on being crazy

I think my sanity has been called into question.

Again.

Many in the athlete (or pretendy-athlete, like me) community struggle to explain to our family, friends and (sometimes) spouses why we like to do what we do. Why do we spend upwards of 7 hrs a week training when most people might struggle with 3? Triathletes, in general, do way more than the required minimum of 30 minutes a day, so anything beyond that logically looks like a pointless waste of time. It looks like we're running away - from something, or some one. What would be the point, especially for those of us who aren't 'in the money'?

I've heard stories of family members who are outright hostile to their kin about their training. Family members will leap to accusations of the P.A. being obsessed, or neglectful, or crazy. As a side note, I have heard the "crazy" thing so many times it almost doesn't register anymore. My personal favourite criticism was, "you are sick," which was directed at me from a cyclist - and therefore more compliment than accusation.

I know -- 7 hrs a week. I picked that out of the air, and I know it's a low number - I figure that's roughly a recovery week for some of us - but other sources set this as an average standard for short distance racing, and I think it's a great goal for many. At the peak of Ironman training, with century ride and long run weekends, it can get up to 20 hours, but for average short-distance triathlon training, 7 hrs a week seems about right. That's an hour a day everyday.

I'll just come straight out and admit that yeah, triathlon training is an odd thing to want to do. It's not a well-accepted hobby, it does seem pretty fringey. Our circles are pretty small, though they seem bigger when you're in the water with 2500 other people on race day. Much has been discussed about the socioeconomic groups who choose to participate in triathlon. It's a pretty narrow focus. We all put our strait jackets on one arm at a time, just like everyone else.

I was faced with the same question and same crisis of conscience when someone else (also not a triathlete) a few years ago asked, why aspire to an Ironman? Why not use that time for something else, something bigger? Curing cancer, volunteering at a homeless shelter, spending more time with the kids, etc. etc. I agree, these are all noble and valid things. At the time I was more worried about the impact of loss on my children - could they handle mommy taking on what was effectively a part-time job for a few months?

These days, I am no longer defensive about the implication that what I choose to do with my time is somehow less valuable than something else, because I've mostly stopped judging what other people do with their time. Everybody is different about their 24 hours. I have happily and firmly arrived at the conviction that I love what I do, and as long as it's fun for me, I'll keep doing it. I support everyone else in pursuing what makes them happy, and this is what makes me happy.

I suppose it's also true that many an addict has said the same thing, when confronted with their addiction: I'm not hurting anybody, I can quit when I want to, you can't make me quit...that's another blog for another day.

Here is the bonus awesome: if mama is happy, everybody else is happy. No, my kids do not miss me. They support me. They run ice baths for me, they run aid stations with me. They nap with me.

Back to the examination of my sanity. I got prickly about the accusation briefly, then settled into my usual live and let live mode, but in the course of un-prickling myself, I came across this awesome article in Men's Fitness (of course) about the top 20 reasons to do triathlon.

This article says everything I wanted to say, and these are really awesome reasons to get into (and stay in) the sport. It's also accompanied by a photo of a guy with totally ripped er, everything, as some kind of demonstration of triathlete superpowers (Thank you, Men's Fitness for bringing it right down to the important stuff). I've summarized and added some commentary on how these reasons are true for me.

You will lose weight. Hmm...Now, I've lost a little bit of weight doing triathlon, but I've mostly moved it around. But I know plenty of people who have dropped weight by training. For many, this is a big motivator - and it's true.

You will look and feel years younger. Absolutely, unreservedly yes! I often accuse other triathletes of looking far younger than they are, and it's not unusual for me to be told I look much younger than my calendar years.

You will have more energy. Check! Even after incredibly long days with a swim and a two-a-day and a full day at work, and time with kidlets, I still don't feel as wiped out as I did before I started training. After a good sleep, I feel good. Frankly, I am not sure I'd be able to do what I do if I weren't training hard.

You will get more out of your workouts. I have goals in my workouts where I didn't before, so I suppose I'm getting the added bonus of achievement. Also, workouts leading up to a race take on more meaning because I know I'm not just marking time, I'm putting it in the bank.

