I completed my B-Fit B-Day Challenge yesterday with a fun swim at my local recreation center to earn Bronze.
Six days after I began the B-Fit Challenge I swam my last 50 yards to celebrate my heath, fitness, and my 45th B-Day.
It began with a 72-mile ride last weekend that you can read about HERE. I was really hoping to go for Gold this year, but several small issues got in the way.
1) I have a important agreement with my beautiful wife that this summer is all about her.
She's racing Ironman Wisconsin next weekend, and I've been doing my best to be her loyal Iron Sherpa. So when she wanted to go for her last century bike ride before her race I was eager to join her.
I only needed to ride 45-miles for the B-Fit Challenge, but what's a few additional miles on a beautiful sunny Saturday afternoon with my lovely wife?
2) I ran my five miles the next morning with ease, and I was all set to go for Gold, or at least Silver when I discovered that my local health club and usually swim hole was closed for a week of fall cleaning.
BTW & FYI: The revised B-Fit Challenge rules are below:
If you choose to accept the B-Fit B-Day Challenge you must....
Bronze: Do all three (swim/bike/run) during the week of your Birthday.
Silver: Do all three (swim/bike/run) in the three days before, after, or on your B-Day.
Gold: Do all three (swim/bike/run) in 24-hours to celebrate your B-Day!
Platinum: Do all three in miles (swim first number in miles not yards/bike/run) in 24-hours to celebrate your B-Day!
So to make a short story long, I was thrown for a loop with my club's closing. This meant no masters classes to make the swim more interesting. In the end it took me 6 days to get the swim yardage done at a strange pool with strange people. It's funny how you get used to a pool that a new pool seems oddly strange and out of sorts.
The good news is that this just means that I can go for silver and/or gold, or even Platinum next year.
In case your wondering I found the B-Fit Challenge a really fun and wonderful way to spend my B-Day week. I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a unique way to test your physical fitness, or just a fun and family friendly way to celebrate your B-Day.
Plus the community that has grown up on the B-Fit web site is, unlike a new pool, a really warm and inviting place to join.
BTW: You don't have to have a B-Day to go for the Challenge. I noticed this morning on the B-fit site that one athlete is using the Challenge to raise money and awareness for his favorite charity. What a great way to share the wealth!
My Times:
Swim 4000 yards: 2:15
Bike 45-miles: 2:49
Run 5 miles: :52
Total: 4:56