Knee-deep in the cold, murky lake you anticipate the rush of adrenaline that will soon set you on your way. Standing beside you, human silhouettes block the rising sun as it reflects off the shimmering waters. Suddenly, you hear a voice bellow, "10 seconds!" Your heart rate accelerates and the silhouettes begin an unfamiliar shuffling. You realize that ahead of you lay the impossible: the never ending swim arms churning through a cauldron of flesh and turbulent water, only to be followed by a thigh-burning bike ride and a steady, rhythmic pounding on your legs as you endure the final run. You are about to do it! You are about to become a triathlete. "Bang," the starter's gun sounds and you are on your way!

The anticipation of doing your first triathlon can be daunting and intimidating as you look to the challenge of completing such a journey. Whether you are knee-deep in the water at the start of a triathlon, or months away tempted by thoughts of giving it a try, you'll find that the challenge before you is not as hard as it seems.

If you are looking for assurance that you can complete such a journey, just ask any of the tens of thousands of new triathletes that have entered the sport in the last decade. USA Triathlon, the sanctioning body for more than 2000 races in the United States, has seen its membership quadruple in size since triathlon's Olympic debut at the Sydney games in 2000.

With so many new participants in the sport of triathlon, you can understand that there are many different reasons as to why triathletes put themselves through such a challenge. For the vast majority of triathletes, the reasons for participating in the sport have nothing to do with winning. And that is where your journey into the lifestyle that is triathlon must begin.

Is it the determination of a young college student crawling to the finish line of the grueling Hawaiian Ironman that pulls you to the sport? Or is it the exhilaration you see from the faces of the finishers that cross the line at the local swim, bike and run event? Everyone who has entered a triathlon has had a basic understanding of why the challenge is appealing. Finding your reasons will probably be your most challenging step in becoming a triathlete. It is this purpose that will motivate you to stay committed to the hours of training needed to succeed in triathlon. It is also this purpose that will eventually propel you as you take that last step over the finish line. Once you have found your

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