Monday, September 01, 2008

BHAG time (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)

We were talking duathlons at work this morning. As you do.

Somehow, I seem to have challenged all my staff to join me in one. Well, my three Wellington staff anyway. The two in Auckland don’t yet know what a lucky escape they’ve had.

The four of us haven’t just decided to do a duathlon. We’ve decided the short course is too easy. We’re doing the medium instead – 4km run, 24km ride, 4km run. Of course, I could just wimp out and walk instead of running. But no-one else seems to be going for that option. And I do hate to be shown up. Even if I am the oldest.

The good part about it – we’re doing it in mid-November. So when it was suggested we should go the whole hog and do a triathlon, I could legitimately point out the necessity of a wet suit when swimming in the sea at that time of year. No-one here has one, so we dropped that idea. Phew! I swim about as well as a three toed sloth does aerobics. I don’t think even the Grade 4 AC dislocation/torn rotator cuff excuse would have got me out of that one – but luckily the cost of wet suits did.

Of course, I once did fancy I could do triathlons. The biggest relief of my life was when they cancelled that swim.

So, serious training time again. And at the perfect time of year to get fit for summer. At least it’s only 5 weeks till daylight saving starts. That always makes training easier.


Hence – the return of Sue’s exercise-geek sidebar.

7 comments:

The Candid Bandit said...

What a terrific idea!

I'm with you on the 'no swim' thing. I really am a crap swimmer but love the idea of triathalons so the dualathalon sounds perfect.

Looking forward to following your progress.

Anonymous said...

Hey Sue,

Good to see you back on the exercise bandwagon.

I'm sure you'll do really well in the Duathlon.

And that can't be England in the photo below - it's not raining and your son is wearing a t-shirt!

Haole Girl said...

I'm with you - I would love to do a triathlon, but the swim scares me.

I'm going to use you as inspiration/motivation.....I signed up for a marathon in January. I already paid the fees and I'm too cheap to NOT do it after spending the money, Lol!

Kathryn said...

I'm with you on the swimming, esp ocean swimming which freaks the hell out of me.

Anne said...

What an inspiration, I really admire you doing this! Good luck with the training.

Julie's Journey said...

Wow, what a goal to have. You know you can do it and do it well. As for three toed slothes, I must be the Australian version.
Will watch your prep with much admiration.

CaramelKitKat said...

Good on you for roping others in too!

I remember reading about your tri...it was so (and I never throw this word around) inspiring. It's all very well to get the appearance and feel-good benefits from fat los and increased health, but actually TEACHING your body to do something new, and then proving you CAN DO IT (and keep doing it), is where the greatest rewards are to be had.

You have given me the push I needed to dust off the couch to 5km running podcasts and my runners, HRM and clothes are all ready for the morning. Thank you.