Some people enjoy biking. Some prefer to run. Others find it invigorating to go for a swim. Imagine doing all three in the same day while being timed.
Five Oxford residents don’t have to imagine it because they’ll be doing it on Sunday, September 16 as they compete in Michigan’s Triathlon & Duathlon Championship at the Pontiac Lake Recreation Area in Waterford.
Approximately 500 athletes from 15 states are expected to compete in the multi-sport event.
Sandra Martin, Christine Borg and Thomas Rossman have all elected to compete in the Sprint Distance Triathlon, which consists of a 500-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike ride and five-kilometer run.
David Edwards and Rick Adkisson will be competing in the Olympic Distance Triathlon during which participants swim 1.5 kilometers, bike 40 kilometers and run 10 kilometers.
So what motivates someone to compete in such a physically demanding competition?
‘I do it because it feels good to feel this good,? said Edwards, a 43-year-old engineer, who raced from age 22 to 30, took 13 years off, and is now ready to compete again.
‘I want to be able to keep up with my kids and live a long, active life with my husband,? said Martin, a 38-year-old stay-at-home mother.
‘I have been unable to do much exercising at all for the past six years,? she explained. ‘I had twins five years ago and they left my body in a state that made it impossible to be physically active. That health situation has been taken care of and this was something to motivate me to get on my feet and move.?
This will be Martin’s first triathlon.
‘My goal for this triathlon is to finish,? she said. ‘A triathlon is something I didn’t ever think I would do, so just being able to finish will be a thrilling accomplishment for me. If I decide triathlons are for me, I’m sure I’ll have loftier goals next time.?
‘I started doing (triathlons) because I was a runner and had finished a marathon in 2005 and thought I would try something different to give me incentive to train,? said Borg, a 39-year-old mother of four and substitute teacher for Oxford and Brandon schools.
‘I only do triathlons for my own fitness,? explained Borg, who’s competed in four triathlons since June 2006. ‘I am not interested in really competing with the other athletes. My goal is to finish or finish better than (my time last year).?
‘I participate in triathlons for a number of reasons, but predmoninantly (because) doing them has allowed me to concentrate on improving my physical and mental fitness which has benefited my health exponentially,? said Rossman, 40, who’s employed as the New Programs Introduction Manager at TRW Automotive.
‘As I get older, it is a great feeling to be able to compete with athletes half my age as well as athletes nearly twice my age,? explained Rossman, who’s been participating in triathlons competitively for about five years. ‘Crossing the finish line with a personal best time is the reward or motivation for all the hours spent training.?
For Adkisson, a 38-year-old who works in sales, triathlons are about staying in shape, competing against his friends and pushing ‘myself to the limits and beyond.?
If you think you can just get up one day, throw on your sweats and track shoes, and compete in a triathlon, think again, then lay back down.
‘My current training schedule consists of 2,500-8,000 yards of swimming, two weight-lifting sessions, 80-140 miles of cycling and 18-25 miles of running each week,? Edwards said. ‘This takes me about 10-15 hours.?
‘I have kind of been slacking this summer in the training for various reasons, but normally I would do two-hour long bike rides, two 25-minute swims and two five-kilometer runs per week,? Borg said.
‘My training averages 8-14 hours a week depending on what part of the year it is,? Rossman said. ‘In season I tend to work out two to three hours in a pool or lake. Train three or four hours a week on the bike. Spend usually about four hours running. And finally spend about three hours in weight and core training.?
Adkisson puts in about 10-12 hours of training a week, sometimes going for three runs, two swims and two bike rides.
Already a ‘strong cyclist,? Martin said she’s been ‘concentrating on the swimming and running.?
However, being the mother of three children makes finding time to train difficult.
‘I haven’t had a fixed schedule,? said Martin, who notes she gets ‘out when I can,? which usually means four to six hours per week.
Training aside, Martin said the ‘most important thing? she’s been doing is staying hydrated.
‘I’m drinking 132 ounces of water everyday,? she said. ‘You can train 14 hours a week, but if you’re not hydrated appropriately, you won’t be able to give it your all.?
As with any competion in life, a triathlon offers its participants both challenges and rewards.
‘The most challenging part is finding a way to motivate yourself to put in the training time after all of the other daily activities,? Rossman said. ‘Winter is very difficult for motivation, but some of your best training can be done in the winter.?
‘The most rewarding part of competing in triathlons is when you do the races and you see a continuous improvment in your results,? Rossman noted.
For Edwards, the most challenging part is ‘the bike to run transition.?
‘I tend to run too fast out of the transition and don’t finish with a good run,? he said.
‘The sense of physical efficacy one feels? is the reward for Edwards. ‘It’s as if there is nothing you can’t accomplish,? he said.
Martin finds ‘the mental part of it? to be the biggest obstacle. ‘Convincing myself that I can make it,? she said.
But once that’s overcome, Martin finds it immensely rewarding ‘knowing that you’re strong enough, physically and mentally, to finish something like this.?
‘Doing something that only a minority of people do is a great feeling, too,? she said.
Biking is the big challenge for Borg.
‘I am not a big fan of speeding down hills with other athletes,? she said.
‘Feeling good after the race and knowing I have accomplished my goal? is Borg’s payoff at the end.
Training and proper nutrition are the biggest challenges for Adkisson, but it’s all worth it because he’s ‘lucky enough to be able to participate.?
‘There are numerous people who would love to compete in this type of event, but are unable to due to many circumstances,? he said.
Good luck to all the Oxford residents competing this weekend.
For more information on the event visit www.3disciplines.com.