How I Got Interested In Triathlon

I wouldn't call myself an expert in triathlon.

However, I spent over 450 hours training and learning to become a better athlete in the last year alone.

I started two years ago with no athletic background, and I've since raced in eight triathlons, two of which were 70.3 Ironman triathlons.

For most of my life, I didn't know what a triathlon was. If someone mentioned it, I would've thought it was that sport in the Olympics where they ski and shoot rifles (Biathlon 😅). That's how much I knew about endurance sports (unless all-nighters count).

My girlfriend was co-captain of her triathlon team at work. After dating for a few months, she invited me to join her weekly ocean swim.

I had never swam before (other than to avoid drowning), and learning on the fly with open-water swimming was challenging … I struggled … a lot, but I enjoy a good challenge.

After a month of ocean swims and being repeatedly left in the middle of the ocean with full-body muscle cramps (I remember them fondly), my life changed in a single night.

"Hey, give me your credit card," - girlfriend

"Here you go … why?" - me

And like that, I was signed up for my first sprint triathlon–one month out. There was only one problem. I didn't own a bike …