That's Fit

Last summer, when I decided to do a sprint triathlon, I wasn't too nervous about the race. It's not that I was cocky -- far from it -- I just knew that, regardless of how long it took, I would cross that finish line and feel fantastic. There was one aspect I was really nervous about though -- figuring out what to wear.

Whenever I looked at pictures of triathlons or saw them on TV, everyone was either wearing race suits specifically made for triathlon, which was well out of my budget, or sporty swimsuits, which is fine for swimming, but I don't have the confidence to run in front of people in a bathing suit unless I'm actually on the beach.

What I discovered is that you can wear just about anything you want. Ideally, you'll find a race day outfit that does the following:

I've never been a big fan of tying my shoes. It's not that I have a problem doing it -- I am fairly coordinated -- but I get extremely annoyed when I have to stop what I'm doing in order to retie a loose lace.

Actually, the more embarrassing reason is that I'm weirdly particular about my shoes being tied equally tight -- does anyone else have that problem? If one shoe feels tighter than the other, I have to stop and adjust until both shoes feel the same -- not the most efficient use of my time, but I can't run with my right shoe tighter than my left. I just can't.

A couple of years ago I came across Yankz laces, and my troubles have been long gone. The Yankz Sure Lace System, once set up, keeps my shoes fitting perfectly run after run. The laces are slightly stretchy with a locking system, so once you get your shoe fitting exactly the way you want them, you never have to do it again. There's no loosening or tightening -- they're stretchy enough for you to slide your shoe right on (perfect for triathlon), then they stay plenty tight.

Triathletes are an entirely different breed from swimmers, cyclists and runners training specifically for a single sport. They may never perform their best ... simultaneously.

Is it possible to record your best times in all three legs of a triathlon in one race? Experts say no. Training for one leg of a triathlon can undermine another leg, making a peak performance sweep pretty impossible. The training required for a best time in running may compromise the fitness required to score a peak performance in cycling. Body musculature alone is markedly different for a swimmer versus a runner versus a cyclist.

Triathletes may have to settle for imperfection, but the benefits of cross training can offset that ever-elusive all-in-one Triple Crown Triathlon. The inherent diversity of triathlon training can be a lot more fun, prevent injury in the middle-age athlete and lead to swifter recovery in between training sessions. Besides, you get three chances to score a personal best!

Dick Hoyt, 67, and his son Rick, 46, have accomplished more than many of us could imagine. They've climbed mountains, completed 224 triathlons (including six Ironmans), 66 marathons, a 45-day cross-country bike ride, and more. Obviously, that's inspiring in and of itself.

What makes it AMAZING is that Rick is a quadriplegic and cannot walk or talk -- he was born with cerebral palsy, which kept him from ever being able to control his muscles and limbs, including his vocal chords.

Dick started participating in races and endurance events with his son when Rick was just 11, and the duo hasn't taken more than two weeks off since. Dick continues to train and compete because Rick gets so much joy out of it, and it makes him happy to see his son happy.

Anna Kournikova participated in the Nautica South Beach Triathlon. Sort of, anyway. She ran a four mile portion as part of a relay team for K-Swiss. She held a very respectable 7:15/mile pace, but she had another goal that took up a good bit of her focus -- raising awareness for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. The tennis player regularly incorporates running into her fitness routine, so this was not a huge stretch for her. Some observers say she's lost her curves, but I think she looks fit and healthy.

Mariah Carey is showing up everywhere lately, but there's less of her to see thanks to a lifestyle change and nutrition and fitness coach. She admits she's bummed to give up her comfort foods, like mac 'n cheese, but she's thrilled to be fitting into the same size jeans she wore in 10th grade.

Not only is Britney Spears working out at Bally (she's been there one to three times a day, lately) -- she just might become their newest spokeswoman. You know, if fitness plays a big role in Britney turning her life around, then Bally might be taking a really smart risk. Or not. Only time will tell.

For most of us, it's getting warmer out, and for many of you that probably means long runs, walks, bike rides, and hikes. Some of you are also probably gearing up for race season -- there are some fantastic marathons coming up, as well as halfathons, triathlons, 10Ks, etc. All of this means that you're going to need to drink lots of water.

But wait! If you've been here at That's Fit for a while, you've already read that drinking too much water during exercise can be harmful, even fatal. It's a serious issue that warrants revisiting as the summer sun starts heating up.

