| Every beginner triathlete starts his journey to the | | | | whether you're an eight time Olympic Gold |
| finish line by first going through a proper | | | | Medalist, or local pool doggy paddler. One requires |
| self-analysis. Determining your strengths and | | | | a bit more work and dedication than the other. |
| weaknesses in your lifestyle is the only way to | | | | Take a good hard look at where you lie within |
| accurately pinpoint the next step in your journey. | | | | each discipline. Maybe you ran all through high |
| If you're like the majority of Americans, you likely | | | | school and college, but have never hopped onto a |
| eat too much of the wrong kind of food, even if | | | | bike or jumped into a pool. Perhaps you've surfed |
| you're in great shape. To start your journey, | | | | the couch for the last three years, and really |
| focus on making healthier choices when it comes | | | | don't have any recent experience with swimming, |
| to food. You'll starve your muscles to death if | | | | cycling, or running. |
| you eat junk food all the time but workout often. | | | | If you find that you're lacking in any category, get |
| If you're unsure whether or not you fall into this | | | | yourself acquainted with the sport by using one |
| category, start a quick log of the foods you eat | | | | of the resources below. |
| throughout the day. Keep it up for a full week. | | | | *Swimming: Join a swim club at your local pool. |
| After seven days, look back at what you had for | | | | Focus on getting proper swim stroke over |
| each meal and snacks, and then ask yourself if | | | | attaining fitness and strength. No matter how fit |
| there was something you could have done to | | | | you are, if you do not have proper swim stroke, |
| make some better choices. Perhaps you replace | | | | you will never reach your swimming potential. |
| that soda in the afternoon with an iced tea, or | | | | *Cycling: Join a weekly ride from your local bike |
| include a side salad at dinner instead of another | | | | shop. Just walk right in and ask the guy (or gal) |
| serving of buttery mashed potatoes. Stay true to | | | | behind the counter when the next ride leaves. |
| yourself and you'll soon see your eating habits | | | | Make sure you're on a ride for beginners, |
| change. | | | | otherwise you may find yourself all alone on the |
| As you train more and more, your body will tell | | | | road. |
| you what foods you'll need to stock up on. | | | | *Running: Again, find a local running group to meet |
| Obviously, more carbohydrates in your diet are | | | | with. Runners are perhaps the most friendly |
| essential for long workouts, much like the need | | | | athletes around, and always welcome additional |
| for more protein. A lot of athletes will forget to | | | | people. |
| include some veggies and fruit into the mix to | | | | Have you taken the time to define some goals |
| supply the appropriate vitamins, so be sure not to | | | | for your triathlon journey? Are you shooting for a |
| skip the salads. | | | | specific time in a race? Are you just hoping to |
| You'll know right away whether or not you're in | | | | finish without collapsing? Perhaps you merely want |
| good shape. If climbing a set of stairs makes | | | | to get into shape and live a longer and healthier |
| breathing difficult, you have a bit of work ahead. | | | | life? Whatever your reason may be, set a clear, |
| On the other hand, if you're capable of completing | | | | defined, and attainable goal. |
| 1000 crunches in a row without breaking a sweat, | | | | Examples of excellent goals are: |
| perhaps you should simply focus on fine tuning | | | | -Finish my first sprint race in under 2 hours |
| your racing skills. | | | | -Finish my first sprint without having to be taken |
| The purpose of finding your overall fitness is to | | | | away in a stretcher... |
| give you a gauge of where to start. If you're | | | | -Lose 50 pounds and 2 inches from my waist |
| deathly out of shape, as mentioned above, focus | | | | -Finish in the top 10 overall -Win my age group at |
| on losing a couple of pounds and simply increasing | | | | Race X |
| your respiratory capacity. Go for a jog or walk | | | | Regardless of your goal, make sure that it is |
| 3-4 times per week, and focus on eating healthful | | | | something you're able to measure. This is very |
| foods. Once you've gotten to a point where | | | | important, because otherwise you'll have no way |
| you're physically capable of completing workouts, | | | | to gauge whether or not you've met your goal. |
| go ahead and jump into a training program that | | | | Once you do meet your goal, set another one, so |
| will allow you to complete your first race! | | | | that you'll be motivated for your next triathlon. |
| If you're already at the point of being able to | | | | Keep in mind, however, that there is one goal |
| start a program, or are so fit that you can | | | | everyone should have that cannot be measured |
| probably do a triathlon right from the get-go, look | | | | very well: HAVING FUN!! |
| at the different training options available to you. | | | | Triathloning is a lifestyle, and as such to truly |
| Analyze how much time you have each week to | | | | "start" being a triathlete will require being a |
| devote to training, how long in advance you have | | | | motivated individual in all aspects - nutrition, overall |
| to train, and what kind of commitment you're | | | | fitness, athletic background, and goals. Once you |
| ready to make. | | | | find what motivates you, stick with it and let it be |
| Determining where to start off depends upon | | | | the driving force that transforms your life! |