Warm ups for racing

For something different this week I participated in a 10km fun run. One of the big differences between a fun run and a triathlon, apart from the obvious, is that you can actually warm up for the event properly by easy jogging before the race.

I am not a big advocate of warm ups in a triathlon. What is the point of warning up with a run or cycle an hour or so before you have to run and cycle. None whatsoever as far as I am concerned. I can understand a swim warm up as that is the event that you are immediately undertaking. But for the cycle and run legs I think the only thing you get by jogging or cycling before the event is reduced available energy when you race.

If you don't believe me give it a try. Before your next race don't to the cycle or run warm ups and see if it effects your performance. Rather than the warm up try some gentle loosening exercises to get all joints relaxed and even some very gentle stretching. Try to relax the mind then go for a warm up swim and concentrate on starting the event with a higher intensity. After the swim leg it wont have mattered one bit that you missed your run warm up.

Defining Oneself

I sometimes wonder why I continue to train. Often its not because I enjoy it, as a matter of fact more often than not I would prefer not to put myself through the effort. I think what drives me, or what motivates me, is the fact that in a way my sport defines who I am. I like to consider myself as a triathlete, regardless of what standard I compete at, or how slow I am, I am a triathlete. Without my training, my sport, my level of self esteem would drop and I would cease to picture myself as the person i want to be.

This is all probably ego but thats the way I am.