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Thinking of quiting
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 2013-06-17 9:39 PM |
Extreme Veteran  1106   , Connecticut |  Subject: Thinking of quitingI went to an excellent orientation tonight for the sprint next week. It included swimming the course. First time using my wetsuit, first time in open water, salt water to boot. (must confess to surviving a sprint about 5 yrs ago, but that was in a lake and no wetsuit). When asked who was doing their first tri, most hands went up - but you'd never know it by how they all took off in the water. I got left behind. A very nice person swam along side me giving me encouragement. Big problem was sighting, not surprising. Would stop, tread water, feel exhausted, correct my direction, swim another 7-8 strokes. Clearly I'm not a swimmer, but have been doing my pool workouts. Honestly, I don't feel like my time in the pool made any difference - I still can't swim. I have a decision to make about going through with the race. I'm thinking of returning the used wetsuit and seeing if they will just charge me a rental fee. I will be the last out of the lake. Thinking of asking the kids to not come watch me, don't want them to see that. I'm really afraid of floundering during the swim. There were a few older men, but I must have been the oldest woman there by 15 years. Who am I kidding? Now those who do quit aren't on the website, so I'm going to get skewed feedback here, but who has been glad to have hung in there. Mitzi Edited by MuscleMomma 2013-06-17 9:41 PM |
| 2013-06-17 9:56 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
1053 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting If you don't enjoy it, then quit. However, I wouldn't let how you appear, or whether your last or whatnot be the basis of your decision. You are still out there doing more than a lot of other people. If you want to be a better swimmer, just keep at it. You may never be as good as you would like, but anyone could say that. You will get better. Spend more time in the pool, get a good teacher, etc... But again, keep at it if it is something you want to do. Don't not quit for the sake of not quitting either (If that makes sense). If triathlon is not for you, take up another hobby you enjoy. |
| 2013-06-17 10:02 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Expert 750 Hammond | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Mitzi, I felt exactly like you in my first tri. I went to the one Open water swim clinic that was before the tri and I was the last one to come back in. I even had my own personal escort kayak ( and no I didn't hire them just for me- lol). The man in the kayak is the only reason I even finished the swim that night and ultimately showed up for the race. And believe me I thanked him for that after the tri was over. I literally would go a few strokes and then turn on my back. He kept telling me just give me ten strokes, give me 8 etc. That is how I got through that first swim. And like you I seriously considered pulling out of the race. After the clinic he told me that it didn't matter how slow I was, at least I was out there doing it. He really made me feel better about being so slow. On race day, I was the last for my age group out of the water. My parents, husband and kids were all starting to really get worried. I made it out though, I made up great time on the bike and then lost it again on the run. I was back of the pack to say the least buuuutttt- I HAD AN AWESOME TIME! I met some really nice people, felt like I had conquered the world and overall was still very proud of myself just for completing it. That same man that was so encouraging at the swim clinic was on the race course with a sign that said- "most women are still in bed right now" and that was my mantra through the race. I vote do the race and just enjoy the accomplishment of all your training. hth, Shelly |
| 2013-06-17 10:06 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
| 97 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Don't quit just because it is going to be hard! So what if you come in last, won't you still be proud of your self for getting out there? Prove to your kids that any obsticle can be overcome. Good luck! |
| 2013-06-17 10:07 PM in reply to: fitmomma2010 |
Elite 4435 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Please don't quit. Give it a go. On the day there will be many people in the same position as you and many more panicking and not making it. You made it through the swim on the orientation day - that means you can do it. I have finished last in many tri's but I'm competing with myself. I hope you do this tri and report back on what a blast you had. My family don't watch me do tri's - it's my time, I don't need them there until next year when I do an IM |
