[t.ray]

HI ALL,

I'm a first time poster who has been gleaning lots of triathlon tips from this site for the last few weeks. Thanks to you all for sharing your experiences on line so a newbie like myself can hopefully avoid some pitfalls along the way to my first tri.
I was an average runner 25 years ago in high school who started running again 5 years ago when my daughter asked me to coach her community ed. cross country team. I'm glad she did because it made me realize how NOT in shape I was and that I really missed running. About a year ago I considered doing a tri, but my swim is so weak that I talked myself out of it. After a muscle pull in a fall race forced me to do more cross training and less running I decided that maybe I can improve my swimming enough so that I don't totally embarrass myself(or at least not drown). So I am preparing for a sprint tri in June and will go from there depending on my experience.
This brings me to my title question. Why did YOU decide to do a tri? I'm sure that this isn't a unique thread, but thought that it would be a good one break the ice with. I look forward to your stories and gleaning more tips from experienced tri-athletes. Hopefully I will be able to offer some advice myself sometime in the future.

[sfricks]

Great question. For me it was similar to your epiphany. I was fat, lazy & out of shape. My wife & I were watching IM HI and there was a story of a 70 year old man who had a heart attack & bypass surgery 3 years earlier. It showed his pain, agony AND MOST OF ALL, his determination. He finished the grueling event 17 hours after he started with cheers and accolades from the crowd. I thought, “if this guy can do an Ironman, what is my fat but doing on the couch?” That very afternoon, wifey & I got up and went for a walk. Those walks turned into runs, Before long it was a daily event but things weren’t progressing. I needed a goal. That was mid-Oct 2000.

I started training in Dec for a March Tri. I worked through a lot of pain & embarrassment but in March found myself toeing the line for a Super Sprint. In April I did a small Sprint and in May a Sprint being held in conjunction with a 70.3. Being amongst 900 beautifully fit athletes made me long to do more.

I worked up enough courage to do the St Croix Ironman 70.3 (half Ironman) the following year and was chatting with a finisher who had just done IM Brazil. He said he would never do this race again. “Why?” I asked. “This race was too hard” was his reply. (I later found out that St. Croix’ 70.3 is regarded as one of the toughest). This started the wheels turning towards IM. 5 months later I did my first Ironman.

So… That’s my story and my addiction. There’s a moral in here. 1) If I can do it, anyone can. I’m not being modest. I was 60 lbs over weight (I’m still 20 lbs overweight) and totally unfit. I was never a runner and had never ridden a road bike. I had never done a swim bike or run race. I was a poor swimmer with little or no technique. I had to start from scratch. 2) I’m an extremely busy type A guy who works 60-70 hours/week over 5.5 days. I am a home owner with kids so have all the responsibilities that go with that. I go to work before sun-up and return after sunset every day. My workouts happen on weekdays before sunrise and on Sunday AMs. I swim Tue & Thur PMs and early Sat AMs. 3) Once I started I found that I had more energy with less rest and felt better all around. In all seriousness, Triathlon added 10-15 years to my life. I hope everyone who is involved here finds similar success.

[t.ray]

Thanks for your reply and for being such a regular poster on this site. I've seen the NBC IM coverage too and if that doesn't inspire a person to get moving I don't know what would. There are so many great stories about people who have overcome more than most of us have to face so that they can compete in an event that is almost too hard to comprehend. I've ran 2 marathons and can't imagine starting one after already being out on the course for hours like an IM requires. Any one leg by itself is an accomplishment for most people. Thanks again and good luck in whatever you have planned for 2007.

[DOUBLE DOWN]

I think triathlons have a little bit for everyone. The atmosphere of race day will feed your competitive spirit for months afterwords. The social aspect is a mix of a carvnival, a night club and the gym. Lots of pretty people in tight clothing!!! :cocktail:
Seriously, there's something for everyone and the sport allows your personal goals to grow as you become more experienced.

[jeffreyk]

I originally wanted to do a triathlon to lose some much needed weight. When I decided to do my first sprint tri, I weighed about 285 pounds (down from about 320 pounds a few months earlier). After a full year of two sprint triathlons, an Olympic Distance Triathlon, and my first off-season, I am now down to 225 pounds. I now have a Half Ironman scheduled in June (on 6/2/07) in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii (the Ford Ironman 70.3 Honu Half), and possibly a full IM by the end of the year.

Of course, as it is with many people who now do triathlons, I am now hooked on the sport. My whole situation has morphed from just wanting to do a tri to lose weight now to see what physical limits I can push myself to.

It's crazy, but I love it as it has been sort of a personal awakening for me as I now have some great personal athletic goals to accomplish. I just turned 41 years old and I'm glad I discovered the world and lifestyle of triathlon.

