Run for Your Life

A few weeks ago, when it still felt like summer here in New England, I competed in my sixth triathlon.

This was my fourth swim/bike/run event of 2006, and my third straight year in the annual September Hyannis, Mass., sprint-distance race.

How did I do? We'll get to the results in a moment. But first, I want to give you some advice in case you want to race in 2007.

My introduction to triathlons was serendipity: A few years ago I realized that a slowing metabolism and endless hours in front of computer screens had sapped my strength.

Unhappy that I could not run five miles like I could in college, I joined a YMCA to jumpstart my workout routine.

Tonya Spagnuolo, one of my instructors, mentioned she was doing a triathlon on Cape Cod at the end of the summer and said I should join her. It was an easy decision for Tonya; she came this close to competing in the Olympics in synchronized swimming and could also hold her breath underwater for two minutes.

Since the race was months away, I agreed. I could always back out later. ...