The idea of completing a triathlon may seem impossible. It is a
physically challenging sport that consists of varying distances of swimming,
biking and running. While it is true that some triathletes are professionals,
many are not. They are normal people, with normal lives who decide to make
their dream a reality.
Jaclyn Guetzko is
one of these normal people who has managed to find balance between her
demanding career as a certified nurse practitioner, wife, mom and triathlete.
What made you decide to train for your first
triathlon?
Just exercising for
30 minutes is never going to be enough for me to feel like a well-rounded
athlete. Something I know about myself, is that I need competition. I was a
swimmer in high school and college, and I completed a handful of 5Ks. Training
for a triathlon seemed like a natural way to challenge myself and feed my
competitive spirit.
How did you train? Did you enjoy it?
Swimming is where
my natural athletic talents lie. So, I started by really focusing and improving
in my weaker sports: running and cycling. I started with building my cycling confidence
by going to spin classes. As my confidence and endurance increased, I began to
add new physical challenges: I would run to the gym, attend spin class and then
run home again.
I really like
incorporating a mix of the three sports. I feel like it gives me choices and
I’m still working toward my ultimate goal. If I don’t feel like running today,
I can go for a bike ride instead.
How did you make time in your schedule for
training?
At the beginning of
each week I would look at my calendar and schedule in time for training around
other commitments. I also tried to train in the morning, so I wouldn’t talk
myself out of my workout throughout the day.
I consider myself a
low-maintenance triathlete, I never told myself that I had to work out seven
days a week to be an athlete or be successful. I think rest days are
important for my mental and physical well-being. I don’t beat myself up about
missing a workout, sometimes life gets crazy or in the way. I’m still an
athlete. I’m still going to train. And, I’m still going to compete.
What do you mean when you label yourself a “low-maintenance”
triathlete?
It takes so much
time to train for a big event, like a triathlon. I enjoy competition, but I’m not interested in
overhauling my life or sacrificing aspects of my life in order to train. I have
only trained and competed in sprint triathlons (0.25-0.5-mile swim, 15-19-mile
bike, 3.2-mile run) because I feel the training commitment for this fits with the reality of real life obligations (work, family and friends). I’m
OK not being the best in my age group. I recognize that training and competing
is for my personal satisfaction, not standing on a podium.
Did you change your nutrition while training?
I started to become
more aware of nutrition choices that would set me up for failure. For
example, having pizza and wine for dinner the night before a long morning run
and bike ride didn’t do me any favors. As a result, I started making food
choices that supported my fitness goals. I also discovered that when I’m
working out and eating healthy, I don’t crave as much junk food.
How did your first triathlon go?
I competed in the
Lifetime Tri Maple Grove sprint course (.25-mile swim, 15-mile bike, 3.1-mile
run) and finished in the middle of my age group. Just finishing was the big
accomplishment! It made me feel amazing, and the endorphins made me quickly
forget about the pain.
Was there anything that surprised you about your
first triathlon?
I came out of the
swim feeling really good, but again swimming is my sport, and transitioned easy
enough to the bike portion. The transition from biking to running was
surprisingly difficult. After 15 miles on my bike, my legs were like jelly. I
was tired and had to walk a bit of the 3.1 mile run. I hadn’t realized how
hard the transitions would be and didn’t prepare myself for that during
training. When training for my second triathlon, I spent a lot more time
preparing for this.
What is your advice for others aspiring to
complete a triathlon?
Go for it! You can
accomplish more than you think you can. You learn so much about yourself while
training and completing a triathlon. There is a learning curve, so be kind to
yourself. Keep it fun. Keep it low maintenance. Just finishing is the big
accomplishment.
