What are the typical triathlon distances?
• Ironman: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run
• Half Ironman: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run
• Olympic Distance: 1500 meter (.93 mile) swim, 40k (24.8 mile) bike, 10k (6.2 mile) run
• Sprint Distance: usually about one half of an Olympic Distance race
• Super Sprint Distance: Usually about one-quarter of an Olympic Distance Race

Do you really think I can finish a triathlon?

Yes, I do. If you're reading this, the chances are pretty good that you could finish a triathlon. You're interested in fitness, in endurance and fitness. As long as you pick a triathlon that's suited realistically to your abilities, you can finish.

What you really need, ultimately, is to want it bad enough. If you do, you will.

What triathlon distance is right for me?

In my view, it really hinges on your comfort in the water. You can probably ride or run (or walk) the distance in longer events. But don't put yourself in the water for a longer distance than you can handle.

If you're just starting out, you may want to consider a super sprint distance, with roughly a 375 meter swim (equal to about 13 lengths in a pool) in shallow water. A Sprint race doubles that to 750 meters, and an Olympic Distance race covers nearly a mile in the water. I mistakenly chose Olympic Distance, above my abilities, for my first race. The swim was too long, but the bike and run were fine.

Do I need to have a strong background in one of the events?

Not necessarily. While you will encounter athletes who swam in high school meets or ran cross-country, many new triathletes are approaching these events for the first time.

I would have done a triathlon earlier, but I don't like to swim. Neither do I, honestly. I envy those who glide through the water like a fish, speeding their way through the first leg of a triathlon with ease. For me and many others, the swim can be a challenge, but early on I told myself that part of triathlon is about encountering challenges and overcoming them. I'm not the best swimmer, but when I exit the water in a triathlon, it's a small victory each time.

I've heard that a triathlon swim is rough, and people even try to swim over you; true?

The talk about the swim typically surpasses the reality, which is: there are no lane markers, everyone's trying to go in the same direction, some with more success than others. Yes there is occasional contact, but it's unintentional. Do not take it personally, just keep swimming.

Do I need to buy a lot of expensive gear?

No. It's possible to compete in a triathlon with equipment you have in your garage and your closet. See next questions.

Do I need to buy a wetsuit?

A triathlon wetsuit can cost $200 to $400, so it's a pricey investment. The reasons to get one: help you stay warm in longer swim distances, and the buoyancy will make most amateur swimmers swim better.

But a wetsuit is not mandatory for most triathlons, and certainly not needed in the short distance races like Super Sprints, held in water that's warm. Some triathlon stores will rent wetsuits, and that's a good bet if you only plan to do one or two triathlons. If you can see yourself staying engaged in triathlon longer, the cost of a wetsuit makes sense.

Do I need to buy an expensive triathlon bike?

Anything with two wheels in your garage can get you started at no extra cost. I pulled my L.L. Bean faux-mountain bike out of the garage for my first two Olympic Distance triathlons. And my bike times in those two triathlons were not all that bad.

When I decided to take on longer triathlons, I bit the bullet and bought an entry-level triathlon bike. I got a little heartburn because at $1500 it was far more expensive than any bike I'd ever considered. But those dollars paid off over the long term, as I rode it for thousands of miles in subsequent years.

Will a new bike make me faster?

There's a saying 'if you think a new bike will make you faster, then it will.' Part is psychological. But in the first place, you are the one powering your wheels. If you are not in shape, a $5000 dream bike with tricked out wheels and components won't make a difference.

On balance, at any triathlon transition area, the bikes will be more impressive than the bike riders in many cases. It's another way of saying just buy the bike that works for you, don't worry about trying to have the hottest bike out there. Better to be the hot rider.

What about those disk wheels some triathletes use?

Rear wheel flat disc wheels look wicked cool, don't they? Makes your bike kind of look like a Stealth Fighter. Two problems: good ones are expensive, and they really won't help you at all until you can ride well over 25mph. I'm putting it too simply, and the rocket scientists can give you the specifics, but in short, they will only help the very fast riders. Until you are one of them, save your money.

What if something goes wrong in the Special Triathlon I've spent so much time preparing for?

For some, understandably, a triathlon is a culmination of much dedication, preparation, training time, and family support. It's a project, it's a big deal, and you want it all to be worth it.

But sometimes things go wrong out there, in the same way that it might rain on a long-planned outdoor wedding. The swim might not go as well as you expect. You might get a flat tire on the bike. You might experience unexpected cramping on the run.

What's it like?

Triathlon is about the expected as well as the unexpected. The successful triathlete -- you -- earns that internal and external respect by taking whatever the day, the course and the competition hands you.

There are never answers to all the questions. But there is victory, on your terms, at the finish. And that's what it's all about.