Trying a Tri

I made a decision this week. I need a new challenge. After finishing another half marathon this May, the drive to do another one wasn't as strong as it once was. I still love to run, but I feel like I need a change. So after toying with it for the better part of a year, I've decided to try a triathlon!

I'm not nearly as confident about it as I wish I were. My swimming leaves much to be desired and I'm not the world's strongest biker either, but the idea of completing a triathlon has a lure that is particularly attractive.

Let me be perfectly clear, this attempt is NOT a full triathlon. I've actually come to learn that triathlon's come in a variety of distances starting at with a "try a tri" distance all the way to Ironman distance. The traditional triathlon is what is known as the olympic distance: (1.5 km swim, 40 km ride, 10 km run); there is a shorter version known as the "sprint" which is - (750 m swim, 20 km bike, 5 km run); there is also the "long course or half-ironman distance" - (1.9 km swim, 90 km ride, 21.1 km run) and then the Full Ironman - (3.86 km swim, a 180.25 km bike and a marathon 42.2 km run).

I'll be attempting a sprint distance in August. My biggest concern is the swim. To do 750m in the ocean is very intimidating. My swimming will have to improve significantly in order for me to be able to do it, but with training, God-willing, I'll finish it.