| 2013-06-17 10:10 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Member 66 Seneca, South Carolina | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting I've been there. My first open water swim was a 750 meter in a Sprint triathlon in NC back in the 90s. Halfway through the swim I realized that doing all of your training in the pool is a big mistake. Hang in there. At one point my swim phobia was so bad that I got panic attacks in pool swim triathlons. I went to a swim clinic this winter and with a lot of hard work am looking to do an open water tri this summer. My advice restructure your pool swim workouts so that once a week you do some max effort intervals. Find some open water practice swims in your area and start going regularly. Learn some strategies for when you panic, so you'll be ready. It happens. You can do this. I'm an 52 year old, bald, fat, white guy and I'm making it. Triathlon has a lot of offer including a healthy, exercise intensive lifestyle that will benefit you in the years ahead. The mental rewards, sense of accomplishment and camaraderie are pretty awesome too. Hang tough, believe, train hard NC Mtn Born Some Youtube vids https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnqpYKx8Fvk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dFgH_vDh6E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ragbcOPm_w |
| 2013-06-17 10:13 PM in reply to: ImSore |
| 643 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Keep at it! My first triathlon was last year. I signed up for a tri training class (10 weeks...$50 super awesome price!) and the coach there taught me to swim free style. The first day...well I seriously thought I was going to drown. I wanted to quit right there. The group ride afterwards was horrible since I swallowed so much chlorine that I felt sick. I was pretty pissed at this point. I went to the gym 3 times that week and "swam" for an hour each time. I slowly improved but when things like arm placement and how to even breath at all were new to me, progress was slow. When the tri came (500m swim), I cranked it out in 17 minutes. Good? Well not really but my survived and got past my huge fear of drowning. That was motivation to keep me going. You know what I decided right after that triathlon? I was going to do a half IM and a full IM in 2013 and just deal with it and focus on getting my swim and bike to a decent level. Well I did my HIM last week and did the swim in 42:30. Was it great? Hell no! I was in the bottom 1/3 of the pack for my division. Was I better than last year? Oh yeah I was! I went from about 4th from last out of the water for everyone to bottom 30% for my division. It's not perfect but it's called progress. No one is going to be a super athlete day 1. I see this being a multi-year thing with my goal to at least get over the average for my division. No insane goals like placing but achievable goals that I know I can do. I suggest going the triathlon and taking some swim lessons afterwards. That's what I did and it helped but there's progress to be made for sure. I'm always reminded of a saying I heard when I wounder if I should try something new in life: "No one is ever on their death bed and says how they wish they would have watched more tv in their live". Get out there and challenge yourself! |
| 2013-06-17 10:13 PM in reply to: 0 |
Veteran 360 Waukegan, IL | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Personally, I'd say stick with it. Finishing is an accomplishment. You've already put the time in, why not just do it? I'll be the first to admit that my first (and second) open water swims were embarrassing. My first was only 500 yds. and I ended up clinging to the second buoy, then chillin out on the edge of a kayak after the next buoy. It wasn't pretty. But I finished...and I felt great. My second OWS was a little better, but I only beat about 3 people out of the water. (When I saw my family after that swim I shouted out "Look guys! I didn't drown!") But I felt great for finishing. Swimming is an obstacle for me and a lot of other people. It was even a fear for me. Swimming in triathlon has forced me to overcome that fear. I think that's why I feel so great every time I get out of the water after a swim. I should also say that during the winter while I was working hard to get a hang of the swim, I thought about quitting too. I didn't want the swim to be something that I would dread and just have to get through in order to do some other stuff that I like. I stuck with it. I say do the race. It might be a struggle to get through that swim, but you will feel so great when you do. - Joel Edited by The Chupacabra 2013-06-17 10:14 PM |
| 2013-06-17 10:13 PM in reply to: #4779331 |
| Member 53 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Don't quit. Take the challenge presented to you and defeat it. Imagine your kids bragging that their mom did a triathlon. That's a powerful statement. My first trip was in the pacific in California and no matter my training I did the dog paddle most of the way. Once I finished the swim I knew I would finish. Quit after if it sucks but finish this one. You're not going to win, but so what? Accomplish this no matter how you do it. |
| 2013-06-17 10:16 PM in reply to: jobaxas |
Extreme Veteran 657 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting |
