A typical college student may start his or her morning rolling out of bed a few minutes before 11 a.m. class and hightailing it to Bentley.
For others, running is the perfect way to start the day.
I like going to class knowing that I've already gotten a run in
said Daniel Zeitler, a junior studying integrated social studies and education.
This is not the only workout in his day, though. Zeitler, a member of the OU Triathlon Club who has been training for the upcoming 2009 Collegiate National Championship triathlon in Lubbock, Texas, often starts his days with a run and ends them with a combination of swimming and biking.
Collegiate Nationals, which take place tomorrow, is an Olympic distance triathlon. Competitors start with a 1,500-meter swim, transition into a 40-kilometer bike ride and finish with a 10K run.
In order to try to be good at all three you have to put time into it said Jake Kelley, a Tri Club member who is also an athletic administrators graduate program candidate. How much you put into it depends on how much you want to get out of it.
The key to training and living life is balance, Zeitler says. Both Zeitler and Kelley have packed schedules that force them to budget their time wisely.
After training for at least three months prior to the event, triathlon competitors finally get to race.
I'm both excited and nervous about this weekend
said Erin Sykes, a graduate student studying cultural studies in education, who has been training for Collegiate Nationals since October. Sykes has competed in several triathlons before, and she has her routine down pat.
Race days start with proper fuel: a whole wheat bagel with crunchy peanut butter and a banana. Sykes also carries sports gels with her throughout the race, one for after the swim portion and one for the last event, the run.
You have to know how to eat correctly to make it. If you don't do it
you'll fail
said Lt. Col. William Hauschild, professor of military sciences. Hauschild, who has competed in two Ironman Triathlons (a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile marathon), also said it's important to keep your mindset right throughout the race.
You have to do negative thought stopping
he said. Some, such as Sykes, even sing songs in their heads in order to keep thoughts positive.
So what keeps runners, cyclers and swimmers forking over $100 to compete in something that seems like torture to some?
They're fun. They're the most fun I've had doing races
Zeitler said. Believe it or not
there are crazier things than triathlons.
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