Skip to main content

How it started... How to become a Triathlete

 



I was listening to Mike Reilly's podcast with Triathlon Taren the other day and it had me reminiscing on how it started for me, 10 years ago.  In the podcast Taren remembers asking a friend how to become a triathlete.  The answer...  "sign up for a race and do it."

In 2012 that is just what I did.  I had just started running 5ks in 2011 to keep up with my 10 year old who had found a love of running.  I did NOT love running... but I had always enjoyed swimming and biking as a kid.  So, when the instructor of my morning spin class started talking about a local sprint triathlon I was intrigued.  Without doing any real "training plan," I found an indoor triathlon to sign up for and I did it!  With that, on March 4th 2012, I became a triathlete... and I was HOOKED!!



On May 26th, 2012 I participated in my first outdoor triathlon.  It was a sprint distance race at Island Lake in Michigan.  I had used a 6 week training plan I found at https://trinewbies.com/ and felt pretty good going into the day, but when I showed up to transition that morning I must have looked terrified.  There was an older gentlemen racking his bike across from me.  He saw my fear and said, "do you know what they call the last person to cross the finish line?"  I looked up at him with huge, scared eyes but before I could say something akward he said, "A TRIATHLETE!"  That was exactly what I needed to hear.  I was not there to impress anyone or win.  I just wanted to be proud of myself for doing what I set out to do, and even if I was the last one to cross the finish line I would accomplish that!  I was a triahtlete!  This was also my first taste of the amazing community that comes with this sport.  I never got that athlete's name, but I did see him several times on the course that day and we exchanged big smiles each time!


In 2012 I went on to do 3 more sprint races and my first Olympic Distance in my hometown, where I got third in my age group with my family there to watch.  


How to become a triathlete?  Sign up for a race and do it!  You don't need a fancy bike, special shoes, coaches, wetsuits, etc.  Those things will come with time.  Every person on that course was a rookie once.    So pick your race!  Sign up!  And get ready for an amazing experience with amazing people!  



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Race Report: IM70.3 World Championships (St. George, UT) 2022

  Shortly after racing IM70.3 North Carolina in 2021 as part of Team IMF (IRONMAN Foundation), I got a phone call from one of the Foundation staff members asking if I wanted to represent the Foundation in St. George at the IM70.3 World Championships in 2022.  Having raced IM World Championship in Kona in a Charily Spot (for Women for Tri in 2016), I was excited about the prospect, but a little nervous that I could still fundraise at that level.  The fundraising commitment for the 70.3 World Championships is $15,000 and I would have 10 months to get it done.   Before I can tell you about the race and race week, I need to say THANK YOU!!!!  As a community, we raised over $17,500 for the Ironman Foundation ! Whether you donated directly, sponsored or participated in my indoor triathlon, participated in my Top in Topsail Raffle, or Sponsored a Mile for one of my many races - THANK YOU!!!  I would not have been able to get to this start line without your generosity!  Your donations are bei

Sponsor-A-Mile: 70.3 World Championships in St. George, Utah

  It is almost time for the BIG ONE!  The race that I have been fundraising for and working towards since November of last year: the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in St. George, Utah!  As an Ironman Foundation Ambassador, all of my Ironman brand races have me RACING FOR MORE, but this one is the pinnacle.  I am proud to be representing IMF and all of the good that can come from their initiatives.  With that in mind, I am asking you to sponsor a mile during this race.   For each of my IRONMAN races this year, I have taken your inspiration and printed it on tattoo paper to put on my arms and legs so that I can see it while I am riding and running.  When the going gets tough, these notes remind me that I am doing the race for more than myself!   Will you consider sponsoring a mile to help MAKE AN IMPACT and leave a quote or advice to inspire me during 70.3 St. George on October 28, 2022? Here is how: 1.  Choose the mile(s) you'd like to sponsor below.   *link to this spreadsheet

2022 White Lake Fall International Aquabike Race Report

  Pre-Race This was my third time racing at White Lake, but my first time in the fall and my first time doing it as an Aquabike.  Since it is only 1.5 hours from the house, I just drive over the morning of the event and have plenty of time to get set up and get my goals posted.  Here is what I posted this time:  I posted 3 goals, two that were time goals, because that is what I always do... but I wasn't totally transparent in the post.  I was doing this Aquabike race with ONE MISSION and that mission was to WIN! Earlier this year, I did my first Aquabike at the  Crystal Coast Half Booty  because a half marathon run was not smart that close to IM70.3 Virginia Blue Ridge, but I really wanted to do the race.  While the finish line experience for Aquabike is still not the same as triathlon, it planted a bug in my brain since I am strongest at swimming and biking and I won that race.  After chatting with friends that have been to WTC World's and stalking the USAT rankings , I knew