Self Coaching - Beyond the Huffy

If you're new to triathlon, you undoubtedly have a lot of questions about the sport: "How do I manage all of this?" is probably the first question that comes to mind. But that's a tough question to answer concisely. You're probably thinking: "Okay, if I really focus for a couple weeks, really do some research and spend hours in Barnes & Noble reading all the triathlon literature, you'll be able to be your own coach. Not many people can afford the several hundred dollars a month for a good coach. If you can, great! If you can't, don't worry, you can still reach your goals. Besides, I'm here to help.


First off, a bit about who I am. I'm a competitive age-grouper with some big goals in mind. Look up my times. My swim is lousy (but getting better), my bike splits are mediocre, and my run is okay (but getting better). It's only my second year in the sport, and my sports background is below average. Neighborhood hockey, football, and soccer took up my afternoons in middle school. Acting took up my high school schedule with some pitter pattering in the gym ( I wanted to impress the girls, but too many chicken wings made for floppy pecs). Acting is intense, but it's no endurance sport.

So, when did triathlon come into my life? At age 20, while studying at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I met a triathlete. Beforehand, I never heard of the sport. His aura of positivity and "no worries" attitude captivated anyone who knew him. Triathlon seemed to be the cause of this attitude. Meditations and Eastern philosophy was already an interest at the time. Maybe triathlon could fit in to this mentality?

I couldn't afford a new bike and the one I had had ( a Mongoose from Wal Mart) had broken. The pedals cracked off when pedaling to work. That was the last time I shopped at Wal Mart, but that's meant for another blog. First lesson: Ditch the Mongoose or Huffy, buy a used racing bike or use a stationary bike until you can save up for one. This is one area you don't want to skimp on money.

Surfing took up a good part of my time and I started running. My first run was from my house to a popular surf spot. Red-faced, panting, and exhausted I would run to the local surf spot, meditate by watching the ebb and flow of the waves. Thirty minutes later, I would run back home. It must be at least four miles, I thought. MapMyRun taught me otherwise: it was one mile there and one mile back. A whopping two mile run! Yikes! Well, it was a start.

That's all we can ask of ourselves. No matter the background, we all have to start somewhere. Perhaps this site is that starting point for you. Over this 2010 season, this blog will chronicle my planning, training and racing. I'm not an expert. I'm a beginner that's obsesses with research. Whenever a topic comes about, I'll do my best to provide it here with links that can help you. Email, write, or comment if there is any topic you would like help with.