New Kid

Forum guidelines BT super discount
Other Resources My Cup of Joe » New Kid Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, the bear, DerekL, alicefoeller Reply
2005-08-31 9:13 PM

User image

Regular
60
2525
Tempe, AZ
Subject: New Kid
So, I'm new here, and to triathlon in general. I kind of forgot how much it can stink to be the new kid on the block. I do stroke technique drills with a large tri-group once a week and these people...first of all, they're amazing athletes even if they don't have the times. You know what I mean? They go out and give everything they've got anyways, and that's what makes a real athlete in my mind. Second, they've got this great, positive group dynamic. Everyone's joking and laughing and having a great time in the midst of this killer workout. I can't even imagine how great that support must feel.

And me? I'm still sitting awkward on the sidelines, killing myself at half of their intensity and going home early so I don't injure myself. I feel myself making great progress, but I've always been short on patience. And for whatever reason anything that really challenges me physically brings up emotional distress that I thought I had buried.

I'll never quit, and I knew this was gonna be hard, but I just didn't expect it to get this hard this early.

2005-08-31 9:30 PM
in reply to: #238606

Champion
8903
500020001000500100100100100
Subject: RE: New Kid
Ahhh, it gets easier. I know, you've probably heard that from 20 people already. But 'tis true. There's no substitute for putting in the base miles, whether it's swimming, biking, running, or playing full-contact golf. Every sport has its little secrets and discovering how to go fast with minimal effort is one of the great mysteries. Hang around here long enough, and with your new Tri-friends and it'll rub off.

Welcome to the gang!


2005-08-31 9:34 PM
in reply to: #238606

User image

Champion
11641
50005000100050010025
Fairport, NY
Subject: RE: New Kid
Another one of the things you'll learn over time in triathlon is that if Max said it, you can take it to the bank.

Remember that some of the people that seem to have such an easy time of it now were feeling the same as you not so long ago.

2005-08-31 10:24 PM
in reply to: #238622

User image

Regular
60
2525
Tempe, AZ
Subject: RE: New Kid
max - 2005-08-31 7:30 PM
Hang around here long enough, and with your new Tri-friends and it'll rub off.


ooooh, does that mean I get to rub up against all the tri-bodies?

One of the main things I wanted to gain from this experience was patience. Well, it seems I'm already working on that one! I always get kinda antsy and frustrated on Wednesdays (since Thursday is my day off and I'm training six days a week right now) so I'm usually tired and just plain done by the end of swim class. Being tired definitely drains my sense of humor.


Anyways, thanks! BT is great because of people like you guys.
2005-08-31 11:43 PM
in reply to: #238606

User image

Elite
3020
20001000
Bay Area, CA
Subject: RE: New Kid

It's hard being the new kid.  It takes a while.  It takes a while to feel like you're getting into the swing of the group and into the swing of the workouts.

Part of it, honestly, is not that they are excluding you, per se, (sorry if that's not part of your frustration, but that's how I'm reading it right now) but that you haven't been around long enough to really be part of the group either.

I know my swim group - it took me like a year to get to know people and hang out with them a bit and talk.  Of course, this was swimming too - where the only place TO talk is when you are hanging on the wall.

Keep practicing patience. 

2005-09-01 2:14 PM
in reply to: #238606

New user
80
252525
california
Subject: RE: New Kid
At least you have a training group.
In any sport it takes time to feel comfortable, sounds like they are allready comfortable with you.
I remember playing rugby for the first time in college and having the team run circles around me. They were all cool, but they wanted to see if I was going to commit to it or not. They told me this at party after the first tourney. It's probably the same thing with this training group.
Time is on your side.

2005-09-01 2:32 PM
in reply to: #238606

User image

Elite Veteran
610
500100
chicago area
Subject: RE: New Kid
Don't worry, it gets easier. My first time in the pool I could barely do 1 length (which happened to be in a 50m pool at the Navy base where I worked). Anyway, just kept at it and the length of time I could actually swim kept increasing.
Just did my first Olympic tri about 2 weeks ago and now I look back and see how far I've come since those first few times in the pool.
This sport teaches you patience in a way. Results don't happen overnight, even though I wish they did.
As Dori says, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming" and pretty soon you'll be sailing along with the rest of them!
New Thread
Other Resources My Cup of Joe » New Kid Rss Feed