You have great positive approach, first rule of triathlon in my opinion is be positive. Don't ever think in a way that i can't finish it first, always think I'll finish it.

By the way, overweight is now a past, you have chosen a best sports for you.

My Best wishes for your sprint.

Hi there Jasmine1972

I'm not a newbie any more. I'm a 58 year old male who started with triathlons in 2006 at 5'8" 265 pounds. I've since lost 50 pounds, my waist has dropped from 50" to 40", and I still need to lose 40-50 pounds more. I'm slow. It's OK. My commitment to myself is to compete in two triathlons a year. The first and second year, that's what I did. The third year, over the winter I ran a half marathon and my wife and I participated in the 42 mile NYC 5 Boro Bike Tour. This is my fourth year and I started it with a 5k and a half marathon. I'm slow in all my events, but faster each year than the year before.

When I started, people would ask me if I'd been to the doctor before I started training. The "athletic instructors" at the Y said I should lose weight first. My doctor is a triathlete. He said go for it. (We were at the Y at the time.)

But this isn't all about me. It's about the triathlete community...the people we meet, train with, compete with. They're great. I was a swimmer before I was a triathlete and when my son was on a swim team in high school that trained at 5:30 in the morning, I got into the pool with the tri team and swam laps. I volunteered at a triathlon and was thrilled when one of the athletes commented that, "hey, we train with you." We were in the same pool, but not in the same league.

Read Jayne Williams' book www.slowathlete.com  It's a source of great inspiration. I'm proud to be a slow, fat, triathlete and she'll sell you the T-Shirt.

Read about Sister Madonna Buder, the Iron Nun. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_Buder At the 2005 Hawaii Ironman, at age 75, she became the oldest woman ever to complete the race, finishing 1 hour before the 17-hour midnight cut-off time. In the magazine article I read in 2006, she said she took naps in the transition area.

But, most important, keep going. The great thing about being a triathlete is that you have access to three sports and you'll see many of the same people as they use running, swimming and cycling events as training or motivators for the tri. You are a triathlete. Other people may be faster than you (ok, lots of people may be faster), but you're a triathlete. You'll lose some weight and you'll trade the aches and pains of aging for the aches and pains of an athlete. You're free time and vacation time will revolve around events. You may never be fast, but as you continue the cycle of train and compete you'll develop a new life style.

It's so woth it.

Regards, Mike

Jasmine & Mike...Thank you both for your comments and encouragement, I'm really excited.  Unfortunately I would never be able to run with my knees, even with training, I'm bone on bone and just not physically capable of running at this time.  I'm hoping to get a total knee replacement next year so looking forward to a whole new set of "new adventures" with a healthier knee.  I will check out those books for sure.  Thanks again and good luck to you all in your training, strengthing and weight loss!

~Kristina

I love this.  I am also training for my first tri and I am also a slow overweight newbie triathlete, can I call myself a "triathelete" if I have not finished yet.? =)  I am glad I am not the only one out there.  The words of encouragement is so nice to hear.  Sometimes I wonder what I am doing, I don't look like those gals on TV or in the gym, but then I say to myself..."what the heck... I have nothing else to do but sit on the couch and I am tried of sitting on the couch."  I have wanted to do this for the last 5, wait almost 7 years, and this is the year.  I look forward to hearing more about everyone's experience.  My brother suggested I start a blog to keep myself motivated and honest about my workouts.   I am not looking forward to the run, I actually hate running always have, even in HS when I was on the track team.  Thanks again everyone.  Toni

I've got my first tri scheduled for June 5th as well... and I'm not going to be breaking any speed records.  I have about 40 extra pounds on my frame... so I guess the thread title fits. 

The only thing I've got going for me is the swim leg.  I swam competitively in my youth, and I've found a lot is coming back as I spend time in the pool.  There will be about 150-200 people in the triathlon I'm starting with, and based on last year's results and the swim times I'm putting up in practice, I'd be about the 15th out of the water.

The downside.... I'll get to see a ton of people fly past me on the bike and run.  I REALLY have to remember that the goal is just to finish as that is going on.

I am slow.  I am fat, though not as fat as last month.  I am doing my first AquaBike event on May 15th (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike) and my first Sprint Tri on June 19.   I am trying to figure out how in the world I got myself into this.  It just all seems so insane.  But, I love it.  Parts are so much easier than others.  I can easily swim a mile (just not fast).  And today, I biked 20 miles in 90 mins.  Tomorrow, I order my new bike.  Then, there is the run or in my case the walk.  My body is just not designed to run.  For me, this is a medical and not a weight restriction.  I have cervical spine deformities that make running a bad bad idea. I hope to power walk that portion.  But, boy oh boy, I do fear that others will laugh at the walker in the field.

I read this quote by Mary Jane (I do not know her last name), "Triathlon is an endurance sport, so whoever comes in last wins at enduring the longest."  It is my motto for those days that I doubt the sanity of this idea.   I am not going to be competitive, but I am going to finish.

For this slow, fat, disabled 40 yr old female...that will be one heck of an accomplishment.