Hey there, y’all! Let’s yak a bit about this “tri sports” thing. Sounds fancy, huh? But don’t you go gettin’ all flustered. It ain’t as complicated as them city folks make it out to be. It’s just swimmin’, cyclin’, and runnin’. Like we used to do as kids, ‘cept now they got a fancy name for it.
First off, if you’re thinkin’ ’bout doin’ one of them tri-thingies, start small. Don’t go jumpin’ into no big ol’ race right off the bat. You gotta crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run, like my old pappy used to say. Maybe try one of them short ones first, see how you like it. No need to go spendin’ all your hard-earned money on fancy gear if you ain’t even sure you can finish the darn thing.
- Swim a bit.
- Bike a bit.
- Run a bit.
That’s all there is to it, really. Now, they say you gotta do it a bunch to get good. Swim a couple times a week, bike a couple times, run a couple times. And then, they got this thing called a “brick” workout. That’s where you go straight from bikin’ to runnin’. Lordy, my legs get to hurtin’ just thinkin’ ’bout it. But I guess it helps you get used to the feelin’. They say keep that run part short, maybe 15-25 minutes. And for the swimmin’, they talk about 800 meters, whatever that is. For the bikin’, maybe 18 miles, or an hour and 20 minutes, somethin’ like that. And for the runnin’, 2 to 5 miles. Sounds like a whole lotta work to me, but I guess if you’re young and full of beans, you can handle it.
Now, let’s talk about the stuff you need. They call it “gear,” like it’s some kinda big deal. But it ain’t nothin’ more than what you need to swim, bike, and run. First off, you gotta have a bike, obviously. Don’t need no fancy-schmancy one, just somethin’ that’ll get you from point A to point B. And then you need some clothes, stuff that won’t get all soggy when you’re swimmin’ and won’t chafe when you’re bikin’ and runnin’. They call it “tri clothing,” but it’s just clothes, far as I can tell.
If you’re swimmin’ in cold water, you might need one of them wetsuits. Keeps you warm, they say. And you’ll need a swim cap, to keep your hair outta your face. And goggles, so you can see where you’re goin’. Wouldn’t wanna swim into no rocks, now would ya? And then there’s this stuff called “lubricant.” I ain’t gonna say what it’s for, but you can use your imagination. Let’s just say it keeps things from rubbin’ the wrong way.
They got all sorts of other gear, too. Special shoes for runnin’, special shoes for bikin’, fancy helmets, water bottles, all kinds of stuff. But you don’t need all that to start. Just get the basics and go from there. Like I said, start small, see if you like it. If you do, then you can start thinkin’ ’bout all that other stuff.
And don’t forget, you gotta eat right, too. Can’t be runnin’ on nothin’ but moon pies and sweet tea. You need good fuel to keep you goin’. Fruits, vegetables, meat, that kinda stuff. And drink plenty of water. Gotta stay hydrated, especially when you’re sweatin’ like a hog in July.
So, that’s the lowdown on “tri sports.” It ain’t rocket science, just a good way to get some exercise and maybe have a little fun. But don’t go gettin’ all serious about it. It’s just a race, after all. And remember, the most important thing is to finish. Don’t matter if you’re first or last, as long as you cross that finish line. And hey, if you do decide to give it a try, good luck to ya! You just might surprise yourself.
They got different levels too, beginner, seasoned, whatever that means. If you’re new, just get the basic stuff. If you’ve been at it a while, maybe you get some fancier things. But honestly, seems to me like a lot of fuss over nothin’. Just get out there and move, that’s what I say. Don’t need all the bells and whistles to have a good time.
And don’t forget to listen to your body! If you start hurtin’ stop! There is always tomorrow.
