Okay, so I am approaching 40, I have done Indianapolis's MINI MARATHON about 7 or 8 times and I am not looking forward to it.  Partly due to my lack of training over the past 3 months due to miserable cold weather and a period of about 45 days where the snow NEVER melted and my lack of desire to keep pounding the pavement.  The last couple years I have wanted something new, a change of pace.   

My brother in law started doing triathalons a couple years ago and I thought it sounded fun, until I learned there was swimming.  Fagetaboutit. 

January 2010..  I hit the gym, going to prove myself wrong, swimming can't be that hard.  1/2 way through the first lap (25 meters) I just about drowned.  I sucked up water through my nose, water was pouring into my goggles and in my ears, I was kicking and flayling around and was completely out of breath and gagging.  How can I run 13 miles, but can't swim 25 meters? 

I got on the internet, learned how to swim (at the least the proper technique), I dragged my butt back into the gym about once a week for the next 3 months, taking a week off here and there.. so I would say I swam about 9 or 10 times.  Believe it or not,  I actually got to a point where I could 20 laps without stopping.  (500 meters).  My head said, "Bring on the triathalon".

The Carmel Triathalon was this past weekend.  On Saturday morning, I had not signed up, because I realized it wasn't just a swimming thing, I needed to bike and run.  Now, I am sure I could do the simple 5k run, but I haven't really been on a 'road bike' actually riding for execise.. unless my $200 bike from Dicks and riding with my family for about 1 mile counts. 

In my typical spontaneous attitude and making last minute decisions, I signed up to compete in the Carmel Triathalon at 3:45pm on Saturday afternoon (Deadline was 4pm).  Now what, I have signed up to do a triathalon and dont even have a bike.   Never mind the fact that I have had a very nagging hamstring issue for the past year, a very sore right ankle (I am not sure from what) and a right quad muscle that shoots pain down my leg sporadically. 

I borrow a road bike from a friend around 5pm, he is out of town and gives me the garage code to get his bike.  I get to the start of the Triathalon and meet some very nice people, they look in much better shape than I, so I begin to panic.  Its now or never! 

THE SWIM!  About 200 meters into this thing, I seriously thought I was going to die, I must have started too fast.. the other body parts hitting me in the legs and my body didnt help my anxiety either.  After 10 minutes of pure hell, I rolled out of the water looking and feeling like a water balloon because I swallowed about 10 gallons of water.

THE BIKE!  10 miles of riding into HEAD WIND the entire time.. not sure how that can even happen, but I experienced it.  I didn't realize we had mountains in Carmel either.   I finished this leg in 35 minutes, just over 18 mph pace.. not too bad considering the wind conditions.

THE RUN!  5k in 23 min 40 secs, this is a 7:30/mile pace.  Not bad at all due to my extreme fatigue from the stupid 10 Mile bike ride and the jello legs I ran with for the first 2 miles. 

Overall I finished something like 270th out of nearly 800 participants.   What?? I survived!  I know, I could not believe it myself.  I had my WILL out on my desk and the password to all of my accounts layed out for my wife.  

I was not sure what I was getting into, but I will tell you, the feeling of finishing a TRI (which I never thought I would be able to say), has really opened up my boundaries in more than just exercise.  You really can achieve whatever you put your mind to.

If I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT!   If you haven't done a Triathalon, read my previous blog about inspiration 'Monday Morning Coffee', get out and sign up for one of the numerous tri's in the city this summer (Eagle Creek has 3).

If its not a TRI, then find something else, just push yourself to do something different, something you have never done before.  Maybe you enjoy cooking.. take a culinary class and surprise the family with a delicious meal.  Doesn't matter, just get out and do something different.  You won't believe how it will impact other parts of your life.

Now the real fun.. I need to start training for my next one and actual compete this time.  First I better go get a bike and see a doctor for my hammy!

 Anyone know where I can find a good used roadbike?

Derek Gutting, The Gutting Group, Keller Williams Realty, www.GuttingGroup.com