I just finished Slow Fat Triathlete -- fun read. Good info and inspiration! A great recommendation.

Starfish... maybe you could do my swim... I've been avoiding the pool like the plague, but working hard on my biking and running instead. Just lazy -- I have to drive to the pool, the rest is right here. So we'd make a decent team!

I think that if it sounds fun to you, you should go for it. There are a lot of "first time tri's" out there and women only tri's that are much more fun and laid back and supportive. And the training for 3 different things makes it easier to spread the running around so it isn't as painful as running daily.