[sfricks]

Jeff,
FYI, you may want to look at the GFT Independant Iron Distance Race. You can sign up last minute and it looks to fit with your 70.3 goal this year. Visit Sommer Sports: Home of TriAmerica, TriAmerica TriKidz, Central Florida Triathlon Series and The Great Floridian - ChampionChip Race Timing.

[rhino52]

I saw IM hawaii about 20 yrs ago on Wide world of sports i think and thought that would be cool.All I can remember is i think is was Scott vs Allen I guess it was a lifetime goal for me to try a Tri so 2 yrs ago i signed up for a sprint, I cant swim a lick , bike and run is fair to decent I breast stroked 1/2 mile biked 12.5 and ran 3 in my first sprint ran 1 more sprint 1 month later and then stopped training 1 yr hiatus due to new employment and I'm coming back with a vengence unfortunately the weather in CNY w/ 2-3 ft of snow and near sub zero temps have my training slightly impeded but i hired a swim coach and want the podium for my age group within 2 yrs I am presently 40 so the competition will be stiff. my oldest brother Runs tri in the N.C. region and I run them in CNY so i thank him for renewing my interest. I refuse to join a gym to workout so i will wait for the weather to break to continue my endeavor. Good Luck all maybe I'll see you at a 1/2 IM somewhere down the road i know I have Lake placid in my sites in 1 or 2 yrs Good Luck Rhino

[chappy]

I made a $100 bet with a co-worker that I could lose more body weight percentage than he could in 2 months. Still couldn't talk myself into going to the gym, so I signed up for a sprint tri. Started working out every day. Finished my first sprint tri in 1 hour 25 minutes and then collected $100 a couple weeks later.

[RookieTheo]

I initially started doing tri because a guy at my work was bragging about how good he was. I thought that I had to do it and beat him just to burst his bubble. I started training for a week and did a sprint tri which I did in 1:30
since then I couldnt get enough of it and cant wait for the season to start again. Its just unfortunate that it's such an expensive sport.

[BlueFalcon]

I was a very avid basketball and tennis player up until my mid-thirties and then a nagging patella tendon injury (that only worsened as I continued the side-to-side, jumping, and quick stop-start movements) kept me from really competing and playing to the level I was accustomed to on the courts.

So, I was lying on the couch watching the 2004 Summer Olympics and was impressed with the ladies triathlon. Granted, it was not the event itself that kept me watching more than 2 minutes. But then the idea of swimming, biking, and running started to appeal because these were activities that did not involve a lot of side-to-side, jumping, and quick stop-start movement. A triathlete was born !

My lingering knee problems are never as prevelant during triathlon activities than as they were during the latter days of my court activities.

[DOUBLE DOWN]

Its amazing how many past basketball players take up triathlon. I played until I was 31, then a herniated disc in my back stopped the game. Now triathlon takes all my spare time...

[chappy]

Funny that this thread is back at the top. Haven't done another tri since my first and I just got into another bet, but this time with my brother in law. We got $200 dollars over the next two months on the line and I'm going back to tri training to get me to my goal. I have my work cut out for me since he has about 100 lbs on me. We are doing percentages so I get a little help there, but he has more weight to lose than I do.

[backofthepack]

It is always inspiring to hear stories. I could read these stories for hours and not get bored. I did my first spring tri in July and first 1/2 marathon in Sept. I decided to tri after I discovered that I could do a spinning class and run for three miles after that. I certainly look nothing like some of the pictures on this website (5'8", 150 lb female) and still have cellulite. I never competed in anything in high school. I lacked any athletic ability and confidence in that area. Frankly, I didn't understand why anyone would want to run around following a ball, tackling people, or hitting things with sticks. In fact, I avoided gym class as much as I could in high school. Fortunately, I had a gym teacher that believed me when I told her that I couldn't run and that I always had my period when the swim sessions were scheduled. I giggle to recall how I had to participate in special gym classes when I was in elementary school to help develop coordination.

The best thing about completing my first tri is that it gave me confidence and allowed me to practice the discipline that I had developed in studying throughout high school, college, and grad school. I come from a very sedentary family where athletics were never encouraged nor were they discouraged. My children are young but I hope that they will find something athletic that they can compete in and feel good about. One of the greatest things about my newfound athleticism is that it doesn't matter how many people finish ahead of me or behind me. When I crossed that finish line and saw my family cheering for me, there was no better feeling in the world. Your suggetion to have others write a few words on why they began this journey is great. I will check often to read other people's stories. Good luck with your endeavors,

Back of the pack.