OMG!!! Am I crazy? I signed up for a 'First-Timers' mini-triathalon on May 10th. It is a 1/4 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride (all flat), and a 3 mile run/walk. Only first-timer triathalon competitors can enter this one. My surgery is 1/10, and I guess even if I have to wait 4 weeks to start the running-walking training (hopefully sooner), that will give me 2 full months to train. I currently exercise, so I won't be starting from scratch. DH is doing it with me. He runs marathons, but never a tri, so we can train for the cycling and swimming together!

I won't be anywhere near my optimal weight at that point, but I figure it is a good goal to work towards (I will be in a bathing suit or wet suit in front of alot of people!). Also, I am not telling any friends about my surgery (just my close family and DH know), so as the weight drops, and people ask how am I losing so much weight, I can proudly say, "I am training for a triathalon!";)

I also feel like publically training for this race gives me some accountability. In the back of my mind, I feel like one of the reasons I am not telling people about my surgery, is the fear of failure...again. My friends all know I have been on Jenny Craig, Nutri-Systems, WW, etc.. and have seen me lose some weight, only to gain it back and more. By signing up for this race, with my DH, and telling people about it, well...I am going to have to follow through on a regular exercise program, and actually complete the race! Even if I come in last place, I am going to finish this race!

I think that is an awesome goal to work towards. It is a wonderful commitment to have. I told my DH the other day that I had thought about trying to do something like that. I just don't know where to start because I am starting from scratch.

Nadean....Do a google search for 'beginner triathalon' or 'beginner 5K', or whatever event you would like to try. Not only did I find an event in my area, I found free, online training schedules for beginners (don't pay for an on-line training schedule..I found tons of them for free), for almost anything you would want to do....marathons, diathalons, 3K's, half-marathons, etc. Just pick an event, sign-up, and find a beginner's training schedule! GL!

Thanks! I'm going to search right now.