They said my legs would feel “weird” when I hopped off the bike and tried to run, but I had no idea what my coaches and teammates meant. As my bike’s trip monitor hit nine miles after 23 minutes of hard pedaling, I slid my feet from the straps eager to start my run. When I took my first steps, however, my legs wobbled like jello sliding onto platters. I eventually teetered out of the gym where my California skin was blasted by cold November air. It was going to be a long three miles.
Last Sunday, the Dartmouth Triathlon Team’s end of term race was my first ever triathlon experience. The combined 700-yard swim, 9-mile spin bike ride, and 3.4-mile run pushed me physically and mentally in a way that I have a never been pushed before. Crossing the finish line was one of the most painful yet satisfying feelings. I loved it. Although tough moments leapt up during the one hour and six minutes, I look back on each challenge with a deep pride and happiness. Walking around campus last week, I’d find myself smiling thinking about what I’d accomplished in just two months of training.
I have varying levels of experience with swimming, biking and running. Before coming to Dartmouth, I played years of competitive tennis. Despite offers to play tennis at other colleges, Dartmouth was my dream school. Tennis gave me mental toughness, but unlike most members of the Tri team, I lacked both the competition experience in and coaching for a true endurance sport. Significantly, I also lacked the cardiac base that comes with nonstop vigorous athletics. Triathlon has been a completely new endeavor.
This fall the greatest challenge has been swimming. It’s funny to think that for someone who went to school a few blocks from the Pacific Ocean, I’m far from being one with the water. In fact, I might be the least experienced swimmer on our team. Before our first triathlon swim practice, I assumed I must be a good swimmer because I could splash my way across a long pool without drowning. After my first practice, however, I learned that my technique is so ugly and inefficient, that I’m much closer to sinking than swimming. So, all autumn, I’ve been trying to learn how to really swim. I’m improving my technique and slowly building my endurance in the pool. My goal for the fall has been to make small improvements, like slowing down my arms and moving them in circles (instead of flailing them), kicking like a swimmer (not like I’m riding a bike), or swimming longer distances.
Since I am an “extreme” case in the water, I have been fortunate enough to get one on one coaching every practice from our three amazing coaches Jeff Reed, Eliot Scymanski,
and Jim Anderson. Each one stands out as a great triathlete and strong swimmer. With my coaches’ support, I am starting to see my swimming improve. I’m proud to say that although it took a while, probably the longest on our team, I completed the full 700-yard swim in our first race. Two months ago, there was no way I could have accomplished that without wearing floaties on my arms. As Coach Jim says, “From where you started, you can only get better.” I am excited to become an actual swimmer.
I have a bit more experience biking and running. Before Dartmouth, I often used stationary bikes at gyms because they were the easiest piece of equipment to watch movies on. Peddling away engrossed in action movies, I had never thought about or even heard terms like “max watts” or “output zone.” Nevertheless, by having two spin classes a week, led by extremely passionate and knowledgeable upperclassmen like Katie Clayton, Carly Tymm and Russell Stewart. I am beginning to learn about how bike racing and training work. To my amazement, unlike swimming, I have already shown some potential on the spin bike. I logged in one of the top scores in our recent twenty-minute power test and was the fourth fastest biker in our triathlon. Although I’m proud of these early accomplishments, I have never ridden a road bike, so I’m more than a little nervous to see how I do when I actually have to focus, balance, and steer. Plus, it’s entirely possible that the workout music our spin leaders play moves my legs faster than I could myself.
Running has always cleared my head and given me relaxed feeling afterwards, but I have never trained to be a runner. Before starting triathlon, the longest I had ever run was four miles. My runs were only ever timed during my annual summertime 5k run with neighbors and friends from ages eight to eighty. My first week on campus, before practice started, our captain, Brandt, texted in our team group chat that he was looking for someone to do an easy run with. I figured I’d join him and see the beautiful area around the campus. I assumed at most we’d run three to four miles. When Brandt told me we were running seven to eight, my heart dropped. I was way too embarrassed to say I had no running experience at that distance, so I went for it. With teammates Brandt Slayton, Tucker Evans, and Matt Goff all supporting me (even through an emergency bathroom break), I made it.
For training we do a weekly track workout with Upper Valley Running Club on Tuesday nights. These practices marked my first ever experiences with specific running training. I had no idea how take off or add two seconds to my 5k pace or even what my 5k pace was. When I ran, I knew three speeds: easy, harder, and all out. Throughout the fall, I’ve learned the meaning of running specific training. Occasionally, I even get to be the pacer for my group. From my hard work, I have seen huge improvement. At the CHaD 5k race in October, I dropped my 5k time that I set in July from 21:30 to 20:19. I clocked the second fastest running time in our end of term triathlon. With the winter coming, I am excited to keep getting faster, and will most likely be motivated to pick up my pace to escape the cold.
Besides helping me learn how to be triathlete, the Dartmouth Triathlon Team instantly became like a family. From day one, they’ve been people I’ve been able to come to for advice on everything: what classes to take, where to eat, and what frats to go to. At least once a week, we bond over a team dinner and get to talk when we’re not panting for air. Being a new student 3000 miles away from home, I find the little things that my teammates do mean the most. When Moises Chavez, a graduate student, asks me how my week is going and makes me laugh about being up until 3am writing a paper, I feel totally connected to Dartmouth. This fall my hardest class has been biology. On my walk to class, knees shaking, I always pass seniors Emma Skarkin, Valentina Sedlacek, and Matt Goff. Each teammate gives me a high five as we pass. As soon as our hands slap, I straighten up, smile, and head into my toughest hour of the day with confidence.
From my experiences training and bonding with teammates this fall, I have become completely hooked on being a triathlete. The feeling of satisfaction I got crossing the finish line last week caused me to look forward to our season and set a goal of completing an Olympic distance race in the next year. I’m so excited for what lies ahead. I’d like to thank my teammates and coaches for welcoming me and making me feel at home on the Triathlon team. I will work hard the next four years and hope to never let you guys down.
SBR,
Philip
About the Author
Philip is a '21 from Los Angeles, CA who just completed his first term on the triathlon team. He was previously a competitive tennis player. His interests include cooking and history.
