hi! (an introduction)

hi! Thought I'd introduce myself here since my first real love is running :)

I started running in 2001. I was never athletic and couldn't run a mile straight to save my life. I found a run/walk program that built up to 20 minutes of continual running. I remember the first day was "run 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, repeat 7 times." I almost died but I ran the 90 consecutive seconds. I was pleased as punch.

I eventually got up to the 20 minutes and just kept going from there. I targeted my first 5K, then decided to do a 10K, then a half-marathon, and finally my first marathon in 2005. Three years later I've done 6 marathons and love them! I am not fast by any stretch of the imagination but that's what is so great about running (and I imagine cycling, too). For 99% of the people participating, you're really only "competing" with yourself by either beating your own PR's or setting personal goals.

I recently decided to get a bike for cross-training and to get into triathlons. If you follow the "new riders" threads you'll know this process is not going so easy for me, but I'm excited to get started.

Anyhow, just wanted to say "Hi!' here. I'll probably be asking a lot of questions about triathlons as the time gets closer. I'm targeting a sprint tri in late September. Very scary but very exciting, too!