Wearing Speedos with Morrie

Every Tuesday, I go and have lunch with an old Professor who teaches me valuable life lessons about transcending the junk that pop culture spews out and instead focusing living life to the fullest.

Alright, so that is a downright lie, but it sounded nice? I will be honest: I do not have a friend named Morrie (never met anyone named Morrie actually) nor do we hang out on Tuesdays (hanging out? Who has time to hang out on Tuesdays? That's when The Bachelor debuts!). I also do not bring him food (I would eat it on the way if I did).

However, I do have a great friend whom I meet with frequently when times (more like training, work and stress) are getting tough and I need someone to talk some sense into me. While he is not on his death bed (he is actually my age and an elite triathlete), he still has a great outlook on life and keeps me sane.  Since we are the same age, have the same aspirations in and passion for triathlons, and struggle to balance training, work, and in his case (unfortunately not mine), a girlfriend, we can definitely relate to each other's problems.

In addition to discussing the latest race technology and training strategies, we often commiserate about how we arrive to work exhausted after two long morning workouts; how we sometimes have to skip workouts because of other commitments; and, how aerohelmet wearing, "70.3" bumper sticker touting, weekend warriors on their $10,000 bikes going only 12mph while riding the bull horns are taking over the sport of triathlon and taking away race slots from "real athletes" (only joking about that last one! I actually do not believe that at all but thought I would throw that in there for kicks, farts, and giggles).

Last weekend, while eating our Whole Foods sushi and salad bar bowls (we both have a diagnosed addiction to both), we got to talking about the race season. I told him that lately I have been stressing out (like always) about my upcoming race in San Juan and how my performance will be this year. I was getting anxious and worked up just talking about it. In the middle of my worries about whether I will be fast enough or good enough to make the podium and get my pro card this year. He looks at me from across the table and with a mischievous smile asks: "So which race are you going to rock the Speedo at?"

My anxiety instantly evaporated and I smiled back: "All of them of course." In my anxiety, I had forgotten the most important part of why I do this sport: to have fun.

These will go perfectly with my Wattie kit

In this crazy sport with its expensive bikes, elaborate training plans, and  crazy nutrition cults, it is easy to take ourselves way too seriously. We get caught up in all the junk and forget the basic roots. As my friend "Morrie" reminded me, when it comes to racing and training all we can and should do is go out there and have fun. Whether it is racing in Speedos, splashing team mates in the pool, rocking aviators on the bike, or wearing Batman socks with capes on them (most if not all of these will be part of my racing kit this year at one race or another guaranteed), every once in a while (or everyday) you need to step back, take a deep breath, smile, and be thankful for the ability to be active and participate in such a great sport...but that is just my two watts.