Mach3Multisport.com

Remember playing Tag? Someone touches you and off you run to tag the next person. Running wildly, your only goal is to be fast enough to catch someone and make them "It". If you're lucky enough to do so, you set out to make your way back to Base before being tagged again.

Being that I harbor a deep seeded fear and loathing for water and a persistent dislike of bike riding (triathlete, what?), I tend to think of transition as "Base" in a giant game of Tag, only we've got bikes and it all starts in the water. Like everyone's inner 9-year-old, I do whatever I can to get back to base during the race.

Once I've made it back to base, I find a brief respite from the frenzied movement and forward motion that is a triathlon. While super-speedy guys and gals leap from their bike shoes seamlessly into running shoes, I carefully double-check that my number is securely fastened and my shoelaces are double knotted.

I find peace in that one square foot of space that is mine, and in a race I seek to prolong the feeling of complete control. The constant movements, minor adjustments and mindless distractions inherent to racing bring uncertainty. How long can I keep this pace? Will my bike get a flat? Should I be in my Aerobars? That chick is fifty?

Then I see a rival take off on the run and I look around to see another racer just entering transition. The 9-year-old stirs and just as suddenly as I entered my chill zone the fire is back and I leave Base behind to chase a PR. Tag- you're It.

Happy Training.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment