So, yeah. I have been a bad blogger. No posting. I've got a parade of excuses, including an argument in the court of appeals tomorrow for which I have been preparing and a back log of stuff on which I want to post that has gotten me too verklempt to just sit down and bang something out. But, I've been tagged by Triathlonmom, so this is a simple way to break the writer's block before I head off to my hotel room for the night.
1. Describe a memory from your first triathlon ever
My first ever was a kid's sprint tri of which I have essentially no memory other than sleeping the rest of the day from pure exhaustion. My first grownup triathlon was the Cap Tex Tri last year, the Olympic Distance. My abiding fear was that I would not finish, that I would quit as I have done so many times in the past when I found something physically challenging. The full, multi-part, nouvella/race report is here, here, here, here, here, here and here. It's wordy and probably a little melodramatic, but it's a good place to start if you want to know something about me.
2. Describe a memory from your most recent triathlon
My most recent triathlon was one I did not get to race. I trained up for SOMA in order to toe the line with Benny and Nytro but shredded the disc between c6 and c7 in my neck. The Pack Leader (Mrs. Greyhound) traveled all the way out there to see me race for the first time, and yet no racing was had. It was physically and mentally awful to sit on the sidelines on pain killers, but I made two great and abiding friendships with the folks from Utah that I know will last for a long time.
3. What's the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you in a tri?
Easy. Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 has these turnarounds on the two lane country road bike course where the road surface is . . . marginal. That is being charitable. Turning around in front of race marshals and everyone, being careful, going slow, catch gravel and lay the bike totally over. Blood, dropped chain, embarassment, blocking the road. Blech.
4. What's the most thrilling thing that's happened to you in a tri?
I would have thought it would be finishing my HIM last year, and don't get me wrong, I got immense satisfaction in sharing the experience with my friends and training partners. But it was the sharing and being part of a group of exceptional people that was the most thrilling of all.
5. What is something you discovered about yourself by doing triathlons
I am trying to post on this at some length later this week, but I am still learning a lesson. I don't have to lead a life (in Throreau's words) of quiet desperation. I don't have to go about my days merely seeking pleasure and avoiding or fearing pain, anesthetizing myself with TV or food or drink or what have you. I can, instead, be fully alive, experiencing joy and pain without buffer, even reaching out and taking pain from my friend bearing the burden with him or her.
Not very sporty, I know. But I'm not very sporty either.
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4 comments:
Well said Greyhound. I'm looking forward to your post regarding what you've learned about yourself as a result to triathlon. I've tried so many times to answer that question. But I've decided that is a question that requires more than a post. More like a book. So, I've since given up on that challenge, but hopefully one day, each post on my blog will serve as a chapter in a book that will answer that very question. Be good g-hound, and good luck in the court of appeals.
3. *snicker* i didn't know THAT!
5. whoah! Thoreau. You have so many layers. You're deep man. I dig it.
3. *snicker* i'm not that deep.
Greyhound - found your blog through Wil's blog links. I want to thank you for the race reports from your first race. I'm training for my first tri and there was so much in there that I know will fuel me when I want to give up, when it hurts too much, when its fifteen degrees out and I ask myself - "Why am I doing this?!?" Thanks for putting it all into words. You're a poet.
good post Greyhound - carpe diem, buddy.
Jenny
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