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Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Double Triathlons?

Sunday night it snowed. Hey, it's November. No big deal. Except it was for me because it was the first time I had to scrape my car before leaving for my spinning class at an already insane hour. I'm guessing a lot of my usual classmates weren't ready to set their alarms ten minutes earlier, because there were only three of us in class plus the instructor.

I don't remember exactly how it came up, but the discussion turned to bikes (apropos for a spinning class). Specifically the discussion turned to the fact that I currently do not own a bike. I mentioned that while I use clipless pedals in class, I am nervous about using them on a bike because...well...frankly I have a hard time getting my feet out of them. I don't like the idea of having my feet stuck to the pedals while falling. For the record, I've gotten better, but I still have a long way to go. At least all the pros have stopped visibly laughing at me. Everyone convinced me that the clipless pedals are both safer and more efficient.

I also got some less surprising information. For example, I was informed that I will be embarrassed when I fall off my bike. (I hadn't assumed that would be my biggest moment of glory.) Hmmm...I have a pretty good track record with getting myself into embarrassing situations. How is it then I have never considered taking up biking before? It seems like a perfect fit for me. I had a flashback to last week when I used Fuchsia Fatale nail polish (no, I'm not making that up) to stop a very large run in the thigh of my nylons after putting my thumb through them. I ended up deciding to ditch the nylons and just be cold. However, I completely forgot about the nail polish until I was in the middle of spin class the next day. What brought it back to mind? Well, I was initially flattered when some of my classmates seems unable to stop staring at my thighs. Then I realized their looks weren't exactly admiring. I snuck my own peek, and I saw three bold and not so neat Fuchsia Fatale stripes extending below my biking shorts. Like I said, I'm no stranger to embarrassment.

The three more experienced bikers clarified to me that it's not if I fall, but when I fall and that it won't be the one time that I fall. Apparently one of the most common situations for falls is at stoplights because bikers forget to brake and pull their shoes out of the clipless pedals until its too late. I stated that I could handle that. Particularly because the next comment was that most falls happen when bikers are either going one mile an hour or standing still, again because they can't get their shoes out of the pedals in time. I said that I was sure that it would happen. I meant it. I can't get my shoes out of the pedals of a stationary bike in time, much less a moving one.

Another classmate pointed out that I was most likely to fall when I was standing talking to someone at the beginning or end of the race and only had one shoe clipped into the pedal. Hold it right there! I thought that no one noticed when I almost fell off the stationary bike last week in class when I was talking to someone and had only one foot clipped into the pedal. Obviously my little secret wasn't as little or secret as I thought. Or maybe it really is a common biking and triathlon hazard, in which case I fit the sport more perfectly than a shoe fits a pedal.

Everyone then started discussing the triathlons in which they were planning to participate. When I shared the event that has attracted my interest, the instructor actually suggested that I do an additional triathlon. 50 minutes later, all sweaty from spinning, I came home mulling over the idea of doing not one, which would be a huge accomplishment for me, but two triathlons. So after a little more mulling and cajoling talking to a friend who had agreed to do the first triathlon with me and finding the registration on-line last night, I did it. I have officially registered for my first triathlon. So you're probably wondering, as my husband the Big Giraffe did, what the instructor said to me to convince me to do an additional triathlon. I would be happy to share how I made my decision. There's just one catch: it's New England specific and it's Wednesday so that explanation may be found at the New England Mamas. Come on, you know you want to read it. I even share a little embarrassing spinning confession.

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posted by Alex Elliot @ 5:05 AM   7 comments
7 Comments:

  • At 12/05/2007 6:38 AM, Blogger karrie said…

    Wooooohoooo!!!

    I'm heading out on or before Wednesday or I'd go cheer you on. Good luck!

    And don't forget the fuschia stripes...lol

     

  • At 12/05/2007 6:41 AM, Blogger karrie said…

    Uh, I need more coffee. I thought it was a winter tri. Sorry! :-)

     

  • At 12/05/2007 9:02 AM, Blogger Heather said…

    Wow. That's really great. I wouldn't even try ONE triathalon!

     

  • At 12/05/2007 9:14 AM, Blogger super des said…

    That's so exciting! Congrats on taking that first step!

     

  • At 12/05/2007 9:38 AM, Blogger Jodi said…

    Wow, you are all kinds of brave.

    I spin, I don't even know how to ride a bike.

     

  • At 12/05/2007 12:31 PM, Blogger slouching mom said…

    Good for you!

    (And you make me look like the slug that I am.)

     

  • At 12/05/2007 1:43 PM, Blogger Kami said…

    You are totally scaring me away from spinnning! Not that I have time anyway... it's a lame excuse and I am using you as a scapegoat.

    Nice blogging buddy huh?

    :-)

    Good luck on the triathlon. I admire you!

     
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Name:Alex Elliot
Home:MA, United States
About Me:Professional Mom of two cats, a dog, an ant farm, and oh yeah...two boys: a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Also found in my house is my husband who is known on this blog as The Big Giraffe.
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