Linsey Corbin

Triathlon is a Way of Life

By InnerVoice

March 3^rd, 2017

i dig my teeth in and suffer

The thing about endurance sports is you are guaranteed to hit rough patches in training and racing. I actually look forward to these tough moments as this is my time to shine. This is where I feel I excel.

When my friends Pain, Doubt and Uncertainty come knocking, I give them a warm welcome and acknowledge them. I realize that the tough parts are inevitable. I remind myself that this is what I've trained for; this is what I am here for. I kind of get excited in a sick and twisted way - this is where you get the opportunity to see what you’re made of. Will you crumble under the pressure or will you persevere?

The best thing I can do is limit how much power I give to the negative inner-voice and try to let my positive, logical and tough, hard-headed, gritty, relentless inner-voice ring loud and clear. I then focus my thoughts on things I can control: cadence, breathing, sticking to my race plan. I turn my head towards being present, in the moment and task-oriented. I like to remind myself that tough times are temporary. I rely on past experiences of overcoming the tough moments. When all else fails, I dig my teeth in and suffer through it.

Always an athlete

My parents were all-star athletes in my eyes. My dad played college basketball and still plays League hoops three days a week! Growing up my dad would run marathons and I would ride my bike next to him during some of his long runs. My mum was a recreational runner and skied as well.

As a result, I have always identified myself as an athlete. Growing up in the mountain town of Bend, Oregon I was always trying to keep up with the boys. Skiing, running, biking, playing in the dirt, camping. Like every athletic child, I wanted to be an Olympic athlete. I loved skiing. Picabo Street was my hero and I wanted to be an Olympic downhill ski racer.

After a hiatus from collegiate running, my boyfriend at the time (now husband), Chris, suggested I enter a local 5km running race. After that, it was game over! I’ve always been a competitor and that just reminded me how much I loved competition. That summer I borrowed Chris’ road bike and went bike touring with my parents. Chris has always been in my corner since day one in triathlon. Even though he’s not an elite athlete himself, he is the person that encourages me to make the most of every day and to try to be the best version of myself. His positive attitude and work ethic is contagious.

test my limits another time

It doesn’t matter if you win, set a course record, have an average day or even finish last… there’s always a small part of you that wonders: what if? The thing that has surprised me most about triathlon is how addicting it can be. I will finish a race exhausted, completely depleted, feeling like I have given it my absolute all and swear I may never do another. A few hours later I go over this, that and the other detail from the day and I am left wondering. What if I had done XYZ differently? Would my day have gone any better? Could I have found a small percentage more in myself? Before I know it, I am signed up for another race and looking to test my personal limits another time.

“The one sport I have always been interested in but never had the guts to try is the pole vault. I am pretty sure that opportunity has passed me by. Hah!”

Quitting is never an option

For me personally, tough times off-field are more challenging than tough times during a competition or a hard training day. I immediately think of times when I have been injured and unable to train or compete. My whole world suddenly feels very small when I can’t do what I love. I have felt hopeless and often it feels never-ending. The good news for me is that I have seen myself come out the other side and know that you have to endure the tough times to be able to get to the rewarding moments. Tough times make the small victories all the sweeter. For every low point there is an equally greater high point awaiting.

I have never really considered quitting anything, which has gotten me into trouble at times. I have been described as both hard-headed and relentless. Quitting is never an option for a person like me.

It's What's inside

I feel incredibly lucky to have lived the life that I have and avoided any sort of major tragedy. I have had my fair share of challenges, however. I think this idea of failing or falling short of my goals and having the courage and confidence to get back up again, to put myself out there and try again is something of value to me personally.

In 2015, I suffered a stress fracture in my femur. I wasn’t able to run for 9 months and I felt my identity as an athlete was slowly being stripped away. I had moments of questioning whether I’d ever be a competitor again and who am I without sport? I feel like I had to try, try and try again several times in 2015. The best thing that came from taking a year on the sidelines and not racing was perspective. I learned that races and results come and go. It’s what is on the inside that makes me, me.

“I was obsessed with the idea of pushing myself and seeing how hard I could go while riding up mountain passes, seeing some of the most scenic viewpoints of the PNW, and knowing that my own body and two wheels got me there.”

way of life

The lessons endurance sport has taught me are that I have the ability to endure, to be positive in the face of adversity, to get the most out of myself, to live in the moment, to be confident, to be vulnerable, and to pick myself up again after failure. These are all life-lessons that spread far and wide outside the scope of triathlon.

I like that I can have an impact on other people. Knowing the joy that triathlon has brought into my life and seeing other people experience it themselves, testing limits, having the confidence to step outside a comfort zone, to lead an active life, to see new places.

Triathlon has become a way of life for me. I have made lifelong friends and memories all due to a bunch of college buddies running around in spandex in 2004. I have been given the opportunity to travel the world, be ridiculously fit, be a fierce competitor and I don’t want to waste a single opportunity that is in front of me.