A Most Unlikely Athlete--Short Stories to Inspire, Amuse and Mortify by Leigh Underwood

Author:Leigh Underwood [Underwood, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780988531826
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2013-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Are You In HEAT?

Webster's Dictionary defines the word triathlon "as an athletic contest that is a long-distance race consisting of three phases (swimming, bicycling, and running)" going on to further explain that the first use of the term was probably around 1973 in California becoming an Olympic recognized event in 2000. When I was younger, not in 2000, closer to the 70's; I saw a triathlon on TV. I was astounded that anyone would want to do such a thing, not to mention actually doing one. In the years since the term was first introduced the sport has evolved greatly as did my appreciation for not only wanting to compete in one, but actually doing them evolved as well.

With running season slowly winding down, my friends turned their attention to indoor training activities. Not that they abandoned running outside altogether, unfortunately, in the colder months, but it was no longer their only focus. They were gearing up for triathlon training. They were a part of a club (family) called the Hendersonville Endurance Athletic Team or H.E.A.T. This is a group that some of them actually formed a few years ago. It started out with only a handful of members, but has grown significantly over those few short years.

Taken from our website, H.E.A.T.'s mission is "A community of endurance athletes dedicated to the education, enjoyment and public awareness of the sport of triathlon and each of its disciplines."

Purpose:

• Encourage and educate beginners in the sport of triathlon

• Give something back to the community (help people become healthier, contribute to community service projects)

• Promote health and fitness, children's health and fitness, have fun, and provide a social environment.

• Bring racing events to Sumner County (Triathlons and Kids Triathlons)

• Provide education on triathlon etiquette and safety of racing and training on community streets.

Those are powerful words for some powerfully motivating and giving people. I have never met so many people who care so deeply about something that they give of themselves, their experiences and their time to benefit someone else, in some cases someone they don't know, as the return on their investment.

How can you not want to be a part of something as positive and helpful as that? And since I did, I needed to get on board with this triathlon business. Besides I liked the idea of becoming a triathlete. It sounded cool. I'm sure my triathlon coach will love that motivation.

Today there are a variety of triathlons you can do to become a triathlete. The distances vary from "Tri it On Tri's" with fairly short distances to Ironman distance events of 70.3 miles, 140.6 miles, and something called an Ultra. I can't get my mind around that last one to even calculate the distance. I don't want to know something like that exists.

In short, there is something out there for everyone. Well everyone that can swim and ride a bike that is. It is hard to get around those two parts of it. Tri-it-On triathlons are short events normally with a pool swim, a flat bike and run route.

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