What made you want to get into tris?

being australian i assumed i would be naturally good at it!

not so much!

 but seriously, i got a dodgy ankle n Basketball always seems to injure it badly so ill stick to a sport where i wont land on anyones foot after jumping..

My mate on the train commute announced one day he was doing one as it was a logtime ambition. I needed to get fitter for my firefighter job so nicked his training plan with a view to just following it to get fit. Got hooked on the training so thought I might as well have a go at a sprint race.

Suffered on the day but loved it and have done 3 now. Olys next year.

My friend has also done the 3 and he said if it wasn't for me joining him he would have left it at the one race.

I have never been fitter

High startup costs?  My first tri cost me $45 for the race fee.  I rode my mountain bike (already had a helmet and all), swam in my swim trunks with an old pair of goggles, and ran in my trunks and an old t-shirt (and the running shoes I already had). 

It didn't start getting expensive until after that first race  

To the OP.  I lost weight and got active preparing for a backpacking trip.  Once I got back from the trip, I knew I needed something else to keep my motivation to hit the bricks at 5:30 in the morning every morning.  I'd lifeguarded a triathlon back in 1983 (ish?) and I'd seen the Ironman coverage on TV (figuring that'd be cool, but no way would I ever sign up for one of those... )  I enjoyed swimming for fitness (even though I hadn't done so in 10 years).  I enjoyed riding my bike (even if I wasn't hammering it all the time).  I tolerated running, so a triathlon held far more appeal than 5K's. 

Watching the Kona IM on television and nearly crying at some of the life stories - alright I'll admit it, I haven't been able to watch one yet without crying some. 

Life is a collection of experiences, why not make them meaningful and momorable - ironman is hard to top.

I needed to stay motivated after I lost a bunch of weight running.  And I hate running, so I needed to mix things up.  Like McFuzz said, though, the first race was done on the cheap - on an old 10 speed I already had, with my only expense being buying a pair of goggles to swim in.  The real cost was the time commitment, especially since when I started I was in residency and our second daughter was just born.

I only became gearboy afterwards, acquiring all sorts of shiny new toys.  Plus the fun I had inspired me to get into a lot more sports (I was very much a non-athlete until then), especially if they were gear-intensive (skiing, backpacking, rock climbing, scuba diving, kayaking ...)

I separated my shoulder playing ice hockey.  Figured the best rehab would be swimming (even though I sucked at it).  Then when I went to the doctor, I saw my weight was 184 and thought I need to get back on my bike.  Since I was doing 2 activities, I thought I'd just throw some running in there and do a tri.  After the first, I was hooked.   Plus losing 35 lbs was good motivation.  Been doing tris ever since (5 years now).  I've ran about 15+ races, podiumed 3 times and qualified for AG Nationals this year.  At 39, I keep getting faster so I can't stop now.

Shall I list them?

1) I get bored and so I liked the variety.

2) I've never raced . . . but I LOVE to race (through parking lots, etc.).

3) To be healthier.

4) I am competitive, but not aggressive.

5) I had to pick a goal that will inspire my 120 HS freshmen--I think it's working.

6) Hot men (to follow suit).

7) And, of course, to be one of those hot women. Hahaha.

Elishia.

This is probably one of the most genuine quotes I have ever seen.  So much so that I'd like to throw it on my blog.  You mind rc?

I recently started a blog about my training and races and my first post involved my reasoning for getting into Triathlons.  I explained that once I had stopped playing soccer in college and graduated, I really didn't have anything to scratch my competitive itch.  I need challenges and goals in my life (outside of my 9 to 5) to keep me motivated and this sport is the perfect way to do that.  Now that this season is over, I have new goals for next season and I'm currently researching which HIM I'd like to start training for.  Personally, I really don't think there is a Pinnacle in the world of sports quite like that of Kona. 

I need a goal in life to go forward. My goal is to push myself to the limit, so triathlon is what I needed.

Coming from a Cycling and Running backgroud, it was an easy transition for me. 

I can't explain why I am drawn to the sport.  When I was younger, other kids had heroes like Reggie Jackson, Terry Bradshaw, etc.  Not me.  After watching Dave Scott, Mark Allen, and Julie Moss, I was hooked.  Dave Scott was the man.  So, as a junior in high school, I saved my money from part time jobs and mowing lawns to buy the Dave Scott signature "tri- bike" (it was a road bike with a long wheel base, and a biopace chainring).  When people would ask me if I was crazy I would think about ad in Triathlete magazine back then that said, "If you have to ask why, you'll never understand."  Now that I am a little lot older my explanation for the lunacy is still just as inadequate.  I just like it.

Well, I have a background as a competitive swimmer.  I really let myself go after I graduated college, almost 6 years ago now.  This last June I decided I'd had enough.  I started swimming up at my gym....since it's what I know.

I also had a hybrid bike that had been sitting in my garage since I bought it a couple years back.  So, after a month or so of swimming I started tooling around on that a little bit.

My wife is a runner, she loves to do small/medium sized races, but I had always been afraid to run, because everytime I had in the past, my shins hurt really bad.  I had never had a professional fit me for running shoes before, so someone suggested that.  I figured...why not.  So, I went and found out that I have a flat arch and overpronate...and got some shoes for that.  This was one of the best things I could have done, I could now run without shooting pains in my ankles.

So, there I was....now swimming, biking, and running.  So I thought to myself...why not a triathlon, I am already doing all the events as exercise.  So I signed up for one, and just finished it last weekend.  I plan to continue to do more next year.

Short Version:  I started doing the training for weight loss and exercise.  I did my first event out of fun and desire for a personal milestone.  And I will continue to do them because they are fun as heck (and I'm going to beat that 72 year old man next time!!!!)

Saw Kona when I was a kid and wanted to do it.

Seemed hard, and a sport not too many people did, so I wanted to tri it.

A bunch of female coworkers were doing the Danskin and they talked SO MUCH about it.  And they tried to get me into joining.  I figured I know how to bike, I can put one foot in front of the other and I am a decent swimmer, so I can finish a sprint.  But I didn't have a bike at that time, and I just bought my home (no spare money), so I didn't do it that year. 

The following year I got a bike and started training.  Did my first race and figured it can become a hobby.  I kept at it while many of those who got me started dropped out. 

Seeing a P3 with race wheels, looked like it was straight out of Tron. Id never seen a bike quite like it.

 One of my favourite parts about the sport are all they toys.

Jeep Fleebs A$$.

seriously though. I had reconstrucutive surgery on an ankle. Surgeon said that I may not be able to run at the same level again, try biking. I went to the LBS and saw a tri bike, thought it looked the coolest. Bought it then figured if I have this I'm gonna have to get in the sport.....and here I am.