I want you to sign up for a triathlon today.
It’s spring time, the sun is starting to come out and you can finally emerge from the cave you’ve been hibernating in for the last 6 months. It’s time to dust off that that bike, grab those goggles and dig out that running gear. Let’s sign you up for a triathlon. It’s quick, painless, and takes less than 10 minutes. Let’s go!
1. Commit
Commit. The first major step that most people forget. Commit to running finishing dominating a triathlon. Once you’ve decided internally that you’re going to do a race, you’re already 51% of the way there.
Do it now. Get up, go to the bathroom, look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself “I’m going to run a triathlon.” Seriously. Get up, go do that, and then come back here when you’re done. I’m not going anywhere.
2. Sign up
Back? Good. Now quick, before you change your mind, go to www.trifind.com.
Click on a state within driving distance on the big map of the United States to find races nearby (if you’re not in the US, www.trimapper.com has a listing too, although I haven’t used it myself).
Find a short distance race to sign up for (either a Sprint or Super Sprint triathlon). While the actual race distances vary with each location, a typical sprint race is 750m swim, 20k bike, and a 5k run. In American that’s a .5 mile swim, 12.4 mile bike, 3.1 mile run. A super-sprint is just a little shorter than this. You can read more about triathlon distance here.
Sign up and pay the registration fee immediately. According to a completely unscientific poll conducted by me, you’re 87% less likely to back out of something when your hard earned cash in on the line. Bottom line: when you realize that you’re going to pay for a race, whether you chicken out or not, you tend to at least show up and get the t-shirt you’re promised.
Bonus Tip: Pick a flat course if you can. Hills suck. Don’t try to be a hero. Your goal here is to survive your first race, not train for the Tour De France.
3. Just Do It
All signed up? You’ve probably got a bunch of thoughts running through your head.
Could you drown? Yes (but not likely)
Could your bike tires blow out? Yes (but less likely)
Will you probably not be able to walk, much less run once you get off your bike? Yes (actually, this is very likely)
Do it anyways.
If you’re worried you’re not going to be ready for your race, let me reassure you: You won’t be.
I put off running my first triathlon for so many reasons, but mostly because I didn’t think I was “ready.” And…spoiler alert..I never was ready. You’re never actually ready until you get your spandex covered butt in the water and start swimming.
- You might get kicked in the face.
- Your timing chip might get ripped off.
- Your shoes might get caught in your bicycle pedals.
A ton of things could go wrong (and some things definitely will go wrong), but when you cross that finish line, all that stuff suddenly matters a lot less and is replaced by the fact that more than anything, you finished.
I know not everyone reading has the desire to do a triathlon and that’s totally cool. But, I also know some of you are holding back because you don’t think you could do it. Here’s my .02: If you really have no desire to do a triathlon, it’s your life and that’s fine, but if you choose not to race in one, choose not to race because you really don’t want to, not because you’re scared you might fail.
Want to sign up for your first triathlon but don’t know what to do next? Impossible TRI is a 3 month training program designed to get you across that finish line.
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Done!
I decided about a month ago that I wanted to do a triathlon BEFORE unsubscribing from this life of “supposed to”. Which is the plan from June 1st.
So I signed up for a triathlon on May 29th!
It’ll be more or less the last thing I do here in Copenhagen, Denmark. Three days later I’m off to Portland 🙂
BOOM! Well done sir. I’m assuming you’re in portland for the Summit pertaining to World Domination? 🙂
That would be Ma’am 😉
And as for Portland, well… yes and no. I didn’t get a ticket to the WDS. But I figured Portland is the place to be that weekend, even if I can’t go to the sessions and talks. There’ll still be lots of inspiration and awesomeness going round!
I sent you an email earlier today btw…
Got it!
Yikes! Sorry 🙂 and yes, Portland will be a blast regardless of the sessions. Hope to see you there!
I can’t make it to Portland in time, so if you’re still looking for a WDS ticket, drop me a mail on [email protected] 🙂
And to think, I guess Nike had it right all along.
Dang trademarks.
Hey! The first trifind link has an extra period at the end of it. Heads up!
Scouting some triathlons out now..
Got it. Triathlon in Oregon this June? #food4thought
Yea, as long as we work skydiving into the course. Giddy up.
How bout we parachute into the water and start swimming? Best idea ever! #quadathlon
Triathlons are FUN! I volunteered as swim support for the Danskin women’s triathlon and swam alongside women to make sure they made it to the end, which was a hell of a lot of fun. Helping people accomplish something they’re not sure they can do is empowering.
The first time I finished a triathlon I felt invincible. I crashed on the bike course (if it’s wet out, don’t let your tires hit the painted lines on the road or you will go down) and still made it to the finish line.
