This Millennial is becoming a triathlete

Typically I spend my time on this blog talking about work and overcoming the challenges Millennials face in the workplace. But I have constantly said you have to find something outside of work to be passionate about whether it is a hobby or a charity you work with, it can give you that passion that may be lacking in your current workplace position.

It is safe to say that Triathlons have taken over my life outside of work. After watching my dad compete in the Louisville Ironman in September of 2010, the inspiration stuck with me but I wasn’t sure that was something I could get into a be successful in. Then my boyfriend joined the ranks of being a Triathlete, competing in Olympic and Half-Ironman distances. Now, I have always exercised and/or run but there was something about these races that inspired me to go further.

Last year I started doing running races, I did a 5k, 8k and 10k in 2010. I started 2011 with a 10k in April then I did the Race for the Cure 5k in June (which if you are looking for inspiration look no further than this race….it’s amazing!). Then between my dad and my boyfriend I was starting to get the Triathlon bug, so this summer I started training for a Sprint Distance triathlon in August. Even though it is a short distance (350 yard swim, 12-mile bike, 5k run) it has taken more dedication to train for than I have ever put forth in regards to athleticism (and I am just about 4 weeks from the competition). I was on the swim team in high school so the swim portion feels like second nature to me, but the biggest challenge I am overcoming is that I have not been on a bike since the middle school days of riding to the pool. And then there is finding a bike that is actually comfortable to ride (the answer is none).

As I start to tackle the last few weeks of my training, I was wondering how I could incorporate some training lessons into my work life and then I found this article, What Millennials can learn from Ironman Triathletes. Author Lauren Moye had the following lessons to share:
Lesson 1: Sometimes you have to swim over people to get ahead.
We have to find a way to separate ourselves from the herd without getting kicked too much in the process.
Lession 2: Transitions are important; Balance is key.
Balancing the speed with which you would like to move on or up, with efficiency to know it is the right move for you.
Lesson 3: The right support system is critical.
I blogged about this right after my dad did the Ironman, inner strength is only supplemented by outside support.
Lesson 4: Believe in a dream that no one else sees but you.
Most peoples have hobbies that others would deem crazy, but as long as you don’t lose sight of the ultimate goal (the finish line), who cares what the critics think?

As my training distances get longer this week, I’m sure there will be more training/millennial epiphanies to come!

Photo credit: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZIr1mWCqrCLO2elzHkek9UvhBVDj4euadFHk9BvI_eEBHG9SWxPIorbI33nzRdZUPtGNLEFO18qq7cDuWwsPJAIv6VGYSHy48yNub-47-WMc69bOW8s97AFneCUeuPxVzHnHkTBocZGs/s240/finish+line.jpg