Over the last year I have rediscovered my love for sporting competition. I have a specific interest in the area of endurance sports. It all began the first part of 2008 thanks mainly to my doctor. I awoke to the realization that I was in fact in terrible physical shape. Having made up my mind to do something, I began running a mile or two during my lunch hour. Later, I began doing a little bicycling with my wife on the weekends (thanks primarily to Mike, Joanie and family at Newbury Park Bicycle Shop in Newbury Park, California). Add to that my captivation by Michael Phelps in this summer’s Olympics. I became determined to learn to swim, and bingo, triathlon!

I just recently finished my second “sprint” triathlon. I know that the word “triathlon” typically evokes images of the Ironman. However, for the uninitiated, the Ironman consists of a 2.4 mile, 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run. That is not where most people start. All of us starts off with much shorter distances. The “sprint” distance, for example, is more reasonably sane consisting of a ¼ mile swim, 10+ mile bike ride, and approx 3 mile run.

So, in the coming days I would like to share some of my experiences both in training and in competition as well as some of the essential gear. After all, for guys it is all about the gear.