January of this year I was contacted through Speed Skating Mom by an interesting man named Jeff Chong.
Jeff had clearly done his homework reading my blog (Hi Sharon: I hope this note finds you well and having had an enjoyable holiday season with Speed Skating Husband, Speed Skating Son No. 1 and Son No. 2. ) and wasn’t above flattery (I admire people who undertake initiatives and projects that are not exactly traditional; and are more inspired by the heart and passion).
Jeff was launching an Olympic distance Triathlon in Toronto and he wanted me to represent. Fo shizzle.
Actually, he wanted me to train and do the Triathlon. We had a few conversations but it didn’t happen because I was away on vacation the date of the Tri. Also, the simple truth is I just wasn’t prepared to train for a triathlon. I had been concentrating on speed skating and running a triathlon wasn’t something I felt I wanted to do. A girl’s gotta go with her gut instincts, ya know?
I kinda wrote it off as a door closed because I had to follow my heart. But two things happened.
1) I went to dryland training over the summer and it taught me I could push my body way further than I ever gave myself credit for.
2) Jeff Chong is an extremely persistent man.
In early October I received another email from him. For the record, the man is an extremely good flatterer…er…er.
Long story, short…next July 21 I’m going to be racing in the Toronto Triathlon Festival. The Toronto Triathlon Festival is going to pay for my training and any equipment I need – apparently my 14-year-old bike with only one gear because I’ve left it out in the rain too many times just won’t cut it. Also, I need a wet suit. I seem to be attracted to sports where one has to wear full body lycra.
I’m going to train to run the Sprint distance which is 750 m swim, 20k bike ride and a 5k run with the added caveat that if I feel the training is going well I may actually do the full triathlon.
I think, actually no, I know, it’s doable but I’m still a bit worried about the swimming portion. I haven’t been actual swimming swimming, since I was a kid. I’m more of a floater now. Usually with some sort of drink in my hand.
So that’s it. Next year I’ll be a triathlete. One who drinks wine because Jeff said that’s okay. It’s important to get the crucial issues out of the way straight off the bat.
And you know I’m going to be trying to convince some of you to join me, right?
Follow The Entire Triathlon Training Story Here
p.s. My husband can’t get over the irony of this because he lives with me and knows how lazy I am.
p.p.s. Jeff is probably in disbelief that I quoted an email from last year because, yes, I DO keep everything. He has no idea what he’s up against.
p.p.p.s. Photo credit goes to @gavmartell who not only took an amazing floaty picture but was able to survive a weekend away with floaty women.
Congratulations and good luck! I had the pleasure of doing this race last year and also did the Sprint distance, this is an excellent event and is sure to become the premier triathlon in Ontario in the future. I had the pleasure of being one of the selected Athlete of the Months last year for the TTFL. I wish you good luck in your training, dont sweat the swim its fairly easy in calm waters and the wet suit will aid you greatly in your swim!! I will be back doing the Olympic distance this year.
I found your blog through Jeff; I love your writing style, it’s so relateable!
Depending on where you live in TO, if you want a training partner, I’d be happy to share workouts with you. I did the TTF last year (sprints as well) and I had a fabulous time. It was so much fun riding my bike on the Gardiner Expressway, I think I was the sole person out of all the registrants who squealed, “Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!” all the way down the on-ramp.
I wanted to register for the Olympic distance this year but having raced two sprint distances last summer, I realized that the one thing you can never predict is how the water is going to be on race day. Luckily – the TTF swim portion is held in the protected channel of Lake Ontario by Ontario Place, so there’s very little chance of choppy water. Cold? Yes, but with a wetsuit, you’ll be fine. Plus, the wetsuit gives you additional buoyancy, so it’s a nice little feature for those who may not feel so confident in the swim portion of the tri.
Welcome to triathlon!
And maybe if we did train together, you could teach me some things about speed skating … I own a pair of hockey skates but I’m kind of a joke ON skates.
How awesome are you Sharon!!!?? You are going to do fabulous and you certainly make me feel like a couch potato for sure
You are… I don’t even have the words. Gutsy? Inspiring? Crazy? Huh, I guess I do have the words.
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Good for you Sharon! I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t worth a couple of chapters in your book. Oh yeah, methinks it is.
You are officially nuts! But good for you. Respect.
Very inspiring! Plus, I love that you said “Fo Shizzle” cause I use it all the time and people look at me weird.
That is so cool! (Just promise me you won’t abandon speedskating and go all tri-crazy on us!)
I’ll never give up the speed skating. I WILL CONQUER THE OUTER EDGE IF IT KILLS ME. Which most likely it will. But damn it’ll be fun trying.
