Toyota SheROX: My Journey From Regular Old Runner to Triathlete Starts NOW!
Do you know where you’ll be on Sunday, October 21? I do. I’ll be swimming a half-mile, then biking 12.4 miles, then topping it off with a 5k. Then jumping up and down a lot and calling everyone I know screaming, “OMG YOU GUYS I DID IT.”
Ladies, that’ll be the day I’ll finish my first-ever triathlon: the Toyota SheROX Sprint Triathlon in San Diego. I’m facing off against a few other editors in the Editor’s Cup Challenge for all the glory in publishing. (Actually, I’m hoping I just, like, make it through.)
Last week, Olympic triathlete and Sweetest Human on Earth Sarah Haskins met with the New York-based athletes and walked us through Tri 101, including transition stations, each part of the swim-bike-run events, and what to expect on the big day. Here’s an example of a bike-to-run T2 station (and yes, her number from her last race in Minnesota, which she just won, is 1F!):
We did running drills and worked on our form–turns out I needed a lot more adjusting than I thought, despite being a runner for a while–and hopped into the pool. I’m a terrible swimmer, and have been fearing this part for a while. 20 minutes with Sarah helped immensely, and I know where I have to build. I was surprised how different triathlon is; I’ve always been an athlete, but natural athletic skill doesn’t automatically translate. However, spirit does, and that’s one thing I learned from Sarah right away. I was a little frustrated during the training, but I’ll find my footing. I have a lot of energy and determination, as you can see.
We left with training programs we’ll work with until October, as well as some helpful gear from Speedo, Mission Skin Care, iFitness, and more, and we’ll also have help from Giant/Liv bikes, and more to make our tri dreams reality. I can’t believe I’m really doing it, gals!
Here we are after a fantastic day of training with Sarah. You’ll have to excuse my lack of athletic clothing; I swear I did the workout–in the can’t-live-without-’em Lululemon top and Brooks sneakers I wrote about in recent posts, too!–but I snuck into the locker room to shower after our swim before we snapped a pic. Alongside me are other fab writers and editors: Amanda from SELF, Jen from Women’s Health and Karen from Woman’s Day, plus Tracy and Sona from Toyota, who’re also participating.
So, yes, I have a LOT of work to do, but I’m going all-out: that means 6:30 a.m. swims, late-night sprints, and weekends full of fitness. This weekend, I put on my most Glamour-ous colors before hopping into Prospect Park for an endurance-training run, and snapped a picture just for you readers.
You’re the ones who’re going to keep me motivated along the way!
I have some friends who are pro athletes helping train (and, admittedly, yell at) me, some others who are casual athletes going for runs and bikes with me, and others who are just great cheerleaders for me. My coworkers are insanely supportive, and it’s fueling my drive to succeed big time. I’ll keep checking in as I progress, and you can follow all of the editors taking the challenge on Twitter at #ToyotaSheRox.
Here’s one more thing, though: YOU can get involved, too. Want to do the sprint triathlon with me in San Diego? Sign up!Registration for the Toyota SheRox Triathlon in San Diego is open, as well as the other events in the series.
For more on this story, please click here.
Source: glamour.com