Eye on the Horizon

There are suddenly many more shops selling clothes for wearing in the gym than ever before and it seems to be much more a fashion selling ploy than it is encouragement to seek a new fit way of life. Joining a gym seems to be more of a dating agency than an inspirational drive to invite young people to find their summer body as I have noticed it described a number of times.

The sad truth is that buying the new line in fitness apparel in Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys or Tesco’s is not going to help you with the shape that you are dreaming about. I hate to be the bearer of unwelcome news but you do have to actually start going to the gym several times a week if you want to improve your muscle tone and get some definition in your legs to show off at the Saturday night disco.

Worse still is buying the kit just to pretend that you are making an effort. Fitness does not come on its own, nor does it come without working for it. So for the young folk who are newly out earning a wage and dreaming of love with some young Adonis at the gym, it is best to stop dreaming and start working and the gym is a good place as any to get stuck in to the desire for a shapely body that will drop a jaw or too or at least gather admiring glaces.

Having said all that, I have overheard young women chattering in the changing room who, during post gym coffee or glass of wine have contemplated a poster advertising a triathlon and lots of events are now aiming at beginners. 

This weekend in Littlehampton there is an ideal first event, Tuff Fitty Frosty Aquathlon that has a tempting sprint event of 400mtrs swim and 5km run around the park and along the promenade. The main event is double that distance but equally appealing. As participants of the shorter event my husband/coach Steve and I are doing for it for two reasons at least. First is because it is wake up call after winter time and this truly fun event will make us feel something like athletes again. Secondly, it is on our doorstep so there are no travel expenses or travel time involved.

Lots of my friends will be doing the race and so there will be loads of time afterwards to have a chat with some people that we have not seen for a while. For one of my friends it is a first, since until last year had only entered running events, building up to her first marathon last year, which was when she first came to us for some advice. Of course coming to us could be looked upon as a mistake since she is on Sunday going to be enjoying her first swim-run and has already entered for a Triathlon a bit later in the spring in Southampton where there is a pool base event that she is going to give her best efforts in….. On her new bike and In her new tri-suit. 

I will try to coax her into the sea later when it warms up and plant the seed in her head that an open water swim is also well within her capabilities since she has submitted herself to some swim improvement over the winter and is now much more confident in the water. Of course everyone can ride a bike and you just have to get a bit more used to changing gears to saving your legs for the run and you are away with a marvellous new sport in your reach.

What she has done so far is excellent and something to be really proud of, since any working mum finds it hard to spare some time for a bit of exercise and fun that will improver their own health, when they have a family who they always consider first.

Going back to my first few events many years ago, I would advise anybody who is starting in a new sport, to enter two events, so that you don’t fall fowl of looking forward to just one event and then finding it a bit of a downer for a while when that is over and done with. My husband and I have always had several events on the horizon and find that that keeps the focus forward and not on the past no matter how great an achievement it was at the time. 

The classic example being the ones who come into the sport with the goal of immediately entering an Ironman race, after seeing one on TV. Then working very hard to get in all the training involved in raising your game to meet that challenge over months and months, only to reach that one finish line and find the floating down to earth afterwards is so monumental that they never do it again. 

So I strongly advise keeping an eye on the sport websites and check out what great events the main race organizers have on offer. I also think there is a lot in the expression that you get what you pay for. Big races are expensive; that may be true but they are also well managed, well marshaled and professional and have the athlete’s safety and well being high up on their list of priorities and hold training weekends and talks are on offer to help the beginner triathlete.

For anybody living in or close to West Sussex there are some great races that make fantastic days out. Look at Raw Energy Pursuits who put on a full season of excellent events including Worthing Triathlon and Arundel Triathlon both in July both of which we have entered and swim races in the River Arun. Another first class option as a first season ending race in September is the new, Brighton and Hove Triathlon is stunning and has closed road for the bike section. Steve and I had a lot of fun at that race last year and there were a massive amount of newbies.

In May, I would highly recommend Human Race Events, Eton Sprints weekend at Dorney Lake, that is a lovely venue, again a super safe course with no traffic and loads of distance choices and yes, we will be competing there too. Always have another event to look forward to since it does keep you going onwards and all triathlon is age grouped, so you are mostly only competing with other people in your five year age band. 

www.rawenergypursuits.co.uk
www.humanrace.co.uk
www.brightonandhovetriathlon.com