Life Lessons Learned with My First Triathlon

I did it! I completed my first mini triathlon! I set a goal to complete a triathlon in 2016 and I successfully accomplished that today. During my training, there were several life lessons that I discovered which can be translated to everyday life.First and foremost, getting outside one's comfort zone is a necessity in life. Obviously, even deciding to participate in a triathlon was outside my norm, especially as a Pilates and yogi person. The body and mind are challenged when being pushed to go outside one's comfort zone. There are positive outcomes when we do that. We become more productive because we are stretched to think creatively. Furthermore, when we become "uncomfortable" our bodies respond at the level of optimal anxiety/stress which prepares us for the constant changes of everyday life. I also found during training that I could always go a little farther than I thought or was comfortable with. Most athletes will tell you that 80% of training is mental and accepting being stretched beyond our perceived rational or physical limitations is key.Making sure your goal is attainable will create ongoing success. My initial plan was to complete a longer race but I re-evaluated this after about 6 weeks of training. I realized I was not adhering to my own advise that I offer to my clients by setting SMART goals, particularly the "A". The letter "A" represents "attainable". Once I decided to change  races, my training got a boost. I no longer felt discouraged or overwhelmed and specifically found a race for first-timer. It is good to set goals beyond our expectations but when it becomes unattainable then most people just give up.Having fun and a positive attitude will make the task at hand seem easier. My goal for this triathlon was to just finish and I think having that attitude made the race less stressful. I received some last minute advise to just have fun. By having a smile on my face and developing friendly camaraderie with fellow participants, made the race go by quickly. I know this is true for work and everyday life as well. Besides wouldn't you rather be around someone who smiles and has fun as opposed to a grumpy, serious person.So you may be wondering, "Will I do another triathlon?". I haven't completely decided yet, but maybe. If I do, I will attempt a longer distance though. Right now I have a few other goals I want to accomplish in 2016. However, I can now cross off completing a triathlon from my bucket list!