Why I Am A Triathlete

By: Andrew McCartney

For the past 12 years, triathlon has played a major role in my life.

The sport itself is relatively new with its modern conception taking place in California in 1974.

For me it all started pretty early. I’ve always loved running. I swam competitively from the age of 8 and ran for Victoria Track and Field Club. In the year 2000, triathlon became an Olympic sport, and I went out and bought my first road bike. Triathlon has been for me a series of phenomenal experiences. I have on occasion put together near-perfect races. And I have also had some disappointments and setbacks, from which I have learned so much. As George Sheehan said,

“Life is the great experiment. Each of us is an experiment of one–observer and subject– making choices, living with them, recording the effects.”

In some ways, triathlon is a crazy sport. Each new race unfolds differently from the last. There are very few constants. So much can happen in a 2 hour race that includes an open water swim, a transition to a bike, helmet, and shoes, followed by another transition to the run on rubbery bike legs. There’s the element of strategy. How much energy should I expend on the swim and the bike? How much nutrition will I need for that all important run, and when should I take it? You learn to expect the unexpected: the dreaded washing machine when 100 swimmers strive to round the buoy at once, bike crashes and mechanical problems, rain slick roads. Things will go wrong during the race. How will I react? Can I react quickly? Will I be able to salvage this race? There is a small element of luck too. Recently, I found myself leading a group of 3 others in the swim portion, and they were hard on my heels when a freak wave picked me up and deposited me on shore meters ahead of them. I may have to battle nerves leading up to my first race of the season, but when I’m on the line all I think about is the first 12 swim strokes, and how I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

As far as training goes, biking in Victoria has its challenges, but Victoria is a running mecca. There’s a massive running community, countless inspirational elite runners, and numerous running trails. The Mizuno Wave Riders have always been fantastic for these trails. They are light, comfortable and durable enough for logging the base miles. A popular road race in Victoria is the Bazan Bay 5km. It always draws a strong field. I wore the Mizuno Wave Universe 4s for the first time. With a 35 second personal best the excitement of wearing such an incredibly light pair of shoes with looks that make you smile, the Universe 4s must have played a part. For Victoria’s moderate temperatures the Breath Thermo apparel is the best choice. The fit, the soft material and the warmth is just right.

Every day I know I am lucky to be doing what I do and I intend to make the most of it.

– Andrew McCartney
 www.andrewmccartney.blogspot.com