Less is more

I recently watched a TED video about simplifying one's life.  The premise of the talk is something we've all heard before - less is more.  But in this day and age of consumerism we live in the opposite way.  It is all about accumulation of stuff.  In fact North Americans have accumulated so much stuff that a new $22 billion industry has been created - storage.

What the talk really got me thinking about is how simplification can be applied to the sport of triathlon.

At its most base form triathlon is a simple exercise - swim, bike, and run - as fast as you can over a specific distance.

But we've been over complicating things for many years now.  

Let's talk about equipment.  How many of you have more than one bicycle?  How many of you have 3 or more?  What about 5 or more?   What are you really doing with all those bicycles?  Are you riding them at the same time?  Unless you are employed by Barnum & Bailey, you are only riding one bike at a time.   All you really need is one bike.  A bike that fits you, works well, and that you want to ride.  That's all.

Then there all the add-ons.  Race wheels. Aero bars. Carbon bottle cages. Drink systems.  Just to name a few.  All light weight and designed to save you precious seconds.   Well the last time I looked at transition times all those seconds were lost while you were in T1 and T2.   Wouldn't it be simpler to practice transitions?  Maybe shed a few pounds?  Work harder, more effectively, and more efficiently?  That will reduce your race time by minutes, not seconds.  And isn't that the goal?

And what about nutrition? All the bars, gels, and drinks.  Happily we stuff our selves full of processed and mass produced food items .  Instead, we should be eating whole foods, simply cooked, and often.   It will help our bodies and minds.

So I challenge you to look at your triathlon inventory?  What can you eliminate that is more of a burden than a help.  Be honest.  Be ruthless.  

Are there things you can do to be more multifunctional? Perhaps you can run to the pool, swim, and run back home.  Why waste that travel time.  Make use of it and free up time to spend with your wife/husband, kids, a good book, or even a nap.

So take a look around you and get started.

If you have any comments, or great ideas...please share.  I can be contacted at audoerig@gmail.com.

Until then, keep tri'n.