What is a minimalist triathlete?

When I did my first triathlon, I was on a 1980s steel frame road bike with a pannier rack attached (this was my commuter bike, after all). I bought my tri kit on clearance from REI, found a cheap child’s helmet on Amazon (I have a tiny head), and asked for my first wetsuit as a birthday present. 


Three years later, my gear has improved (I am very strategic with birthday and holiday presents), but my mindset about triathlon hasn’t. I love the sport, I love competition, and I love getting faster, but I don’t like spending a lot of money, I don’t want to own a lot of stuff, and I certainly don’t want to buy things I don’t need. 


While I think it’s true that triathlon quickly becomes a lifestyle - and it’s one that I embrace - I constantly find myself fighting the urge to get better in the sport by buying something or paying a specialist or doing something complicated that I don’t really need to do. 


In this blog, I’m going to be sharing my attempt to maintain balance and simplicity while I also pursue big goals in the sport. This is my first year as an elite triathlete racing with my pro card, and I have dreams about how far I can go. If you find yourself seeking similar balance in your triathlon adventure (or you just want to follow along as I do!) then check back here weekly as my goal is to have new reflections to share with you regularly. I’ll be offering thoughts about gear, training, racing, health, and mindset. I hope to hear from you along the way!