Iron Pol

I have never really considered myself a "runner."  Sure, I'm a marathoner.  But there's a difference.  Runners LOVE to run, and would do it without a race on the horizon.  And in many cases, marathoners ARE runners.  Me, not so much.  I run marathons because that is what keeps me running.

Triathlons threw a whole new group of things into the mix.  I'm no more a swimmer than I am a runner.  I'm not really a biker, either, though I do like biking a lot more than running or swimming.  And despite not really being a swimmer, a biker, or a runner, I became an Ironman.

And I think I like being an Ironman more than being a marathoner.  For the same reason I like being a triathlete more than being "just a runner."  It has to do with variety.  Having the choice of training disciplines combined with getting to do all three sports in a single race makes training for and racing triathlons more bearable.  "Fun" might be a stretch, but I do enjoy myself more in triathlons than marathons.

Getting to know George Schweitzer over the past year, I've seen a similar attitude.  Anyone who keeps up with George's blog knows that he is more than just an Ironman.  He qualified for the Boston Marathon and had an amazing run despite the horrid conditions, this year.  He has completed triathlons all over the country (including a half-dozen Ironman events).  This past year, he started breaking out the mountain bike to participate in various off-road events.

He takes all of his experiences in these disciplines, combines it with his ever increasing base of academic knowledge, and shares it with others.  Some of his best posts are from his series about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.  If you haven't read them, trust me, they aren't the "lower heart rate and improved blood pressure" variety.  They're worth reading.

It is this variety that is leading me to consider the "next big challenge."  It is what motivates me to see if I can complete a 50-mile ultramarathon.  It is what generates interest in endurance level adventure racing.  It does not, however, lead me to consider 10K swimming events.  After all, everyone needs some kind of boundaries.

Do you find yourself in a rut?  Is the "same old" training starting to stagnate?  Perhaps it's time to consider shaking things up a bit.  I'll be doing that in November with my 30-day swim challenge.  If swimming has become mundane, Coach Mike's suggestion about 30 days of running (or biking) might apply to you.  Don't be afraid to mix it up and focus on a weakness.

Another option is to find a new event to run.  Last winter, Rural Girl got involved in snowshoe racing.  If that's not crazy enough, Tri-Mama (and others) completed a mid-winter triathlon, complete with swimming in a frozen lake.  Take a season off from endurance triathlons and push yourself in shorter races.  Or participate in other multisport events.

One of the huge benefits of triathlon is the variety.  Three disciplines.  A variety of distances.  The gamut of race environments.  Even so, we should remain open to other opportunities and continue to expand our horizons in the world of fitness.

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