Here is how I got connected with Triathlons

Before I dove headfirst into the world of triathlons, my heart belonged to biking for a couple of months. It all started on a weekend in April when I found myself home alone. My wife was away visiting family, and I was looking for something to do. That's when I spotted her old Walmart bike sitting in the garage. On a whim, I hopped on and pedaled all the way to the lake and back — about 6 miles round trip. It was nothing fancy, but something about it just clicked.

After that first ride, I was hooked. I immediately went online and started researching everything about road bikes — types, brands, sizes, gear ratios — you name it. I spent hours reading forums and watching YouTube reviews, trying to figure out what kind of bike would be right for a complete beginner like me. After weeks of research, I finally settled on a Giant Contend 3. It was an entry-level road bike, nothing too crazy, but it was a massive upgrade from the Walmart bike. The moment I took it for a spin, I could feel the difference — lighter, faster, and so much more fun to ride.

Ok, and what about the Triathlons ???

One evening while I was out for a run around the neighborhood, I bumped into a guy named Josh. We got to talking, and he mentioned he was training for a triathlon. I had heard the word before but never really understood what it involved. Josh broke it down for me — swim, bike, run — and told me about an upcoming sprint triathlon event in Clermont.

The more he talked about it, the more excited I got. I already had the biking and running covered (sort of), so it was really just the swimming piece I'd need to figure out. That night, I went home and looked up the event. Before I could overthink it, I signed up.

Now what??? 5 weeks for my first Sprint triathlon

With only 5 weeks to go, I knew I needed to get serious about swimming — fast. I found a local group called the Lake Gators, a masters swim program with amazing coaches. Robin, Scott, Stephen, and Cindy took me under their wing and helped me go from barely being able to swim a lap to feeling somewhat confident in open water. Their patience and encouragement made all the difference.

The training was intense but exciting. Every morning I'd show up at the pool, and the coaches would push me just a little further than the day before. I was terrified of the swim portion, but I kept reminding myself — just get through it, and the bike and run will take care of themselves.

Here is how I remember the race

Race day arrived, and I was a bundle of nerves. The swim start was absolute chaos — dozens of people splashing, kicking, and swimming over each other. Within the first 50 meters, I completely lost my rhythm. My freestyle went out the window and I switched to breaststroke just to survive. It wasn't pretty, but I made it out of the water.

The bike leg was where I felt most at home. All those weeks of riding paid off, and I managed to pass quite a few people on the course. My legs felt strong, and for the first time that morning, I actually started enjoying myself.

Then came the run. My legs felt like concrete after getting off the bike, and I quickly realized I'd need to take some walking breaks. I ran when I could and walked when I had to, refusing to let pride get in the way of finishing. The last stretch felt like it lasted forever, but when I finally crossed that finish line, it was one of the most incredible feelings I've ever experienced.

With my brother and sister in law joining me on my first triathlon My first official triathlon race

Fun notes

The event distances for the sprint triathlon were a 400-meter swim, a 12.4-mile bike ride, and a 3.1-mile run. It sounds manageable on paper, but trust me, doing all three back-to-back is a whole different story. - My first self-training triathlon happened right in the middle of COVID. The pools were closed, group rides were off limits, and races were getting canceled left and right. I ended up doing my own DIY triathlon — swimming in the lake, biking the neighborhood loop, and running around the block — just to prove to myself I could do it. - Most sprint triathlons also offer a Super Fun Sprint option, which is about half the distance of a regular sprint. It's a great entry point for anyone who wants to dip their toes in without committing to the full distance right away.

Andres.

From a Walmart bike to a sprint triathlon finish line — it wasn't pretty, but it was mine. If you're curious about tri, just sign up. You'll figure it out along the way.

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