I remember driving across town and seeing the bike trails at the side of the road. I imagined the mystery awaiting me at the end of those trails…I couldn’t wait to take my bike out and explore them.

But when I took my bike on the trail? I was just riding my bike. On the street.

After a certain point, all this triathlon stuff is starting to look like a workout. An INTENSE workout, but a workout, nevertheless.

I guess it had to happen sometime, that as I actually worked on the skills to do a triathlon, it would strip the wonder and mystery from the whole experience.

So, this week so far, I’ve ridden a stationary bike 13.3 miles, swum 500 yards, and run 3 miles. That’s a small triathlon, no?

And on this end of it, it’s been a lot of exercise.

I still don’t feel ready to compete in a triathlon. I plan on running a 5k with my daughters this spring, and I want this to be the year I ride my bike to Lake Michigan. I am in the pool more often than I’ve been over the last couple of years, so maybe I’m looking at a short triathlon next year.

It had to become more routine for me to even imagine it, I guess. But the thrill is gone.

cross posted at www.imswimming.net