Training That Fuels Life Adventures
The Honeymoon That Started It All
My husband and I took our bikes to Colorado with us for our honeymoon. We had driven from Indiana with the intention of riding from our lodge outside the park into Rocky Mountain National Park. I was 23 and he was 29. He was in really good shape. I was…not. When we went to ride the first time I didn’t make it more than a few minutes heading toward the park (uphill). I was wheezing and couldn’t go fast enough to stay wheel side down. We enjoyed the rest of the trip, but there wasn’t any riding.
When I was 32 I changed my lifestyle and became active. I lost some weight (it’s been up and down, but consistently 20+ lbs lower than I was at that age. My husband got more active alongside me. He’s had some injuries, but still rides a bike and practices yoga. Over time I became a marathoner, distance cyclist, marathon swimmer, and Ironman triathlete. These have all been important to me.
About 10 years ago we went to Yellowstone and Teton for a trip with a lot of hiking. My husband was in a walking boot, but we still did a lot of good hikes. I was thrilled that I could do hiking that I wouldn’t have been able to do 15 years before that (on our honeymoon). I hadn’t yet achieved some of the things I mentioned, but was on my way.
ADVERTISEMENT
Becoming an Endurance Athlete
This fall we had the opportunity of a lifetime to go to Hawaii and visit Ohau and the big island. Part of my plan for Oahu involved a kayak trip on the north side of the island. It was windy that day and the ocean was rough. I was grateful to be on a guided tour. At the same time, I was able to kayak the distance to the island we were headed to and back. I saw a sea turtle in the ocean!
Once we were on the big island the focus of the trip was Volcanoes National Park. My husband is a geologist and loves volcanoes. We hiked several paved and natural trails in the park. Some involved challenging climbs. We also hiked lava flows elsewhere on the island, and went to Akaka Falls. While we were there I was still marathon training. I did my training runs and the hiking we planned. While we were there it occurred to me that all the training I’ve been doing for more than 17 years has allowed me the JOY of taking the vacations we want to take – with hiking and biking and swimming and kayaking.
Racing has allowed me the opportunity to travel to fun places like San Juan and Ottawa. Those trips are planned around the event and occasionally don’t result in success. The Hawaii trip was not planned around racing. But honestly, the racing was part of what made the vacation possible.
While I still haven’t ridden my bike into Rocky Mountain National Park along Trail Ridge Road…I have done the route (at 100% real feel) on ROUVY. It was something I needed to know that I now could do. Maybe one of these days I will have the opportunity to ride it in person, and succeed.
Vacationing My Way
Even if I don’t race again, the benefits that I have gained from the consistency of training and discipline of challenging myself through racing for the past many years would have been worth it because of the ability to vacation my way. The way I imagined I would. And the way I imagine vacationing for many years to come as I turn 50 years young this year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Run • Tri • Bike serves the beginner endurance athlete by providing insight into the sports of running, cycling, swimming, and triathlon. We provide opportunities for athletes to learn about these sports by providing editorial that covers the nuances but we also look to inspire and motivate.
