Would you rather be mediocre at 3 things, or incredible at 1?

Most people would say they’d rather focus on one sport and master it, rather than spread their efforts thin.  However, how many of us actually do that?  I call this the Triathlete Syndrome.

We cyclists always kind of poke fun at triathletes

 

because they act like pro runners, swimmers, and bikers, but usually (At least from a competitive cyclists’ point of view), they stick out like crazy.  Literally, you can identify a tri-guy on a group ride in seconds.  

But I’m not here to rag on triathletes – admittedly, I’d like to complete a tri at some point (when I learn how to survive the swim).  But it’s a great example of spreading one’s efforts.

 

Which brings me to the real reason I bring this up – I feel like a triathlete lately.  I love running, I love biking, and now I’m starting to love crossfit.  The issue?  I used to put in 200 miles a week on my bike.  Now?  Not even half of that.  At the same time, I’ve gone from zero crossfit to 3-4 times a week, and I’ve seen so much improvement.  But while getting over the “beginner’s hump” is always really exciting (seeming to PR every lift), there comes a time when you need to decide what you really want.

Do I want to become “really good at working out?”
Do I want to work on strength and toning my body?
Do I want to dominate in road races or mountain bike competitions?
Do I want to train for my first marathon?

Unfortunately, I have come to realize that I CAN’T DO ALL OF THESE THINGS at the same time.

By entering the world of crossfit, I’ve cut my biking hours in half – which has made me neglect my team a bit, I haven’t raced in months, and I don’t know if I would be able to do well at all at the track (velodrome).  All of these things are depressing to me.  I mean, I know that if I signed up for a century ride tomorrow, I could complete it.  It’s not like I’m no longer an above-average cyclist.  But I’m NOT In race shape right now.

Decisions, decisions…