Two weeks after running my fifth marathon Mountains 2 Beach and finishing in 3:30:59 , I raced my second triathlon organized by the amazing Total Body Fitness at Rancho Seco. I felt the need to challenge myself differently, while still recovering from the marathon. To my delight, I finished third in my new age group and loved every minute of the triathlon (click on the triathlon and read how to prepare for your first triathlon and have fun with it, too). After having done my first triathlon last year and realizing that swimming in the open water was easier and more fun than in the pool, I promised myself to incorporate triathlons into my marathon training, because my muscles and body were happier and staying healthier, too.

 

 

 

Once again, I was amazed how good and strong I felt at the finish line, which is why I want to encourage you to do your first triathlon as well.  However, since I am pretty new to triathlons, I would like to share with you the story of a more seasoned triathlete, Kareasa Wilkins, whom I first met during a Pilates class at California Family Fitness. A full-time ESL teacher and a wine enthusiast, who teaches wine appreciation classes at the local community college, Kareasa also has a passion for traveling and has been to more than 40 countries. She has a great love of sport, particularly swimming and triathlon (she has completed 8 triathlons), and loves the feeling that training and working out gives her. Kareasa lives with her loving husband and fabulous orange cat in Sacramento.

 

 

Kareasa’s 10 Tips for doing your next triathlon:

 

1. Get into the sport with energy and enthusiasm and just decide to do your first triathlon.
2. Enjoy the multi-sport aspect, which will certainly keep you from getting bored during the race.
3. Kareasa’s strength is the swim event, as she used to be a competitive swimmer, so enjoy your strengths while also doing the other events that might be more challenging. For me, it is running that propels me to the top three in my age group, but I am determined to work on my swimming and biking skills and be well-rounded.
4. Triathlons are a great total body workout and a lot of fun.
5. Start small by signing up for a sprint of super sprint event.
6. Find a local tri-club to train with and meet like-minded and supportive athletes.
7. Don’t spend a ton of money on new and fancy bikes and wet suits until you get more serious about the sport. Kareasa did her first triathlon in a regular swimsuit and riding a mountain bike.
8. Start in your comfort zone by doing sprint triathlons, Olympic distance, and then maybe get into a 1/2 ironman in the future.
9. Rejoice in your progress and improvement.
10. And last, but not least always have fun when doing triathlons, which is motivating enough!

 

To find triathlons and other races around you, please go to Total Body Fitness  and find your joy! Ready, set, go!

 

For more info on running and real estate, whether buying or selling, please e-mail me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com, or call me at 916-342-2446. Running for real estate with joy!