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I’m gonna “TRI.”
In addition to all the crafty stuff I’ve been doing lately, I’ve been quietly spinning yet another plate…
Lean in.
I’m plotting my big triathlon debut. It’s nuts. I know.
Some may argue that I’m too busy to train, too busy to compete and maybe even too old to start dreaming about a miraculous Ironman finish. I’m a smart woman, so intellectually I can process all the reasons why I should keep trying to resist the urge to take on this physical challenge. But I’m also a very determined woman who believes life is too short to miss an opportunity to explore what’s possible. I don’t want to get to the end and wonder “what if.”
So, today I bit the bullet and finally bought a bike. This was supposed to be my reward last summer for completing my first century ride on my mountain bike. (I don’t recommend ever riding a heavy mountain bike that far.) But I kept putting off the purchase, thinking perhaps I would outgrow my tri-obsession. But waiting didn’t work. I’m still obsessed with stepping up to this next challenge.
I swim. I run. I kind of know how to bike. How hard can a tri be? Well I’m about to find out.
Game on, my friends. It’s time to get serious… about sporting padded bike shorts and expensive shoes with metal clips attached that make walking a real chore.
I have plenty more to write on this topic, but I’ll try to serve it up in small doses. My first order of business is make some knitted grips to dress up my handle bars. Yep, that’s right. While the super-fast ladies are trying to drop weight and make their bikes as fast as possible. I’m drinking Pepsi and stitching wool bike cozies to trick out my ride. I might not be the fastest out there, but if I do this my way, I just might get to have the most fun.
Have any of you ever yarn-bombed your bikes or completed a triathlon? Share your story below.
* Sublime Stitiching Giveaway Update: I contacted the winners, but forgot to share this information with the rest of you. Sorry about that. Congrats to Juliann K. of Cary, N.C, Jen C. of Huntington Beach, Calif., Beth W. of Glendale, Calif. and Tanya M. of Port Orchard, Wash. Each lucky lady won two Sublime Stitching iron-on pattern packs. Thanks to everyone who entered the contest, I enjoyed reading all your comments. If you missed my interview with Jenny Hart, be sure to check out CraftSanity podcast episode 77.
Posted: May 24th, 2008 under Contests, Get In Shape Girl, Knitting, Sports.
Comments: 10
Comments
Comment from Eva
Time: May 24, 2008, 9:49 pm
Guess what?! I bought a new bike yesterday, too! It’s a lot less sporty than yours, but neither am I thinking about doing a tri! ;-)
I haven’t thought about knitting for my bike yet, but maybe I’m going to sew some lining for the basket.
Are you on Ravelry yet? There is a group of “Tri Knitters” (http://www.ravelry.com/groups/tri-knitters) over there, too!
Comment from Stephanie
Time: May 25, 2008, 4:18 am
I just completed my first tri ever at the beginning of May. I started training 5 weeks before. I bike, run, and don’t swim. My friends both swam competitively in their pasts, both run, and neither bike. My one friend who did it and kept pace with me had not been on a bike in at least 15 years. The water shocked us both (she’s from Jamaica, and is used to crystal clear waters) and we learned her bike is definitely not a bike she can use in a triathlon (mine was my mountain bike with road tires) We came in dead last, but we finished! She got a new bike, we are more prepared for the water now, and we plan on doing more.
Comment from Rachel
Time: May 26, 2008, 5:46 pm
How awesome! I like to bike, but I’m definitely not up for a triathlon! Good luck!
Comment from Alessandra
Time: May 27, 2008, 7:55 pm
You are awesome!
I wish I was a little bit more like you in the sports department… I have been too lazy, what a shame!
Good luck!
Comment from Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
Time: May 28, 2008, 4:49 am
Alessandra, you should have seen me two years ago when I feared my sportiest day was behind me. If I can do this, you can definitely do this. Anything is possible, sister!
Comment from Alyssa
Time: May 29, 2008, 11:57 am
Are you doing an Ironman for your first Tri? Wow! That’s impressive!
Comment from Diane
Time: May 29, 2008, 1:05 pm
Do it for me!!!! I’m turning 50 and fighting to recover my body from an “incurable” disease, but still have the itch. So, do it for me! I’ll be cheering.
Comment from Jennifer Ackerman-Haywood
Time: May 29, 2008, 2:23 pm
To answer your question, Alyssa… No, I’m not doing an Ironman as my first triathlon. I will be doing a series of smaller races to get a feel for how this multi-sport stuff works. The Ironman is an awesome beast of a competition that I would enjoy attempting at some point in the future if I can get my game up to a highly competitively level. But that will have to be sometime after everyone in my household is potty trained. I definitely don’t have time to train for the big race now. It would rock to be able to finish one, but that’s a dream I’m not actively pursuing at the moment. We’ll see how it all shakes out.
Comment from Poppins
Time: June 1, 2008, 10:15 pm
That’s awesome! My husband was a runner for a few years before starting triathlons. He’s more relaxed and playful now, maybe all that multi-sporting makes him feel like a kid again. He brought his road bike with us to Germany for the time we’ll be here and has 3 triathlons and several running races planned.
I’m thinking that since he already convinced me to become a runner a few years ago, my days as a single sport athlete are numbered…
Comment from susie Hewer
Time: June 2, 2008, 7:22 am
Yay Jennifer, excellent stuff! I always think that triathletes have a fantastic level of fitness overall as they exercise so many different groups of muscles. Good luck with it.
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