This column is for the couch potatoes, the overweight, the timid, the tired, the too-busy. Within all of us lies an athlete waiting to get into motion.
One of the best ways to get moving is to set a goal. Although it may seem daunting, a great goal is to complete a triathlon. If you've ever dreamed of completing a multisport event, now's the time to summon that adventurous spirit and try something new.
Start now and you can be ready for the women's Gold Nugget Triathlon on May 15 or the Eagle River Triathlon June 5. Both are sprint triathlons, which means they are shorter races than an Olympic-length event. Expect a 500-yard swim, 12-mile bike ride and 3- to 4-mile run. The Eagle River event even has a shorter course just for kids. Volunteers are abundant, friendly and encouraging, and the bond among fellow participants is as heartening as it gets.
For the more ambitious, The Lava Man Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii, is another beginner-friendly event that nearly 200 Alaskans participate in each year. It's a bit longer -- 1,500-meter swim, a 40-kilometer bike and a 10-kilometer run. The 2016 race is already sold out.
If powering your body that far seems unattainable, quash that kernel of doubt and have faith in yourself. Start small and build up to it. You'll be surprised what you can do when you wake up your inner athlete. As coach and triathlete Lisa Keller likes to say, "It is in all of us."
Keller, who owns Multisport Training of Alaska, makes her living helping athletes and nonathletes set goals and improve their performance. "Newbies," which make up 20-30 percent of her business, are among her favorite clients.
"It's really exciting to see people go for a goal, improve themselves doing it, and do something they never thought they could do," she said.
She has a particular soft spot for first-timers in their 60s and 70s, women who grew up without the benefit of Title IX, the federal law passed in 1972 that required equal opportunity for men and women for all educational programs receiving federal funding, including sports. That generation of women never had the opportunity to think of themselves as athletes growing up, and now, later in life, they realize they are strong and capable.
"It is incredibly rewarding," Keller said.
Jean Able, who ran her first triathlon at age 59 in 2013, can attest to that.
"I had two goals for that first Gold Nugget. Have fun, and finish, and that is exactly what happened," said Able, who signed up for the race to help herself recover from several back surgeries. "I had a great, wonderful time, and I finished. I came off of that race just smiling and feeling strong. I was absolutely elated. I don't think I stopped smiling for at least a month. It was such a high for me."
Able volunteers her time as a spiritual director for a Catholic church, making herself available as a prayer companion to anyone who wants faith in their lives. Becoming an athlete has helped develop confidence in her physical abilities, which she honors by racing.
The now-seasoned sprint triathlete, with two Gold Nugget races and one Eagle River event under her belt, is headed to Kona in April, where she will bike, swim and run her way to the finish line of the Lava Man, nearly twice the distance of the other races she's done.
"I am so grateful to have a strong body and good health at 62. It is a way for me to show gratitude," Able said.
Able has turned to Keller for coaching as she continues her journey. Getting help developing a training routine and getting advice on ways to improve makes it easier, she said.
After you decide you want to enter an event, success relies on three core ingredients: having a plan, friends and fun.
A training plan is a weekly workout schedule that builds stamina and strength over time. Keller creates custom plans for $60 an hour, and also offers group training clinics. Free training plans can also be found at beginnertriathlete.com. Using the "custom" plan tab allows you to input a start date and your event date, estimated biking, swimming, and running speeds, and come up with a daily schedule that will get you ready in time for your goal. Be realistic, and choose a plan that's convenient -- days and times that work for you, advises Keller.
Next, finding friends or groups to run with help make the workouts social and increase accountability. If you're running or swimming with friends or a like-minded group, chances are you'll do a better job staying on track. For biking, consider a spin class.
Finally, make it enjoyable. "If it's not fun, why do it?" said Andrew Duenow, a founding member and current president of the Alaska Triathlon Club, which Keller co-founded.
For $25, the club offers a yearlong membership and several training opportunities. "All of our clinics are centered on the beginning triathlete. We've all been there. We are trying to help people lessen the learning curve," Duenow said.
From renting the circular river at indoor water park H2Oasis -- which simulates the experience of swimming in the open-water oceans or lakes of many triathlon courses -- to offering advice on gear and transitions and course previews, the club's volunteer board does what it can to demystify triathlons and make the races accessible to everyone.
"Consistency is king," Duenow said. Just get out there and make sure you are doing it. Quantity, quality and intensity will follow.
Weak swimmers should concentrate first on the swimming. Take lessons. Practice. Get confident and build from there. If you're thinking about a spring or summer event, start now.
Able's advice for success? "Don't have overly high expectations. Just have fun and finish. The elite athletes are amazing. But most of us are these Jean Ables of the world who are just out there to be healthy and strong and love life."
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