| 2013-06-17 10:25 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Member 5452 NC | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Originally posted by MuscleMomma I will be the last out of the lake. Thinking of asking the kids to not come watch me, don't want them to see that. I'm really afraid of floundering during the swim. You know what, I swim ok, ride ok and run ok. I don't win crap. I love that my kids are there. Love it. I REALLY want them to see me out there. They race now, because that's what we do. Sometimes they win (I don't), sometimes they don't. Seriously, manage their expectations in advance. You will be fine. If anything, get out there and give it hell for your kids. That being said, if you're not into it now, wait. That's cool. But don't for a minute worry about being last out of the water. You are setting an example for your kids that many aren't. What's better for your kids, their Mom being last out of the water in a triathlon that she finished or whatever else you want to do? |
| 2013-06-17 10:34 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Regular 585 Pueblo, Colorado | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting You're still way ahead of the millions of folks that never get off of the couch and try! |
| 2013-06-17 10:35 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Extreme Veteran 1704 Penticton, BC | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Hi MMomma, Being a week before your Sprint isn't the best but not the end of the world. Being last isn't the worst thing either. I've been in both places - I didn't like being last in a duathlon I did in May this year but in retrospect I learned a lot and I'm going back next year to do it again. A few weeks back I swam with a female friend who was scared of the water and new to OWS she barely completed 750m in 35minutes. She did learn that if she got tired she could just turn onto her back and relax. The next weekend she did her 1st Sprint and her swim was still slow but she finished the whole sprint in just over 2hrs and last but she was deservedly happy. Never compare yourself to other competitors you just don't know how much experience they have or what help they've had or what strengths they started out with. The only person you have to be better than is the person you already are. And, your kids will cheer for you no matter where you finish...guaranteed! Get some help with as many OWS that you can manage this week. Learn to trust your wetsuit it will NOT let you sink - put your face in the water and start swimming slowly and keep going. Trust in your swimming, keep relaxed and know you can't sink. Plus the saltwater will further increase your buoyancy - you'll float like a cork. The more experience you have the easier it will get. Age! I'm a granddad (63) many times over. I never swam, biked or ran before last year (EVER). I have long admired Sister Madonna Buder a many times Ironman and she's 82 or 83 this year. The night before my first Sprint last year I was absolutely certain I would drown. I did have a bad swim due to that anxiety but I finished it and went on to a decent bike ride and a slow but good for me run. I learned a lot from that Sprint and 2 weeks later I did a 2nd Sprint and knocked 9 minutes off my previous time. One more thing - When I lined up for my wave start there was a woman behind me looking very nervous. She was well over 300lbs and I smiled at her and encouraged her then off we went. Our bike portion was a two loop route and on my 2nd loop I passed her on an uphill and again I told her she was doing great and encouraged her to keep going. Later after I finished and was just soaking up the thrill behind the finish line I heard the announcer call out the last place finisher and looked up to see the lady coming up to the finish line - dead last and over 3 hours. The whole crowd enthusiastically cheered her across the finish line. I am confidant you can do it. Get some help with the swim and get out to some open water to practice. You don't have to swim fast just finish then you can ride and run. You'll be a lot faster next time. Good luck and have fun. |
| 2013-06-17 10:50 PM in reply to: NeilsWheel |
Veteran 348 Houston, TX | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Your kids might see you struggle, but it will teach them more about perserverance and determination, than if you were a gifted athlete and made it look easy. My favorite new old quote: "It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt "Citizenship in a Republic" speech, Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910 |
| 2013-06-17 11:04 PM in reply to: 0 |
| 239 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting I have to say that all of you are truly amazing. The words of encouragement you are sincerely offering MuscleMomma are fantastic. I have yet to do my first tri (7/13/13) and am not experiencing the issues she is but still find your words encouraging. I hope the people I meet on race day are half as kind as you all are. MuscleMomma: If you can do it, do it. I can only imagine the sense of accomplishment you will feel. Good luck! Edited by dbrook1 2013-06-17 11:06 PM |
| 2013-06-17 11:17 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
