever reads it, I can pretend like they will). I'm in the process of making the data seem visually appealing rather than just a collection of numbers. Opening my process up can have a couple goal-beneficial consequences. One is that it will keep me going for fear of public (even if it's just a pretend public) failure. The other is that it may inspire friends or future friends to become triathletes with me.

Following this free-formed pre-training program will get me in the right attitude and right shape I need to be in for the step-up to a legit training program on February 1st. On February 1st I'm going to begin training for the first stepping stone in my goal of becoming a triathlete, a duathlon which is not too far away and doesn't seem too difficult with a couple months of training. I plan on registering at http://www.virginiaduathlon.org/ . The race is on Sunday March 30th and consists of a 5k run, 30k bike, then another 5k run. There is also an option to do a relay version, but I want to try to do all of it. And my friends, I would love for any or all of you to come out and support or participate. We can get campsites or hotel rooms for the weekend and it'd be a fun-ass time. I hope some or all of you will come out with me.