How to embarrass yourself

Support | Event Directors & Organizers

Search Cool Running Community

Browse Cool Running

CoolRunning.com > Cool Running Community > Multisport Training >

1 2 Previous Next

PJGonzales

32 posts since
Aug 26, 2005

Jul 16, 2007 9:59 AM

How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

1. Take your first swimming lesson as an adult who doesn't know how to swim.

2. Attempt your first solo ride in a place you're not familiar with, make said ride 45 miles long and attempt it the day after an LT threshold benchmark run. Get lost many, many times. Run out of fluid. Become tired, forget about those pesky clips on your feet and fall off your bike three times. Be sure to insist that you're just fine when shocked, yet concerned spectators offer their help and support.

3. Take your bruised, bloodied and sore body, pack it into a swim suit and head to the pool to suck more water up your nose and flail wildly about.

What in God's name am I doing to myself?

LeftRightRepeat

1,618 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

1. Jul 16, 2007 10:29 AM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

Congratulations!!! You ARE a Triathlete!!

------------------
->>> John[/URL" target="_blank"> <<<-
Go write something in the Newbie Wiki[/URL" target="_blank">!!
Running Club[/URL" target="_blank"> Tri Club[/URL" target="_blank">

dragonsrouges

1,068 posts since
Aug 16, 2007

2. Jul 16, 2007 10:34 AM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

It's a tough start for sure... but you're tenacious, you'll get through it and it will be much easier from here on in... Congrats for the courage to start, fall, get up and keep at it!

As David Halberstam said: "we often stumble towards the things we will end up doing best", as "in order to succeed, you almost surely must first fail.

Dougie Fresh037

600 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

3. Jul 16, 2007 10:56 AM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

Sounds like you need to get a nose clip. I swear by them. I think that'll fix it.

willracefordonuts

55 posts since
May 23, 2007

4. Jul 16, 2007 11:07 AM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

Sounds like a pretty fun weekend to me. Add a trail run where you brush against poison ivy and you have the makings of something "epic".

------------------
"There's something wrong with a society that drives a car to work out in a gym." Bill Nye The Science Guy

4boysmom

1,307 posts since
Dec 10, 2007

5. Jul 16, 2007 11:08 AM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

Well, at least you can laugh at yourself!!!

I'm just learning to swim, too. To prevent 'windmilling' my swim coach has me hold onto a foam ball, transfering it from hand to hand. To do said drills by myself I needed to find something else. ***walla*** a foam rocket! I always drop my gear under the life guard stand. Yesterday I was talking with one of the guards and she kept looking at the rocket, no doubt thinking I had totally lost it. I had to explain what it was for. I think she still thought I had lost it...

PJGonzales

32 posts since
Aug 26, 2005

6. Jul 16, 2007 12:34 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

quote:<HR>Originally posted by willracefordonuts:
Sounds like a pretty fun weekend to me. Add a trail run where you brush against poison ivy and you have the makings of something "epic".

<HR>

I did have a 9 mile trail run the day after the bike ride. No poison ivy but I did trip over a tree branch.

I just got back from swimming an hour (meaning one trip down the pool, rest for 2 minutes, etc) and towards the end of it, I was getting a lot more confident. My breathing pattern is improving so that's a plus. I even made it down and back once without resting.

4boysmom - that's funny about the rocket. I would buy that thing just to say "Yeah. I'm hopping on the rocket this afternoon."

Noseclips..nice. I'll have to get some that match my helmet.

IMgomie

142 posts since
Mar 7, 2007

7. Jul 16, 2007 1:16 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

quote:<HR>Originally posted by PJGonzales:

Noseclips..nice. I'll have to get some that match my helmet. <HR>

You do know that wearing a helmet in the pool will cause drag, right? Make sure you have an aero one.

PJGonzales

32 posts since
Aug 26, 2005

8. Jul 16, 2007 1:38 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

quote:<HR>Originally posted by IMgomie:

You do know that wearing a helmet in the pool will cause drag, right? Make sure you have an aero one.<HR>

You should see the way I slam through the water with this bad boy!

mbannon

1,814 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

9. Jul 16, 2007 4:32 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

A helmet with this kind of shape would be much better in the pool:

mmoonhead

524 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

10. Jul 16, 2007 4:58 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

quote:<HR>Originally posted by willracefordonuts:
Sounds like a pretty fun weekend to me. Add a trail run where you brush against poison ivy and you have the makings of something "epic".<HR>

Add in a kayak leg where you lose the paddle, and I think the epic status would be all but confirmed.

PJ, I don't feel as bad now about some of my misadventures, FWIW. Hang in there - it'll get better (at least that's what everyone's told me)

jroden

1,683 posts since
Dec 11, 2007

11. Jul 16, 2007 5:07 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

Don't feel bad, I've been heckled by kids, torn my handlebars off in a sprint, been kicked out of countless bike races for getting dropped, had my shoe fly off while kicking for the finish, forgotten my bike shoes and raced in work boots and had my bike blow off the roof rack on the way home. It's all part of the plan, welcome to the sport.

Flyin Hawaiian

398 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

12. Jul 16, 2007 5:19 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

<<<<had my bike blow off the roof rack on the way home>>>>>

Thats my worst fear. Never had that fear until I had to rescue a friend who had his kayak, two windsurfting boards, assortment of sails, masts, booms fall off the top of his car on the freeway going 80MPH. What a mess. He got a $290 ticket for that.

Laurie

------------------
"Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday." Annonymous

PJGonzales

32 posts since
Aug 26, 2005

13. Jul 16, 2007 10:03 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

quote:<HR>Originally posted by jroden:
had my shoe fly off while kicking for the finish, forgotten my bike shoes and raced in work boots<HR>

Both of these I would love to have seen.

Thanks ya'll. It's fun to be a newbie again. I'm enjoying making a fool of myself for the time being.

pcsronbo006

1,584 posts since
Dec 14, 2007

14. Jul 16, 2007 10:07 PM

in response to: PJGonzales

Re: How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

quote:<HR>Originally posted by PJGonzales:
It's fun to be a newbie again. I'm enjoying making a fool of myself for the time being.<HR>

And after 4 years of racing, I ride my brakes on a hilly race (and I'm already gravity challenged)... Welcome to the club!

1 2 Previous Next Go to original post

Jul 16, 2007 9:59 AM

How to embarrass yourself - by PJNewbie

New Runners

Training

Competition

Age Groups

Fitness

The Lighter Side

Feedback

Related Links