You will injury-proof your body. Hmm...The article goes on to talk about the benefits of cross training and how that's better than single-sport training. I can't argue with that. However, I've been injured doing multi-sport, so I can't really say I'm injury-proof. Sorta check.

You will improve your health. Duh

You will live longer. Than what? How will I know I will live longer unless I do an experiment, with controls, in which I live twice: once with triathlon and once without? OK, controlled scientific experiments notwithstanding, I take the point that the benefits of exercise are many and scientifically, exercise is proven to extend life. Check.

You will be more productive. Definitely true. I do more, I get more done. See masthead.

You will learn to handle stress more effectively. Um, I think that is true actually. There is something about going for a run, or knowing that I will get the hell out from behind my desk and into another frame of mind later that does give me a sense of calm.

You will build rock--solid self confidence. "Rock-solid" - only in Men's Fitness. I'd say this is true for me - finishing a race does give me a personal boost that I have not found elsewhere. Also, I look awesome. I get a secret thrill out of finding new muscles in my legs. Those are mine, I earned them.

Your mood will improve. Now that you mention it, I am generally a happier person - I'm blaming the endorphins.

Your motivation to exercise will soar. I'm motivated, it's true. Also, there is no better cattleprod for training than signing up for a race.

You will learn to strengthen your weaknesses. Oh. Hell. Yes. I find my weaknesses, I work on them. Multisport has a way of exposing weaknesses in many areas.

You get to rub shoulders with the best athletes in the world. I'm a little surprised to say that this one is definitely true. I've made friends with world class athletes, and they are seriously down to earth people.

You will join the fitness elite. Um...I don't know about that. Seriously. Who put that in there? Did they just need 20, so they added this totally BS promise? Not buying it.

You will have an increased sense of purpose in your life. I suppose I do - I have a reason to get up early on weekends, I have a much more compelling sense of purpose when I hit the pillow at night, food takes on a different tone altogether when you treat it like fuel...Yeah, it's true. Check.

You will become the best that you can be. Personal achievement figures high in the sport, that's very true. Competing in something as base as this does bring out a part of me that really wants to do well everywhere in my life. It's a well known fact that the sport attracts a mindset of acheivement, and now I have to wonder, is it nature or nurture? Are triathletes overachievers, or are overachievers just attracted to triathlon? Discuss...

You will be a hero to your kids. That's a great idea - and I hope it's true. Right now, they just know that mommy and daddy spend time doing what makes them happy and practicing a whole lot. It's a part of their life. They don't miss us, they don't complain. We've never pushed them, and they like to race in their own races, they look forward to their own training.

You will motivate and inspire those around you. One of the ways I've eliminated the "You're crazy" is by recruiting other family members to join me. Little by little, I have my own group of people who dabble in crazy themselves. I have been known to tell just about anyone who will listen that whatever goal they set for themself is not out of reach, because if I can do it...

You will set other positive things in motion--things you never imagined.Really? Cool!

I note, with interest, that unlike many articles in Men's Fitness they don't talk about how triathlon will improve your sex life - directly - though it's implied in parts of the article. Donald did an article awhile back about sex and athletics which also makes the point that fitness improves your personal life in ways that many people don't talk about.

The other thing that nobody talks about is how once you're there, you're there. Once you've built a big base it's far easier to maintain than it is to totally start over. My crazy fun may seem ambitious, but when you're already there, it's just a big volume weekend, or small volume weekend. It's no big deal. It's an hour here, a couple hours there.

so - to that end, this year's race schedule will probably include:
Mt Taylor Quad - I'm doing the snowshoe leg again
Napa Valley Trail Half Marathon
Big Sur Marathon
Jemez Mountain half marathon followed with Santa Fe Century extra crazy weekend training (because it's awesome fun!!)
Iron Horse - this year it better not snow
Valles Caldera Half Marathon - I'm so psyched they added a half!!
Buffalo Springs 70.3 - Maybeperhaps
Vineman 70.3
La Luz, if the Gods choose to accept my lottery entry
Colorado Relay - because I said I would
and the big dance- Beach to Battleship 140.6.

I'd totally stick another 50K in there if I could - but it seems like that's enough for this year.

To the uninitiated, this would seem like a reasonably insane race schedule, but trust me when I say this one is on the light side. More reasonable than insane. Perspective.
Call me crazy...