I don’t remember why I tried triathlon in the first place. I wanted to challenge myself, I might say. Or to be skinnier, for the purpose of swimming. Hmm... I don’t know. But what I remember is that, after PON 2016, I might be a little bit too old to be at the National Swimming Team, when I was training in Bali, so on October 2016, I decided to come home for good. Back in Jakarta, i couldn’t stop thinking about buying my first road bike, I meant why not trying triathlon for fun, getting a finisher medal. I didn’t even realize i was challenging myself, that I accidentally pushed myself much further. Back then, I thought I could swim (really fast), then I could ride a bike (how hard could that be), and last I used to run as my cardio and volume training. So I thought I could win this thing. Buying a perfect bike was tricky. You have to be measured first, to find what frame size fits you. There were a lot of good brands, with a different price range, and function. So I thought, and all round bike would be good for me as I didn’t know where would I be racing at, it should be fast on the flat road and very light on the hilly course. After weeks of searching the entire Kelapa Gading bike shop, we found what we needed in Surabaya (huh?). Thou it was a used bike, It was the perfect color that I liked, my size, and very light also, couldn’t say no to that. On February 2017, After getting my first bike, I started to ride around the city every weekend. I was ‘the lone rider’. I didn’t really know how dangerous it was. But it was fun though. I always stop by the Monas or Kota Tua just to take few good pictures. I didn’t really have a structured training plan back then, besides my swimming. I swim almost every day, then I run after a swim to lose some weight, three times a week, and cycling at the weekend. The goal was to be fit, and not die at that long distance sport. I have to train my breath, heart rate, and mental strength to endure these long miles. And I did all just for the sake of fun. Apart from I didn’t have any triathlon friends, my babe always supporting me no matter what. He found me a suitable bike, bought me trainer, and everything that I need for my training. We both know nothing about triathlon. But compare to now, we are quick learner. Because of him, I accomplished many podium finishes. He accompanied me to my race, and to me it was such an energy booster having him waiting for me at the finish line. Back in the days, I didn’t know that this triathlon would drive crazy. Love hate relationship with this one. Started this for fun, now it gets dead serious, Like I set some goals. My major goal is to be a medalist at the 2019 SEA Games. My fellow Pinoy swimmer did that, and I can do it to. As a swimmer, i never worked this hard. Now I’m out of my comfort zone. Because swimming was easy, but in triathlon we started from zero. And honestly, i have done everything in swimming that I dreamt of. Such as SEA Games medalist, checked. Travel around the world, checked. Participate in World University Games, checked. Then perhaps I want more, not in swimming, but in triathlon. So let’s get the jobs done, dreams dont come true unless you act upon them!
