As I registered for my St. George Triathlon earlier this year I was asked to enter what my actual weight was. I proudly entered 226 lbs. After tabbing into the next field a message popped up that said I would be classified as a Clydesdale. What the hell is a Clydesdale? Do I have to pull the beer wagon? Is this like one of those Super Bowl commercials for Bud Light? Do I get paid endorsement fees for this new title and responsibility? Sadly no, it is just another classification.

I am proud to say I’m a C-L-Y-D-E-S-D-A-L-E! Many people in the Triathlon Sport know the division is there, but many of them think that it is the “fat boys division.” That is what I thought after being labeled as such. So what constitutes a Clydesdale? A Clydesdale Athlete is usually defined as any male athlete over 200 lbs. and any woman athlete over 145 lbs. (aka Athenas).

The American Clydesdale Horse Society says this about the breed of horse: "Male or female, a Clydesdale should look handsome, weighty and powerful, so that the impression is given of quality and weight, rather than grossness and bulk."

I guess that could be a compliment.

I have done my training and now I am ready for my first Triathlon. Honestly I am still nervous for the swim. I am glad I took swimming lessons finally and learned some technique. Nothing like a 33 year old that can’t swim yet signs up for a triathlon. My bike is tuned and my running gear has a couple of miles under her belt. The only thing to do now is show up and start the race…oh and finish the damn thing.

I am sure my “Little Sissy” will rear its ugly head and taunt me 200 yards into the swim, telling me that I am drowning or that feeling I just felt on my legs was a shark ready to attack. I will  push my “Little Sissy” to the back of my thoughts, but it will come wiggling back out during mile 10 of the bike section as I start to ascend the dreaded hill. Once again I will force it back into the depths of my subconscious. That self doubt I refer to as my “Little Sissy” will make its final appearance  2 miles into the run telling me that my legs are done and that they are refusing to move. That I should back out now…that I should quietly walk off the course and give up. It will be then, that I see off in the distance… the finish line! 

Watch Out…… The Clydesdale is Unleashed!!!