Beginner Triathlete - My First Triathlon articles

“I didn’t have a clue. I didn’t know how to swim, I would be dying after running a mile, I didn’t have any coordination or endurance; every time we trained, I was the last one.”

“None of us were swimmers, none of us were cyclists, none of us were runners, but we all decided that together, we would be.”

I had a moment of clarity. It was what I needed and wanted. It was the end of my life as I knew it and the beginning of the beginning. I decided that I wanted to live.

Life is a series of challenges, large and small, that we meet with the resources we have available. Completing an Ironman distance by wheelchair takes a little help from your friends.

As with probably ninety percent of people on this website, my story starts with "I've always wanted to do a triathlon..."

When I found out there was going to be a small sprint triathlon in a month, I signed up and I decided I would try to do my best.

I think the biggest thing I've learned is to quit worrying about what everyone else thinks. If I let that get to me too much I would not be the fine triathlete I am today!

Most people could do this, probably much faster than I could. But the beauty of the event was the energy, to be around so many people who are so motivated and goal-oriented.

A day of mistakes, learning and accomplishment! One of the best days of my life!

From overweight with heart problems to becoming a triathlete

Since this was my first tri, I rode a $200 Schwinn road bike I picked up at Wal-mart a few weeks back. I had only gone on a few five mile rides for training so I was real skeptical about the ride.

Story of a canoe-run-bike tri

Afraid to Tri? Worried about being DFL? How I survived, and how you can too.

The night before my first triathlon I didn’t sleep very well. My thoughts were on the next day, the enormity of the task looming frighteningly close.

Looking back, what would I have done differently?