Triathlon is super fun and awesome, but it’s definitely not a world for someone who doesn’t like getting dirty. Here are eight things you’ll have to get over if you want to triathlon.
A lovely long row of porta potties is a triathlete’s best friend around 6am race day…
#1 – Porta potties. You’re going to have to use them at some point. They may not be QUITE as bad as the ones baking all day at an outdoor music festival but by the time the gun goes off, they’re usually pretty, erm, full and usually out of toilet paper. Also, there’s not generally a place to wash your hands after. That’s what the lake is for.
#2 – The gauntlet of urine, aka, the swim. Speaking of the lake, the open water swim is definitely not for the weak of heart. Besides the fact that you’re going to get hit, kicked, and shoved, you’ll also probably (accidentally) drink some of it. And people have been peeing in there all day. You might be swimming in a slipstream of pee at any point.
About to go swim in a lake with a non-zero amount of pee in it and I’m doing just fine, thanks!
#3 – Public indecency. You’ll have to stick your hand down your pants to apply something called Deez Nutz or Hoohah Glide or Butt Butt’r before you bike and depending on how long you’re riding bikes, during it. You’ll learn what a snot rocket is and how to properly do them without (regularly) getting boogers on yourself. In the Ironman, you’ll get buck nekkid to change in front of hundreds of people in the changing tent. If you have any modesty, go ahead and throw it out the window right now.
#4 – Anti-beauty queen. If you washed your hair every time you worked out, it would fall out. So, get ready to accept SWEAT as a valid hair product. Also, since you’re going to be showering at the gym (and at work) more than your house, you’ll need to keep your beauty routine short and to a minimum. People will probably recognize you better with wet hair than dry hair after a while.
Laying in a park eating a cold cheese sandwich about 50 miles into a bike ride. This is fine.
#5 -Jack’s utter lack of give-a-shit about appearances. You’ll get to the point where you just DO NOT CARE what you look like to anyone else. Goggle eyes and looking like a drowned rat coming out of the swim. Pain faces on the run. I’ve laid down on the side of the road and shoved food in my mouth a non-zero amount of times in the last year. You’ll walk into a restaurant sweaty in your clippy cloppy bike shoes, and full kit for a meal and a beer (though it helps to have your whole team with you there). You’ll learn to own your spandex proudly even in inappropriate places.
#6 – Body problems. You are going to have a lot of conversations about peeing, pooping, stomach aches, blisters, saddle sores, crotch pain, chafing, road rash, and probably other disgusting things that I haven’t even thought of. I happily use the bathroom behind the bushes if need be. Also, the likelihood is that sometime in your career, you’re going to poop your pants. It’s not happened to me yet, but I’ve had a LOT of close calls so it’s probably going to happen someday. I’ve made peace with this.
These will absolutely replace your Jimmy Choos. Or in my case, the Shoe Carnival sale specials.
#7 – Say goodbye to cute shoes. Heels will not be worth it anymore. I have so many cute shoes that I just look at and sigh while I choose to wear either running shoes, flat super padded sandals, or flat boots on the daily because I cannot be arsed to walk around on sore and tired legs in anything that doesn’t feel like a pillow giving my feet a hug.
#8 – “She gets too hungry for dinner at 8”. Yep, Frankie is right. It’s hard to coordinate meals with other people. I need to eat, I need to eat a lot, and I need to eat right now, and I’m not going to be polite about it. If you mess with any of these things, we’re probably going to need to have some words and you’ll see my nasty side. Also, I’m going to be probably be picky about how healthy it is. I want a giant side of vegetables, some whole grain options, and some protein that isn’t covered in a bunch of fat. Unless I want the opposite of those things. And that can flip at any moment depending on the weather, my training, or my whim.
The one thing I will never just “get over” though? The early morning wakeups. This priss needs her beauty sleep.
What have YOU given up for sport or fitness?
I'm a video game producer and a lover of anything game related by trade. I'm a triathlete by hobby. I live for being on or in the water as much as I can - scuba diving, snorkeling, paddleboarding, water slides... you name it. The dichotomy between my outdoor and indoor realities are interesting, but they're all mine! Longer version