Here I go...

So....here I go. The start of my triathlon training, and my blogging about it, officially starts today. I have about 8 months before the big day, and while I've spent the past three months since I signed up for the triathlon wondering why the hell I got myself into this, I've decided that I will rise to the occassion. This is more for fear of humiliation than actual motivation...but whatever gets me out the door.
So I'm pretty frumpy right now...I'd estimate that I'm a good 15-20 pounds from what would be considered ideal for my 5'2.5 frame (shorty's know you gotta count that extra half an inch), and I haven't actually swam or ran in, well, years. I also don't own a bike, and haven't since 1999.

So why did I sign up for a triathlon you ask? Well, there were two main factors in that decision:

1) I got married last summer, and I was bored after the wedding planning had ceased so I aspired to do all these "things" to keep myself busy, which included training for a triathlon. I also ended up studying for and taking the GRE, applying for grad school, and volunteering to plan my class reunion...all rash decisions. (BTW girls- the bored, "so sad it's over" feeling goes away within a month so don't commit to anything that month after without thinking about the long term or else you'll end up like me!)
2) When my cousin (the ultra fit, Iron Man/Marathon competitor) first told me I should consider doing the Columbia Iron Girl, and I got excited for a second and told my Dad and husband about it, they both LAUGHED in my face. My Dad said "You can't run!" and my husband said "I know you. You won't do it!" Well, at that point there was no going back.

How am I going to do it? This is to be determined. First, I've got some hurdles to get over:

1) Haven't swam in over 10 years.
2) Running makes me feel like my legs are going to crack into pieces and my lungs collapse.
3)About two years ago I was diagnosed with connective tissue disease, which basically means that my immune system accidentally attacks healthy tissue, causing damage and inflamation to my body's tissue. So basically, my joints hurt and I get sick more than other people, which has made it more difficult to exercise as rigorously as I once could.
4) I haven't ridden a bike outside since the late 90s.

What I've got going for me:

1) Though I'm out of shape, I'm semi-athletic. I played field hockey in high school and was on the swim team forever when I was younger. I've been teaching group fitness classes on and off since 2000 and I currently teach indoor spin classes twice a week.

2) I used to swim, ran a few 5Ks in college, and ride the bike indoors. Here's hoping for muscle memory!

3) I persuaded two of my closest friends (one from home and one from college) to do this with me. Misery loves company, and if I collapse en route the two of them can carry me to the finish!

4) I'm good at multi-tasking. Hoping that helps me with training for the three different sections at once!

So, as I'm not one to back down from a challenge (good or bad as that may be), on August 23, come hell or highwater, I will swim .62 miles, bike 17.5 and run 3.4.