When I say triathlon, lots of people are immediately intimidated. And they shouldn't be! Part of the beauty of the sport is that there's a distance to suit almost any fitness level ... although, whatever distance you're considering, now is the time to start training. But you probably already know that.

I've made it no secret that I love Sprint Triathlons -- they're short enough to be manageable for lots of people (I really think that everyone should do one!), but long enough to be a good physical challenge. The distance for a Sprint Triathlon can vary, but the ones I've been involved with have included a quarter mile swim (although, what I've found online says it's a half mile -- still, doable), 10 or 15 mile bike ride (again, doable), finishing with a three mile run (or walk, so ... you guessed it -- doable!).

However, some people are still intimidated by the distance, and it's a shame for them to miss out on such a cool event just because of that! Recently, I found out that there's a slightly shorter distance available -- the Super Sprint taking place in my hometown has a 250-meter swim, four-mile bike, and 1.5 mile run, although I'm finding lots online that are slightly longer in the swim and bike portion.

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I recently wrote a post on why I think you should try a sprint triathlon, and I've gotten some positive responses. However, the question I keep hearing is, "How do I find out about them?"

Truthfully, unless you're involved in the sport, you're probably totally unaware of these events taking place, even if they're occurring right in your own town. If you're interested in triathlon (sprint or otherwise), a great resource is the USA Triathlon event calendar. You can do an advanced search to find only triathlons (or duathlons, or an assortment of other endurance races) and get that search narrowed down to your state. You can then sort by date, event name, location, or event type to find exactly what you need.

When you find a race in your area, check the website right away. Discounts are often given for early registration or, if you're entering a race that's part of a series, you might get a discount for signing up for all races in the series.

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Let me take a stab at what your inner monologue is saying after reading that title -- "Me? A triathlon? Ha! This Kristen girl is a nutter!"

Well, first of all, yes, I've done sprint triathlons, and I love them (check out the gallery below for proof). But, while I'm fit and I work hard, I'm definitely a regular gal, which is why I want to encourage you to consider taking part in a sprint triathlon this summer.

Sprint triathlons are fairly short -- the swim is between 1/4 and 1/2 mile (I've always done the 1/4 mile ones), the bike ride is between 10 and 20 miles, and the run is right around 3 miles. If you've been working out regularly and have decent cardio strength, I imagine you could complete each of these tasks separately. And, if that's the case, all you have to do is put them together!

It won't be the easiest thing you've ever done, but in my experience most of the participants are more interested in having a good time than in winning. so as long as you come with a good attitude, you'll be good to go. Are you intrigued? Want to learn more? Check out USA Triathlon for lots of information on the sport and Beginner Triathlete for tips on getting started. Or, drop me a question in the comments section. The season is starting soon, so start training now!

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