Why You Can - #3 - Say Yes to Triathlon in 2009

Excuse #3 - I'm too old.

2009 is your year to taste triathlon. As a triathlete, you'll surprise yourself as you face fears and set personal bests. You'll be more confident, have more energy and smile more often. People will be drawn to that difference. Triathlon is a rewarding sport for people of all ages and abilities. I hope to break down your obstacles: time, money, fear etc. Give triathlon a chance.

Triathlon is for you. Yes you. Triathlon is a great sport for people of all ages and abilities.

Triathlon offers something for anyone, any age. Our son Truitt's first youth triathlon included a 50-yard swim (kickboards allowed), 1-mile bike and .4-mile run. He finished his first race in 19 minutes and 19 seconds.

What do you think the finish line feels like? It's not too late to find out.

On the other end of the age spectrum, our former next-door neighbor Mary Stroebe continues to make news, break records and serve as an amazing role model. Mary shows us it’s never too late to try something new. Mary got started in triathlon at age 75. She’s completed over 12 races. And, at age 89 Mary went head-to-head with TV host Kelly Ripa in a timed triathlon in New York City.

You'll also find inspiration listening to Growing Bolder's interview with Sister Madonna Buder. She's known as the "Nun on the Run." She didn't become a runner until she was 48 years old. She's finished 40 marathons and 34 Ironman triathlons. And at age 75 she became the oldest woman to finish the Ironman World Championship.

Don't miss Tony Handler's story. Handler is a six-time cancer survivor and master triathlete. Listen to his Growing Bolder interview here. Since his initial diagnosis 25 years ago he's finished 220 triathlons!

It’s so encouraging to see friends and family, young and old, falling in love with a sport like triathlon. Don't hide behind excuses. If the sport of triathlon appeals to you, stop and listen. Don't leave room for regret. Take a chance and say yes to triathlon in 2009.

You can train for your first sprint triathlon (1/4-mile swim, 15-mile bike and 3.2-mile run) in a few months. Depending on your current fitness level, and your goals, you can train for your first event in as few as 4-6 hours a week.

Other good articles:
Excuse #1 - I have no time.
Excuse #2 - I can't afford it.
Your First Triathlon
What the Finish Feels Like

Resources: Since you'll probably register for your first event using active.com, take a minute and check out active's triathlon community. There is a section just for beginners, where no question is stupid.

Photo: Truitt racing at his second youth triathlon the next summer. His youngest brother Elias was disappointed the race didn't allow 4-year-olds to compete. Maybe this year Elias.

Why You Can - #1 - Say Yes to Triathlon in 2009

Excuse #1. "I have no time."

2009 is your year to taste triathlon. As a triathlete, you'll surprise yourself as you face fears and set personal bests. You'll be more confident, have more energy and smile more often. People will be drawn to that difference. Triathlon is a rewarding sport for people of all ages and abilities. I hope to break down your obstacles: time, money, fear etc. Give triathlon a chance.

• I know you're curious about triathlon.
• I know you have questions.
• I know you're nervous or even scared.

And that's all OK. You say you "have no time" for something new. I say you have time for what matters most to you. Set aside the excuses and schedule some "me time" in the pool, on the bike and road. Triathlon is about to change your life.

You can train for your first sprint triathlon (1/4-mile swim, 15-mile bike and 3.2-mile run) in a few months. Depending on your current fitness level, and your goals, you can train for your first event in as few as 4-6 hours a week.

We're each given the same 24 hours a day. It's up to us how that time is spent. It's really about looking at choices.

Often people think "I have no time" because they are already stressed out. They are tired. It's easy to push off something potentially hard or scary by simply saying, "I have no time." Instead, I challenge you to examine those seconds. Gather up all those random wasted minutes (TV, wii, facebook, whatever else) and do something lifechanging! Exercise!

My son's gym teacher says, "Be wise and exercise." Why not swim, bike and run? I hope you'll consider this richly rewarding sport.

Make the wise choice - taste triathlon in 2009.

Resources:
Your First Triathlon
Your First Triathlon - The Swim
Your First Triathlon - The Bike
Your First Triathlon - The Run
Active.com's New Triathlete community
Free First-time triathlete training plan from active.com's Gale Bernhardt
Beginner Triathlete.com

above picture: Setting up the transition 1 chute at Ironman Florida, photo by Ken Landolt.

Why Triathlon?

The promise of an ice cream cone motivated U.S. Olympian Julie Swail Ertel to enter her first triathlon. Read more about Julie and how she crossed over from water polo to triathlon here and here.

Others are drawn to triathlon because:

• Triathlon is fun, challenging and rewarding.
• Triathletes have fun training and racing together.
• Triathlon is good for anyone, of any age or ability.

I thought triathlon sounded cool and challenging. My husband and I signed up and raced together. Thirteen years later, we are still doing tris. Read why I still love triathlon here.

Triathlon is quickly becoming one of the country's quickest growing sports. USA Triathlon's membership increased 46 percent between 2005-2006 alone. Of members, people in their forties are the fastest-growing segment of USAT membership and of that group women are taking the lead.

You can train for a triathlon now. You don't have to wait:
- until you've lost weight,
- the kids are all in school, or
- you can afford to buy a new bike.

Go ahead, sign up and start training. It's OK to be nervous. That's normal. Surprise yourself and others and try something new. Find resources here to get started. Enjoy!