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Realistic Expectations...

Friday, 29 May 2015 10:22

By Erin Sontowski (usatriathlon.org)

My name is Erin Sontowski, and I am in my second year of multisport racing. To most people in this community, that would make me a newbie. Which I completely agree with. Heck, I still get real nervous about getting knocked over on a windy day while on my aerobars. (That may be a whole different thing altogether though, let's just say coordination has never been my strongest skill.)

I am lucky enough to have a wonderful coach who is patient and knowledgeable, and it certainly doesn't hurt that he is my big brother. After spending the last eight years watching my older brother, Mike, compete as an elite-level triathlete, I knew it was inevitable that I would end up joining him along the way. He has worked so hard to be an amazing athlete, and now he can add USA Triathlon Level I and Youth and Junior Certified Coach to his resume. Now, as one of his athletes, I get to share my triumphs as well as my struggles with him both as a brother and a coach. Plus when he gives me particularly grueling hill or sprint workouts, I get to share words with him that I probably wouldn't with any other coach that wasn't blood related....

Now, the joke is always, "Why torture yourself with just one sport, when you can do that with three?" As an outsider for so long, I can honestly say I always thought multisport races were something I could physically never do. I was just a runner. I had done some 5ks, and a few longer trail runs, but then I eventually decided that wasn't enough, and I started running half marathons. But, alas, that wasn't enough either. The multisport bug finally bit me. One night, after indulging in a few beers, I told my brother I wanted to do my first triathlon. I borrowed an old wetsuit of his, and found a bike on loan, which I lovingly came to call "Frankenstein." It was a bike from the ‘70s that we doctored up with aerobars and new tires; long story short, not a huge help since it weighed what felt like 100 pounds. However, after my first race in Buffalo, Minnesota, last year, I knew I was hooked. As most multisport athletes seem to agree, the adrenaline and excitement of racing is absolutely a drug that is more addictive than you could ever imagine. And if you work hard enough to grab a podium spot, then the addiction only grows larger and more intense. READ MORE