Vanakkam Slowtwitch

Triathlon Forum
1

Its one of those days when I am desperate enough for an e-mail to sign up on an internet forum, with my real name! I must be losing it, FINALLY. After beating around the sport for not-so-many ages, as an anti-social, mentally unstable and not-so-fun-loving amateur, I have now decided that I need to be demoted to the “special” category of triathletes.

So, hello to all the boys and girls… I am a triathlete from India (yeah, go figure!). I remember being very pissed off at Jonas once for mentioning that my morning swim ritual, when I had the pleasure of running into him, involved being decked in my EOR Pyjamas… I mean, can’t a woman have a bit of privacy?! Besides, why tell the world that Jonas also said that if I swam any slower, I would sink. What most people do not know is that I finished my first Ironman, also in my pyjamas. The race announcer had no idea what came hurtling across the finish line… All I know was that the volunteers on the run course wouldnt give me any damm coke, until I showed them my race number. Maybe they thought I was jogging in the park.

I met this awesome group of californians in Brasil, a few weeks ago and decided slowtwitch cannot be that insane, afterall. So, it is now officially 11 days after that race, which was a whopping disappointment and I have even more reason to sit around and pretend to like training, but just be in the “re-build the beer gut” stage of periodization (whatever that is… I also know some other big words like “taper” and “deraileur”).

Mostly, this post is to ask if anyone has the same problem I do, on the bike… Every person ahead of my resembles a beer bottle, in a race. Pass 'em and I get to say hello to another Heineken. Do you think its just the sun or maybe my contact lenses? Any input is welcome. I know there are a lot of smart people in this crowd… so, who better to ask?

“Vanakkam” is “greetings” in Tamil. A language that is really old and entrenched in inertia…

Look forward to more rambles on the meaning of life, stupidity as measured by letting the mind take over and oh, beer.

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welcome. i met three GREAT guys at the tri101 race at clear lake this weekend, all from india. they all work in san jose (of course). one of them chose the 101 as his first ever triathlon!

i’ve decided india is the new australia (every triathlete i meet from there seems to be fun). obviously you fit this mold, are NOT anti-social, you love to party, and this explains why everything looks like a beer to you.

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Hey Dan, I was about to confess to switching to bike shorts (from pyjamas) to be heard. I don’t live in San Jose… so my life and training are vastly more interesting… mostly my only running tip is that if anyone is ever in a big city here and running, do not try outrunning the dogs that run after you. They are not ok with that… Its better to stop, say hello and walk slowly for 500meters…

There are some good things though, a great set of women athletes in the Marathons around Asia (Japan excluded), some really great short course runners that are up and coming, some awesome tennis players and most of all, cute old ladies that can run a marathon without training for it… no ideas about the after-effects however.

Cheers
-a

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Biker = Beer bottle, hmmm.

I don’t have this exact syndrome. I do fantasize about various types of burritos while I’m running sometimes. (“Beans?” Nah. “Plantain?” Maybe. “Fish?” Phone that order in!)

(In re privacy: The few times I’ve run in India I’ve felt a little “exposed” in my usual shorts and singlet. But even the thought of adding another layer in the heat has been unbearable.)

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Hey girl—Vanakkam!!!

How are you and how was your race? Sorry I didn’t see you afterwards. You could have come and drank some beer with Peter and I later that night. Hope all is well in Bollywood!!

clm

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Hey Dan,
The three Indians you refer to are Rajeev Patel (101 was his first), Vinod Herur and yours truly. We had a great time at Clearlake - sad to see that race cancelled for 2008. It was pleasure meeting you - I had blogged my report on the race :slight_smile:
http://rajeevchar.blogspot.com/2007/06/tri-oneoone.html

Anu.v congrats on a super finish at IMB - training in India - WOW! that is something! I remember training in Bombay in 1989/90 for the Bombay BCCI triathlon - the 40K ride on Bombay roads on my Atlas bike was so much fun! Good old days.

Just finished IM Canada - had loads of fun…not yet sure which race I’ll jump into next year.

Cheers!

Rajeev Char
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