| 65 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Originally posted by MuscleMomma Big problem was sighting, not surprising. Would stop, tread water, feel exhausted, correct my direction, swim another 7-8 strokes. Clearly I'm not a swimmer, but have been doing my pool workouts. Your pool workout won't go in vain completely. Just you are not used to open water: like the wave, sighting, breathing, and maybe kicking/slapping by other swimmers. Once you calm down, and find your rhythm, you should be able to finish the swim leg. Sighting needs some practice too. You still have a week, right? Maybe several more OWS practices, and you would feel less panic. And try not to care about what others do (sometime hard to do though). We have different fitness background, and train at different levels. I am just happy that I can finish the race and see my family at finishing line. |
| 2013-06-17 11:43 PM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Master 4452 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Originally posted by MuscleMomma I went to an excellent orientation tonight for the sprint next week. It included swimming the course. First time using my wetsuit, first time in open water, salt water to boot. (must confess to surviving a sprint about 5 yrs ago, but that was in a lake and no wetsuit). When asked who was doing their first tri, most hands went up - but you'd never know it by how they all took off in the water. I got left behind. A very nice person swam along side me giving me encouragement. Big problem was sighting, not surprising. Would stop, tread water, feel exhausted, correct my direction, swim another 7-8 strokes. Clearly I'm not a swimmer, but have been doing my pool workouts. Honestly, I don't feel like my time in the pool made any difference - I still can't swim. I have a decision to make about going through with the race. I'm thinking of returning the used wetsuit and seeing if they will just charge me a rental fee. I will be the last out of the lake. Thinking of asking the kids to not come watch me, don't want them to see that. I'm really afraid of floundering during the swim. There were a few older men, but I must have been the oldest woman there by 15 years. Who am I kidding? Now those who do quit aren't on the website, so I'm going to get skewed feedback here, but who has been glad to have hung in there. Mitzi You aren't kidding anyone. You are proving it to them. Oldest, slowest, last--you still did it. That's what your kids need to see--that mom does her very best, when the reward is only that she feels good. And maybe a little perspective: I started tri last year. Been swimming with a Masters group for over a year. I just had a race yesterday, an Olympic OWS in the lake. I did a couple sprints last year, an Oly, and a HIM, all OWS. And in EVERY ONE, including yesterday, the first half of the race sucks for me. I contemplate quitting every time. But it gets better. Practice sighting in the pool--find what works for you, sighting when you are stroking with your left or your right, how often. Swim some entire lengths with your head above water. Close your eyes in the pool (have the lane to yourself) for several strokes and figure out which way you drift and try to correct that. You can do it. Please let us know how it goes! |
| 2013-06-18 1:31 AM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Veteran 512 Tempe, Arizona | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Hi Mitzi/MuscleMomma, Please please please reconsider your decision to quit. First time swimming in a wetsuit AND first time in open water AND first time in salt water (AND one week before your first tri in 5 years?, when your nerves are already starting to make you second guess everything you have done and are doing) can be incredibly scary. Answer these 2 questions - did you finish the swim course during the orientation? Did you finish it feeling physically okay (forget about the mental part right now)? If your answer to both these questions is "yes", then you know that you can do the OWS, in salt water, in a sprint triathlon. It doesn't matter if you do freestyle, backstoke, breastroke, sidestroke or doggy-paddle, or if you go off course, as I've seen swimmers doing all this and more during races. Taking a breather by floating on your back (really easy to do in a wetsuit as it's IMPOSSIBLE to sink in them) or hanging onto a kayak, that's why the kayak volunteers are out there, to help you get around the course. Coming back of the pack or last, who cares! I've stuck around at the end of triathlons, and trust me the last few people across the line get huge cheers from the crowd. The reason why - no, it's not because the crowd feels sorry or pity for them. Quite the opposite in fact, they admire them, because they got across that finish line, which is quite an achievement. If you don't like doing triathlons, then go find some other sport/pastime that you love, but please don't quit because you're worried about coming last. Just finishing a triathlon is a huge accomplishment and something your kids would be incredibly proud of. I say, good luck MuscleMomma, and 'just do it'  |
