I am THAT person...



Forever Young - Sixty Minutes shown 27th May 2012



Last night (27th May 2012), the show 60 minutes broadcasted a story about mid life crisis and endurance sports titled Forever Young.

It was a look into the uptake of endurance sports such as triathlons, cycling, open water swimming, marathons and the age group demographic who sign up to do such events (majority happen to be 40+). Some reasons why I personally think this is true include:

• The need to tick off life goals
• Being pulled into doing it as part of your work's corporate involvement - BRW/Nissan triathlons, corporate games, work sponsored runs, tour de cure cycling and MS Gong cycling rides etc etc
• DINKs - Double Income No Kids - married but with no kids - you are able to afford the gear and no need to be home so you can be out there training
• Taking up these sports to (lose weight to) keep up with their kids (as couples are having children at a later age)
• Taking up these sports as the kids have grown up - middle aged people who have teenage kids who don't require 24/7 supervision
• To lose weight
• The social aspect of doing triathlons - training with like-minded people (very different in my experience compared to going to a gym)

Apart from the being married and with kids part, I saw similarities of myself in the show last night (albeit 10 years earlier than what they termed a mid life crisis). I took up triathlon (seriously) due to the "turning 30" life crisis. I was single at the age of 29, I was not happy with the way I looked (I weighed around 65kg, a BMI > 30% when you are only 156cm tall, not good news) and I started to morph into a size 10/Medium in my clothing. I was not fit, felt sluggish and I was unhappy. The previous year, I was in an unstable, emotionally draining and unsupported relationship which played havoc on my eating as well as setting time aside to take care of myself and doing things for me. The year I was turning 30 (in 2010), I decided to change my life for me.

Having being exposed to triathlons for several seasons (I supported then partner for his training and supported his races) and I did my first race in 2008. It was only in 2010 (4 months after the break up) that I joined Tri Alliance and routinely started to include training in as part of my lifestyle and defined who I am today.

I reflected on my lifestyle whilst I drove the car at 5:30am to my 6am swim session this morning. I pondered upon the whole image of being a triathlete and the lightbulb moment came to me whilst I parked my car. Yes, I became that person:

• I am that person who wakes up at 4:45am to swim at 6am at a pool 25km away from home.
• I am that person who trains after work and doesn't get home until 9pm.
• I am that person who is unmarried and has no kids or dependants so she is able to train
• I am that  person who spends way too much money on the sport when she has piles of overdue bills to pay
• I am that  person who spends more time with her training squad than with her own family and friends
• I am that person who chooses to run in a singlet when it is 5 degrees in the morning
• I am that person who wears lycra 7 days a week
• I am that person who rides a bike in a pouring rain
• I am that  person who carries several bags in the car everyday to cater for training needs
• I am that  person who eats processed food so she can keep moving
• I am that  person whose friends finds it hard to have a conversation as they feel obliged to ask her about how her training is going
• I am that  person who enjoys sweating whilst swimming, cycling and running
• I am that person whose work colleagues marvel at her commitment level to this sport 
• I am that person who forgoes attending people's catch up drinks on a Friday night so that an early morning bike ride would not be compromised.
• I am that person who is no longer unhappy and uncomfortable about the way she looks
• I am that person who is comfortable about signing up to do events when others find it impossible to do in this lifetime
• I am that person who enjoys being exhausted after a big day of training
• I am that person who has never been more happier and can't imagine life without triathlon.
• I am that person who had a life crisis and made a change.

I wonder what I will be like when I am 39 (and turning 40), will I be panicking like I did when I was 29? Will I be sorting out some other challenge which appear to be impossible to do (albeit raising a family or doing an ultra marathon)? OR will I be THAT person, sitting on the couch eating bags of chips? I just hope that I don't become that person, as that person is not what this person aspires to be.