Triathlon – The Multisport Santa
It’s the holidays! Americans will spend billions of dollars buying gifts for family and friends. For the avid multisport athlete, they might get something multi-special to fuel their ongoing addiction to swimming, biking and running (or any two of the three).
Some get more joy from giving than receiving. If you’ve purchased that perfect gift for that perfect person, you’re filled with anticipation when they pick up that beautifully wrapped box and tear into it. Did you know that triathlon is joy-filled? What? How? Triathlon is filled with joy because it’s an excellent gift-giver.
You might say, “Triathlon has drained my wallet! What do you mean it gives?” Ok, I understand that financial black hole, but consider this. Triathlon gives very valuable, invisible gifts. Such as the following:
- The Gift of Self-Confidence. Finishing a triathlon is an amazing feeling. I remember my first attempt. I had one goal and one goal only. Just finish. I didn’t know if I could as I stood ankle-deep in the muddy water, sand oozing between my toes. Well, I did. I went home with a new level of self-confidence. Now, 30 years later and in a basement full of awards of various kinds, I can stand in any room with uber-successful, uber-rich, uber-powerful people and feel right at home. It’s not pride or cockiness. It’s just an incredible feeling of assurance. A feeling of accomplishment. Thanks, triathlon!
- The Gift of Self-Discipline. Sign up for a tri, and boom; suddenly, the character trait of self-discipline rises quickly. It has to. The challenges of multisport racing demand it. Do you nail every workout perfectly? Nope. But knowing that gun will go off will get you in the pool, on the bike, pounding some pavement, getting to bed earlier, and eating cleaner. Thank you, triathlon.
- The Gift of Physical and Mental Fitness. This gift may go without saying, but we all know there are about 100 benefits of regular workouts. I won’t list them, but you’ve experienced them. You know this gift well. It’s not rocket science. Those who stay active and move will still be active and moving when it counts, in the second half of life. Thanks triathlon!
- The Gift of Impressing Others. Now, if that’s anywhere on your list of Top 100 reasons for doing this sport. then shame on you. Living to impress others is a miserable way to live. Having said that, well, you will. “What? You race triathlons? Wow!” And, if you’ve ever done an Ironman, look out! You may become the rock star in the room! And, it could lead to networking and opportunities in your personal or professional life! This could be the gift that keeps on giving, only in other areas of life. Thank you, triathlon!
- The Gift of Medals. Yep, medals and maybe some trophies, plaques, posters, certificates, and more. You can get many awards by just finishing those darn races, and some are really cool. Some finisher awards are HUGE! Fun! Keep them. Hang them somewhere to help motivate and encourage yourself. My wife, Jen, has taken 30 years’ worth of that stuff and displayed them beautifully in our basement. When I walk by them on the way to the workout room, I’m encouraged to see progress and accomplishment. One more time, thanks triathlon!
- The Gift of Friendships. All of us have met new folks in this sport who, have become sort-of-friends, then friends that developed into life-long friends who we would go to war with. That is priceless. The value of this gift of friendship can’t be measured. Working out, hanging out and racing with these folks is incredible. A huge thank you, triathlon for that!
Well, there you go. Six gifts that Multisport Santa so graciously gives. We’ll forgive you, Tri-St. Nick for emptying our wallets, for the 4:00 a.m. get-ups and evening exhaustion because we really do get a lot more from you than we give!
