What Is A Triathlon?

A triathlon is a distance race consisting of 3 parts:

• Swimming
• Cycling
• Running

These three sections are linked back-to-back-to-back for one intense, competitve race.  There are four different kinds of triathlons that can be raced, though most people always think of the Ironman.
the following chart outlines the difference between each of the four races:

              Sprint        Olympic          1/2 Ironman        Full Ironman

Swim     .5 mile        .93 mile          1.2 miles               2.4 miles

Bike      13 miles      24.8 miles       56 miles               112 miles

Run       3.2 miles     6.2 miles         13.1 miles            26.2 miles

Many times the different types of races are run on the same day with staggered starting times.  This way racers of all levels and abilities can enjoy any given course on the same day as anyone else. 

One of the best things about this is that many newcomers to the sport can enjoy the performances of the more seasoned athletes and get tips, tricks, and hints about how to improve their talents from those who have been in the sport longer. 

In fact, many of the articles I've read of people writing on their first race experience tells of how each of the athletes verbally supported and encouraged the each other to not quit and to keep pushing themselves. The great thing about these types of races is, while there is a prize for winners of each race, most of the racers are only out there to race against themselves and to accomplish a task that they have set out to achieve. 

Many people also associate the Ironman with a race in Hawaii. While there is an Ironman competition in Hawaii, that is not the only one.  The Hawaiian location is only the Ironman championship.  You have to compete in another Ironman competition elsewhere in the world in order to qualify for Hawaii.  I would be lying if I said I didn't want to compete in the tropics like that, but that would be a ways off after I complete my first triathlon.

Till next time.

Why Am I Here?

On August 22, 2009, I was heading down from my wife's family cabin to take a final exam. As I drove, I began to feel some acute pain in the left side of my chest. It was really just a nuisance at first, but as I drove further through the canyon the pain intensified. I noticed that I would get "stabbed" every time I took a breath. This intense pain prevented me from being able to breathe any deeper than a tiny gasp.

I pulled off the freeway and called Kelley, telling her that I was in a severe amount of pain and I didn't know if I'd make it to the final at all. I also told her that I was going to try and wait it out to see if the pain subsided at all.

After about 25 minutes I called her again telling her I was going to drive to the hospital and she made me promise to call her as soon as I got through the next canyon to let her know how I was doing. I would have done this, but she called me about every 5 minutes to check on me. I'm glad she did.

I arrived at the hospital about 20 minutes later and checked into the emergency room. Long story short, After a series of scans and blood tests, it was determined that I was suffering from multiple blood clots in my left lung. Also known as pulmonary embolisms.

I was expected to stay in the hospital for at least 5 days while they adjusted the blood thinning levels in my to a point at which my body could take over and dissolve the clot itself. Talk about a boring time.

Through all of this, I spent a lot of time watching television and I came across a program that was showing the Ironman championships in Hawaii. At that moment I decided I wanted to compete in a triathlon and set the goal for myself to be ready for my first triathlon two years after this medical drama.

That is why I am writing this blog; to chronicle my training attempts and events that lead up to my first triathlon. This is going to be an incredible task for me because I have all these factors playing against me:

• I am overweight by more than 55 pounds
• I have never been a good runner, let alone a distance runner
• I haven't done any serious cycling in over 16 years
• I've not been much of a swimmer and have poor form when I do swim

So, there you have it. A formidable mountain of obstacles before me, but I am bound and determined to rise to the occasion and accomplish this task.

Feel free to follow along as I report and offer tips, tricks, hints or meaningful words of encouragement for me. It will all be greatly appreciated.

Until next time.