| 2013-06-18 1:41 AM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Pro 15655 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Originally posted by MuscleMomma I went to an excellent orientation tonight for the sprint next week. It included swimming the course. First time using my wetsuit, first time in open water, salt water to boot. (must confess to surviving a sprint about 5 yrs ago, but that was in a lake and no wetsuit). When asked who was doing their first tri, most hands went up - but you'd never know it by how they all took off in the water. I got left behind. A very nice person swam along side me giving me encouragement. Big problem was sighting, not surprising. Would stop, tread water, feel exhausted, correct my direction, swim another 7-8 strokes. Clearly I'm not a swimmer, but have been doing my pool workouts. Honestly, I don't feel like my time in the pool made any difference - I still can't swim. I have a decision to make about going through with the race. I'm thinking of returning the used wetsuit and seeing if they will just charge me a rental fee. I will be the last out of the lake. Thinking of asking the kids to not come watch me, don't want them to see that. I'm really afraid of floundering during the swim. There were a few older men, but I must have been the oldest woman there by 15 years. Who am I kidding? Now those who do quit aren't on the website, so I'm going to get skewed feedback here, but who has been glad to have hung in there. Mitzi Let your kids see you are afraid and still go through with it.....THAT'S a lesson for your children to learn. That's the best part of life....being scared, being afraid, and still moving forward. In fact....if you don't do those things that scare you, how will you even know you are alive? "Quit? Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? HELL NO!" Finish what you started.....make your kids proud! |
| 2013-06-18 2:25 AM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Extreme Veteran 845 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Oldest woman there, huh? Sounds like you have a good chance of a podium in your age group. Don't quit. I've had my own personal kayak escort in a race before, too. Finishing poorly is, like, infinity times better than quitting before you start. |
| 2013-06-18 2:35 AM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Veteran 486 Newcastle, England | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Triathlon is not just for those who are fast ... it is also for those who enjoy it ... sod what others are doing and focus on your own thing. Iv'e been near last in sprints, I've been near last in IM .. at best i am middle pack ... but i enjoy it Plus at a lot of races those that come home at the tail end often get bigger cheers than those at the sharp end.
Dont quit ... and DO IT FOR YOU |
| 2013-06-18 2:46 AM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Melon Presser 52116 | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting If you hate the sport, quit. But that's not what it sounds like ... it sounds like you're afraid of feeling demoralized. The good news is that you have 100% control over that. Here's a link to a thread I started about being DFL ... you'll see most of the responses are overwhelmingly positive. http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=217486&page=1# My favorite quote about being DFL in the swim: "I like the kayaks. It's like having your own personal entourage. Getting punched, kicked, and goggles knocked off while in the 2:00/100 crowd is for suckers." Here's a link to an article I wrote with suggestions that may be helpful to you to not just survive but enjoy the OWS. |
| 2013-06-18 4:25 AM in reply to: TriAya |
Veteran 732 Pittsburgh, PA | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting It's all good advice. That OWS had all kinds of new things going for it- you were with lots of other people and even though they were ahead of you, that can mess with your head. You were in open water, you were in a wetsuit, and if you're like me the race-like aspect of it causes your heart rate to skyrocket. In my experience there's no magic bullet for getting used to that stuff- you just have to do it a lot of times. Whatever you do about this tri, find a tri with a pool swim and do that. It will draw more beginners so you'll have a much smaller chance of being last (no big deal if you are, but it can be nice for the ego to not be last all the time) and you'll be able to get used to a couple of the challenges of swimming in a race (crowds, and the adrenaline spike of racing) without the scariness of OWS and wetsuits. |
| 2013-06-18 5:54 AM in reply to: MuscleMomma |
Pro 5892 , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting I feel your pain, but don't quit! I'm one of the worst swimmers to ever enter a triathlon, usually call myself a non-drowning duathlete. I panic when I get my head under water, so yes, I'm one of those swimming breast stroke. I'm usually one of the last, if not the last out of the water. Despite of this, I managed to win my AG in a race last year! That's the great thing about triathlons, you have two more sports to make up the difference in. Plus, even if I would end up last, I would still race... the triathlon community is just a lot of fun being around. Don't quit! |
| 2013-06-18 6:03 AM in reply to: chayes |
Regular 173 NSW | Subject: RE: Thinking of quiting Don't worry about coming last....getting out and doung it is all that matters and let your kids see you and support you, they will learn so much from your determination, and you will be their role model, not because you won, but because you Tried. My kids think I am an athlete and I am not fast, I finish at BOP. but they dont care, cause theyare proud regardless of whatI look like or who I beat. |
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