I am currently at USA Triathlon’s Endurance Exchange Conference where the keynote speaker, Eric Byrnes, made a bold statement. He said that anyone with a basic level of fitness and athleticism could complete an Ironman within a year. Though I encourage people to take their progression slower – mastering each distance before going longer and longer – Eric’s statement is true and important to remember.
Too many people hold triathlon up on a pedestal – believing it is only for the super fit. In contrast, if you stand at a triathlon finish line, you will find that people of all shapes and abilities are crossing the finish line. How? Because they chose to do so. You don’t have to be super fit to complete a triathlon, you simply must choose to do it. As American businessman Art Williams once said in his infamous speech, the thing that separates high achievers is that they “do it” over and over again. Want to complete a triathlon? Stop thinking about it and do it.
The truth is that triathlon (and all endurance feats for that matter) is a fantastic way to motivate yourself to get or stay in shape. This applies to all abilities. If you are willing to put in the time, you can do this and have a ton of fun along the way. Complete a triathlon? Do it. Run a marathon? Do it. Swim across the English Channel? Do it. They all start with a decision. Make yours today.