Over-hydration, or hyponatremia, occurs when you take in more water than your kidneys can excrete because you've been sweating out lots of salt and you're replacing it with plain water (which is why sports drinks are used during long-distance runs and major workouts). Unless you're embarking on a serious workout, like an endurance race or a long hike, you'll probably be fine, but listen to your body -- make sure you're drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, but not too much. Check out this post on FitSugar for warning signs of hyponatremia.

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.

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!

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Lauren Rinck

Age: 23

Occupation: Consumer Product Sales Representative for Hormel Foods

How often do you exercise? Every day.

What type of exercise do you do? Road Biking, Running, Cardio, Circuit Training, Spinning, Swimming

What gets you to workout, even when you're feeling lazy? Exercising and fitness is just something that is a priority for me, something I look forward to. I love how I feel afterward as well! I can see results as I continue to place emphasis on working out. My ultimate goal is to race in an Iron Man, so I continually strive to push myself in that direction.

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Kristen Seymour

Age: 27

Occupation: Writer

How often do you exercise? I try to do something at least four or five times a week. Sometimes that means I'm at the gym for seven days in a row, and sometimes it means I take the dogs for a lot of walks. I just try to make sure I work SOMETHING into my schedule.

What type of exercise do you do? You name it! I like to play team sports like basketball and volleyball, run, swim, go to classes at the gym, use weights and resistance training, and, of course, kickbox!

Fitzness Fiends is a section devoted to you, the reader! We all have learned so much on our path to becoming more fit, and now it's time to learn from and inspire each other! Fitzness Fiends are constantly working to better themselves. Some are perfect, some are not. All have health on the mind. Please send Fitz your answers to these questions with a photo of yourself. Time for you to be the motivator!

Name: Jodi Bennett

Age: 30

Occupation: Gymnastics school owner

How often do you exercise? Five - Six days a week.

What type of exercise do you do? I run, kickbox and lift weights.

Words ending in the syllables 'athlon' tend to send chills up my spine -- being someone who likes to take fitness at my own pace, I'm always wary of races, particularly looooooong ones. But not all 'athlons' are the same. Do you know your 'athlons'? Fitsugar has a quick guide to them:

• Duathlon: Involves two sports -- Running, biking, and then another bout of running
• Biathlon: Also involved two sports, but usually they're cross-country skiing or running and rifle shooting
• Triathlon: A race with swimming, biking and running -- distances vary. The Iron Man is a popular triathlon.
  
• Quadathlon: Involves swimming, kayaking, running and cycling.
• Pentathlon: A race consisting of five events -- usually running, swimming, pistol shooting, fencing and horseback riding. What an ... um .... interesting blend of sports.
  
• And they forgot Decathlon (typically for males): Consists of 10, count 'em, 10 track and field events over two days. Events including running, javelin, shot-putting and so on.
  
• Heptathlon (typically for females): This one consists of seven track and field events.

Are you into any of the 'athlons'? Which one and why?

In reading this article I was a little surprised at how realistic it might be to get in shape for something like a triathlon. I made a point not to say how easy it might be, because it obviously isn't. But realistic? Yeah, to me eight weeks is realistic. Even if it really takes more like 10 or 12 weeks that would be okay. For some reason I always had this idea that I'd have to train for years get in that kind of shape.

Maybe I'm ahead of myself, all I've done so far is read the article.

Anyway, if you're interested in this sort of thing I think this article is a good place to start. I personally like the author's way of writing in a non-intimidating and down-to-earth way. And remember that setting a goal for yourself, something to work towards, can be a very effective motivation for fitness and weight loss. Maybe signing up for a triathlon later this summer is just what you need?

These days, it seems like more and more people are giving up their spots on the sidelines to compete in endurance races like marathons and triathlons -- especially women. I've never done either myself, but several of my female friends have joined the triathlon bandwagon, giving up late nights, unhealthy eating, drinking and leisurely weekend mornings to train endlessly and get their bodies in shape. I must admit, I'm intrigued, as I usually am by a challenge.

Triathlon is a great way to achieve all-over body fitness because it combines running, cycling and swimming. Distances vary between events, but the most prominent competitions are the Olympics, which requires participants to swim nearly a mile (4921 feet), bike 24.9 miles and run 6.2 miles; and the Ironman, which requires participants to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run a full marathon, 26.2 miles -- wow!