Tag Archives: triathlon

Triathlon or Bust 4: Shin Splints

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The running section of my first sprint-distance triathlon will be the biggest challenge for me because I have always suffered from shin splints in my limited running experiments. In the past, I’ve just stopped running whenever I tried and turned to other exercises (since I hated running anyway, mostly). But I decided to finally try and find an answer to my problem, and quit using them as an excuse not to run. The first step was getting fitted for proper running shoes (see my blog on running shoes here). Then I did my research and have been implementing some of … Continue reading →

Triathlon or Bust 3: Running Shoes

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Triathlon or Bust 3: Running Shoes By far, the hardest thing for me to complete in the triathlon will be the running part (see my blog here). For sure I can finish the bike portion of the race, because I regularly ride the 16 miles without a problem, albeit not at a race pace. I can’t go the full half-mile swimming distance without stopping, but I’m semi-confident I can get there. But the running–as I start this quest, I’m pretty sure that I can’t run even a mile, or half a mile, let alone three. When I’ve tried to run … Continue reading →

Triathlon or Bust 2: Choosing an Event

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After reading my first blog (read it here) you may wonder why someone like me would sign up for a competitive event that she’s not sure she’s even going to be able to finish. Here are my reasons, in all honesty, although I realize some may seem more like I need therapy than a triathlon. 1. I need motivation to exercise. I have always exercised to some degree, but to really push myself I decided I needed a goal. Once I signed up for a 189-mile-bike ride over two days from Seattle to Vancouver, B.C. I invited my husband, my … Continue reading →

Triathlon or Bust 1: True Confessions

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I am not an athlete. In grade school, I was the last kid chosen for the dodge ball team. On cross country run days, I was the last one to finish. Or next to last. Me and the severely overweight boy struggling against the stigma of being the slowest kid in the fourth grade. In junior high and high school I earned my only B’s in P.E. I tried to convince doctors that I needed a note to excuse me from the whole semester of P.E. because of shin splints. I was trying to spare myself the humiliation and save … Continue reading →

Cycling Outside – Like it? Love it? How to do it?

Riding a bike is a great way to get exercise. It’s a fantastic way to get out of the house and enjoy the beautiful weather. It can hardly feel like exercise at times unless you’re going up and down hills. Outdoor cycling is a real test of the cardiovascular and muscle endurance. It’s also all about power to push up the hard hills and maneuver through areas where you may need to ride with traffic, cut corners or even follow a bike trail. Cycling offers lots of opportunities including indoor cycling on those days when you’re rained out. Many gyms … Continue reading →