<p>Running to the office today, I had my first realization that my days of being “a runner” may be coming to an end. Three years since identifying an injury with my hamstrings, I’m still only able to comfortably/intelligently run about two hours a week. To someone who spends their time on their couch, that may seem significant, but when I was <em>really</em> a runner a few years back, that would have been an abysmal week.</p>
<p>Now that we’re finally settling back down after wedding/honeymoon and the mess that putting your life on hold for roughly two months entails, I’ve been able to get back into a training routine. Using last week as an example, I ran two hours, biked seven, and swam one. Does that make me a cyclist since the bulk of my time is focused on that? Does it make me a triathlete since I’m performing all three sports to a fair level? Therein lies my problem.</p>
<p>I have a make-believe definition that each of those three named athlete types are only valid if you’re at the top of the game in any one of them. I was a runner when I was capable of winning races. I’m no longer really capable of that; I’m doubting myself as a runner. To me, a cyclist is someone who races. That’s silly; it excludes folks who do cross-country treks or ride to work. And a triathlete (I know for a fact that I’m not a swimmer) is someone who could “win” at all three sports on their own, but instead combines them all for a display of superhuman endurance. I know a lot more folks call themselves triathletes, but there is a stigma built up in my mind that I really could stand to break down; they’re folks who weren’t really good at any of the three sports, but instead combine them for… I don’t know what reason. And that’s my problem.</p>
<p>It’s clear that I have an issue with titles. Lately, when folks ask me if I’m a runner, I don’t know what to tell them. If they ask me if I’m a cyclist, I don’t know what to tell them. If they ask me if I’m a triathlete, I shy away from that title and reply “No, but I do all three sports” because I somehow deem being “pretty good” at three sports not as respectable as being “very good” at one, but heck, at 10 hours of training per week, I’m shorting myself.</p>
<p>I’d love to have the time to focus on one of the sports (running or cycling), but I can’t run enough to be competitive and if I find the time to cycle enough, I won’t have any time to run. I’m not ready to give up on running… And I refuse to shave my legs.</p>
<p>I’ve only done a single triathlon, but I think the writing is on the wall… and I’m still not going to shave my legs.</p>