This post reminded me I want to volunteer for swim support again this year. Thanks Joel!
That’s cool Kaari. Not sure if I could sign up or not to volunteer, because I’d just want to race the whole time! :). Good to hear you’re helping people do the impossible!
It was volunteering at the finish line that got me to do my first triathlon. That same year I worked the finish line for the Seattle marathon. It is a whole different category of amazing to stand there and watch people complete an impossible thing they weren’t sure they could do, it was so inspiring!
I’m still working on running a half marathon, but ever since the books were done I’ve pretty much felt done with triathlons. I love them, but I don’t own a bike anymore. I have new impossible things to do.
Can’t wait to go see you do them :)!
Joel,
Good reminder for lots of things in life . . . commit, sign up, and then . . . Nike slogan!
Kurt
Now you just gotta sign up 😉
Sorry, I can’t swim…although it’s on my list to learn. BUT I took this approach last year running my first marathon, training for 7 months, having never run more than a single mile at a time before. I just signed up and made it happen!
But your avatar has you in the water with a dolphin! Something here seems a little… Wait for it…fishy :).
Done. I literally just registered for the Sprint distance in the Portland Triathlon- August 21st! Guess I need to learn how to swim now, eh?!
Grrr, Runyon . . . what the frick am I doing?
YOU’RE DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE! You should totally drag shogle into doing this with you 🙂 Well done.
This information is super helpful. I have never done a triathlon but I am signed up to do the Rock N Roll 1/2 marathon in San Diego this June. I do have completing a triathalon on my “Bits of Love List”-
http://onelovemeg.com/2011/03/25/bits-of-love-time-to-fill-the-heart/
My biggest fear is the bike portion. Although, I take spin classes and can ride a bike. I am not a serious rider. I don’t know all the tricks. BUT I am going to do it and I going to refer back to this post to help motivate me. I will sign up for one as soon as the 1/2 is over. Thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
Awesome Meg! The bike part isn’t as bad as it sounds. The big thing is to stay to the right & out of the way of the super-comepetitive cyclists. I did my first tri on a mountain bike (terrible idea), but I finished. Let me know how the half marathon goes!
Okay, so I need to: 1. heal from major surgery (kidney transplant in the house!) 2. learn how to swim, 3. buy, borrow, or steal a bike. You know, I actually want to do a triathlon. I had never seriously thought about it until reading your blog. I’m going to find one Joel, and it’s gonna be on and crackin!
Do you know of any “swimming hacks” online I could check out?
I borrowed the bike for my first race & you can usually fool people into think you know how to swim for a sprint tri. Can’t speak to the kidney recovery though (get better!).
Good luck on your race. Let me know which one you do. As for swimming, a lot of people talk about Total Immersion, but I haven’t tried it myself. You might want to check it out!
Thanks Joel for the tip about Total Immersion. I checked it out and it looked interesting, esp. the videos. I will have to check with my nephrologist (my kidney doc) to see how long it will take before I am fully recovered (they initially said a year), then sign up before then and spankin’ do the dang thing!
Awesome! Get it done and let me know how it goes.
I just signed up for my first Triathlon! Thanks for the motivation. Because of this article I am going to be completing a 1/2 Ironman on Sept. 25th in Augusta, GA. I Can’t wait! I don’t even know how to swim, at least I have a cycling and running background. I am pumped to the point I got goose bumps just filling out the application. Thanks again Joel and keep up the good work.
WOOT. Nice Brett. It’s going to be a challenge, but you’ll do great. Don’t be afraid to take it slow, try a few shorter races and have fun!
Just to follow up Joel, I had a blast it was my first tri and first half-ironman. I told some people this after the race and they thought I was crazy…maybe I am. I set a goal to complete it in under 6hrs and I smashed it, 5:29:06. What a cool feeling! Thanks again for the motivation to make the impossible become a reality.
Sick. Well done sir. You’ve set the bar high. Now to make that happen myself!
I just found your site the other day and I love it! I feel truly inspired when I read it (and not in a unicorns floating on clouds sort of way; more of a if you don’t get your sh*t together, your going to get your @$$ kicked sort of way). Reading this post makes me feel great because I recently decided to run a 1/2 Marathon (and I don’t really run) but I am taking on the challenge. I’m just going to do it. Like you said. (plus i have 23 weeks to train so I should be in better shape by then!!) Thanks for the kick in the @$$… er, I mean, motivation!
Thanks Christine! I definitely prefer the second type of inspiration as compared to the unicorn type :).
Congrats on signing up for your 1/2 marathon & good luck! I’m not much of a runner either and it’s totally doable. You’ll dominate. Let me know how you do!