Why I Don't Do Triathlons

This entry was written on Mar 06, 2009 by our Running Guru Heidi Splete

I am in Charlotte, NC, to cover a meeting. I had to be on site at the local convention center at 6:30 am and I didn't feel like running around outside at 5;30, so I went to the hotel pool, hoping to do some pool running. Unfortunately, it was one of those lap pools that's only about 4 feet deep at the most. So, I alternated kickboard laps with my "Heidi combo stroke" of swimming for about 20 minutes, and called it a day. I felt pretty silly next to all the other swimmers who were smoothly stroking along. Somehow I missed learning how to put my head in the water without water going up my nose. So I can't do a crawl stroke. My default is a variation on the crawl without putting my face in the water, alternating with sort of a breaststroke, and throwing in some sidestrokes. Believe it or not, I feel a bit winded after a lap or two of that. Just reminds me that not all exercise is created equal, and that I have enormous respect for triathletes. I think the transition from swim to bike to run would be extremely difficult. But I'd never know because they would have to fish me out of the water with a giant net.

Swimming and pool running are fine for cross-training, but I think I'll stick to running for my default workout.

Happy running (or cross-training, if that's what you are doing today)!