I have often referred to myself as a recovering meat-head, meaning it is my inclination to do weight training and powerlifting exercises over any other sort. It is not that I don't like "cardio" exercises like running, biking and swimming, but it is easy to stick with what you are good at. At 5'9" and 205 lbs, my body is better suited to throw heavy weights around. In fact, when I started swimming last year, I felt like a fish out of water. Perhaps a better analogy would be a swimming bulldog. Most English bulldogs don't swim, and the few that might certainly can’t compete with a Labrador.
Regardless, I have grown to enjoy swimming, running, and bicycling. It is my goal to complete a "sprint" triathlon this year. I trained for one last summer, but my swimming abilities were just not there yet.
There are other reasons for me to train for this triathlon. Most injuries that I see in my office are due to some sort of over-stress or repetitive stress. The best way to avoid repetitive stress is to vary your exercises. Like I said before, it is easy to stick with what you are good at. Runners want to run. Yogis want to yoga. Meat-heads want to lift weights.
The other reason is for me to complete a triathlon is to learn by experience. Like many things in life, what the books tell you about running, bicycling, and swimming is different from first -hand knowledge. There is still no consensus on many things like the best way to stretch, the best shoes to wear, or the best diet for fuel. Similarly, there are many different theories on what causes training related injuries. How can I expect to know how to treat plantar fasciitis if I cannot avoid getting it myself? Sufficed to say, I have learned much from the journey, and plan on learning much more. Stay tuned.
