Swim, bike, run ... just for the fun of it?

New Year's resolutions went out the window approximately five months and five days ago. Swimsuit season is already here and you can't wait for sweater season to arrive, just to cover up. And the holiday eating season began on St Patrick's Day and won't end until Christmas.

You need a new motivation to get into shape and one is just around the corner in the form of a triathlon. I'm not talking about the Iron-Man triathlon, which entails either circling the globe three times via hot air balloon or swimming more than two miles, biking more than 110 miles and running at least 26 miles, whichever takes longer.

Rather, the McCook YMCA is hosting a "sprint" triathlon in six weeks on July 24. Experts say it takes just six weeks to train for a sprint triathlon, which usually involves swimming 500 meters, biking 12 to 14 miles and running a 5K race. So if you begin training today, you'll be ready -- I promise -- or at least be ready to cheer on someone else.

Several of us from McCook were already training for a benefit sprint triathlon in Denver later this summer and will use the McCook competition as a test for the Colorado event. While some of our group are actually hoping to have good times in Denver, the rest of us are just hoping to have a good time and, more importantly, to just finish the event.

For me, this will be a major accomplishment, especially if it's completed within one day or at least before organizers go home for the day. To be honest, I'm rather slow and not just on one of the events. Let's take a look at the three aspects of a triathlon.

Swimming

For the swimming portion, you are not allowed to use swimming devices such as fins, life jackets or motorized boats because organizers feel you'll somehow have an unfair advantage. Obviously, organizers have not seen me in the pool. I have a feeling they will be throwing fins at me in the middle of the race, trying to speed me up and get me out of the pool or lake.

I'm so slow that even if I'm wearing fins (which usually speed you up), regular-Y-lap-swimmer Barb Eskew laps me - without fins.

Biking

On the biking portion, the only requirement is a helmet. I don't have a problem with helmets since they have saved many lives. But for me, they seem to cause rather than alleviate problems.

After donning a helmet, I begin my ride and within 73 seconds, I'm sweating profusely. The sweat then rolls into my eyes. At this point, I can either let it continue -- which clouds my vision or try to use my sleeve to wipe my forehead. Either way, I'm likely going to swerve along the roadway, hit an unseen pebble, lose control of the bike and crash at some point of the race. Fortunately, I'll be wearing a helmet.

You are also required to know how to change a flat tire on your bike during the middle of a race. I haven't yet mastered this task because I've never been required to do it in the past. Isn't that why I have a husband around?

Running

Again, I'm slower on this portion than your average tortoise. While out "running," I could be going faster by simply walking rather than my forced slow trot. My husband and I have actually considered skipping as an alternative to our version of running, but figured that the sport of skipping should be left to the second grade playground.

And if you think you are in shape and have no way to improve your fitness, take this test: Ride a bike for a while, perhaps 10 miles. Then hop off and try running. Not very far, just a hundred yards. I'll tell you right now that your legs will feel more wobbly than a tray of red Jell-O. I'm already planning on adding 10 minutes to my time just to allow me to get my legs back under me.

If you are considering a triathlon, you may be wondering about the particular order of the events; why you swim first, then bike, then run.

I consulted my brother-in-law, who has actually completed an Iron-Man for some unknown reason, who pointed out the obvious. If you are running and you get tired, you can simply sit down by the side of the road until you get your breath back. If you are biking and get tired, you can simply coast until you feel strong enough again. But if you are swimming and get tired...well, you had better hope there's a rescue vehicle nearby or at least, a very strong lifeguard.