You’re awesome. For a fleeting momentum (as I sit here like a sloth) I though ya I’ll do it too. Even looked up how many laps 750m is. But I think it’ll be more fun to just follow along…. I really do love stories that involve full body Lycra.
Uhhhh….just out of curiosity. How many laps is it?
I know I’ve said this MANY times… BUT YOU RAWK!! Have FULL faith you will do great! Looking frwd to following your journey!
This IS huge news! No kidding, you really are inspiring. As you know, I’ve been facing some big health issues and I’ve been slogging my poorly balanced, unpredictably coordinated self off to the gym to work with a trainer. But I haven’t been feeling the love recently. This post has made me want to be the best that I can be even if there are limitations – I can still be awesome. I can still make time to believe in strength and personal challenge and goal setting. YOU GO GIRL. And I kinda love your floaty swim.
You know I don’t always feel it, right? There are days when I’m all “screw it” and don’t want to do anything. And I wish I could tell you that Every. Single. Time. I get my ass off the couch and go do it anyway, but that would be a lie. But here’s the truth….I get up more times than I stay on that couch and each time I do get up, I always feel better for having done it.
You continue to amaze me, and are a true inspiration. You go girl!!! Kick that “Tri” in the (firm) ass!
LOVE that you asked if you could still drink wine before agreeing
Questions like that are crucial.
This is awesome, Sharon—you are inspiring! And I’m so excited for you! You’ll rock it. And you’ll have the best body EVER! xo
That *may* be a bit of motivation.
Yay you!!!!!
That is amazing! Good for you. You’ll have to make sure Jenny From the Block knows…the sprint is her distance! She can give you tips and be a training partner perhaps. Now you’ve got me thinking about doing another one…maybe even the sprint distance. Yikes!
Caroline, I would love to be able to do this with you! And we could have breakfast afterwards! With mimosas!
Holy Crap!!! that is so awesome…by the way, I love that you call it a “Tri”, like that is how the cool people say it… you will kick some TRI- ASS!!! Hope I’m there to cheer you on!
Just yesterday I was so frustrated with sponsored posts and bloggers slapping “PR friendly!” in curlicue font on their header while being so transparent that they are only in it for the free stuff… But then THIS comes along and it’s the perfect example of how bloggers CAN do sponsored stuff without compromising their integrity! So not only do you get major props for training for a triathlon, but you get MAJOR props for choosing a partnership that will no doubt inspire others to get moving – which is what I like so much about your blog in the first place!
Ok, that’s it for the self-righteous rant. I’m done now
Happy training! Pro tip (or really amateur tip since I never went pro…): Get one of those women-specific ergonomic seats for your bike! You won’t be sorry.
I have a whole YMC post in my head about that. The one piece of advice I will always give any blogger is to follow your gut instinct. I have never been led astray when I follow it and the few times I’ve gone against it, it made me feel vomitty.
I love that I’m doing this because Jeff is of the same mindset I am – that you can do anything you set your mind to and that we women really need to make time for ourselves and to be healthy.
I know you will not only kick that triathlons butt but you will do it with style. I am so happy for you! Congrats.
Sharon you Rock!! That is awesome!
I don’t know how you do it all. I really don’t. But I am seriously impressed!!
I simply make the time for me. It’s so so so important. Find your passion and then just make the time.
You continue to inspire.. go for it!
P.S. I totally should have photo credits on that pool shot
Done! Ye are now dubbed the photographer of floaty women.
I have to hurry and register floatywomen.com ASAP!
Floaty Sharon rocks! It’s my favourite kind of swimming.
SQUEEEEE! I am so excited for you, you crazy person!
You will totally rock that!
Jes
Errrr…..so would you if you did it. Just saying.
Hmmm.
I am not ruling it out.
I just have this freaky feeling about open water swimming. Oh right, and I am a HORRIBLE swimmer.
But, I am not ruling it out.
Ha. This is awesome, and I know you’ll rock it. Can’t wait to read all about it. But I’m also laughing because of the email thing. I know you’re not kidding, and I could totally scare anyone with old emails if I felt the urge. It’s like a hidden superpower. (I also can remember things people say or tweet for ridiculous lengths of time.)
You are a total inspiration. This is just one more adventure. You’ll be awesome.
I keep everything – I’m just a bit slow sometimes.
Holy Moses!!!
)
That’s AMAZING Sharon!!! So inspirational!
You, my friend, are a Rockstar!
SHARON! I’m so proud of you!!!!!
– Krista
wow!! good for you! You can do anything.. when you think about it — did you ever think you’d be a speed skater?!!!!! yay! proud of you!
NO!!!! That’s the crazy thing. Before speed skating, I was so LAZY. It’s truly changed my life.