Awesome story and congratulations on the weight loss & lifestyle change. Losing weight and re-orienting yourself towards fitness really is one of those things that is tough, but very rewarding.

While you're correct that most people start off with sprints, some do try longer distances first. I think an Oly is a good challenging distance for a beginner, especially because the swim is longer in that race, relative to the other events, than in any other distance. If you feel up for the challenge, you'll really enjoy it.

Anyway, here's my nearly foolproof 6-step plan for getting to the starting line:

1. Sign up for the tri. That way, you're committed at least somewhat to the goal.
2. Continue biking & running.
3. Consider seeing a swim coach for a few hours just to make sure you're doing everything right. Then keep swimming.
4. Find a good training plan. There might be an Oly plan here on trifuel or check out Gale Bernhard's book "Training Plans for Multisport Athletes."
5. Begin structured planning when the plan tells you to. (For a beginner doing an Oly, that's usually 4 months or so out from race day).
6. Read Trifuel. It really helps.

Now Kylie....were you thinking about RV again?...It's PJT who is giving advice...First sign of aging I guess ;)

Welcome Amka! The bulk of triathletes are just like you...everyday folks who have deciced to turn their life around...awesome.
I can't think of a thing to add to PJT's list...
stopp by often and keep us up tp date.

Kylie - You should be nicer to PJT - confusing he and I. He might go after you for slander!

Gotta agree with you on the wiser part - but the icon thing - well that was just mean! If I had any feelings they'd be hurt! ;)

Well my bike is in the foreground of my icon - what is sexier than that?! (Certainly not me!)

Well now you HAVE to write a RR!:D

Ok RV ----here goes but you can only laugh with me not at me....
I did the Danskin in Seattle. Had a mental image of warm sunny day (yes, I do live here... we hope for sunshine and mostly get it that time of year). It was a sprint but I was nervous all the same since it was the first one. I got to the transition area to lay out my gear and the sky just opened up in a sheet of rain. Now the obsessive part of me had really spent a great deal of time worrying about running while wet so I decided to not stress about transition times the first time and change my clothes ( ok, quit laughing at the newbie) So now it didn't really matter- but stick to the plan right... that is what I had read all year on here. So it was truely humbling to watch the elites go slipping into the water followed by these wonderful 70 year old women and down the line to me. I get into the water and I just can't find my pace. I really should have trained with 20 of my best friends swimming over me. I had gone to the side to avoid the washing machine effect but nooo-- everyone in my wave was there so back to the center. My form was ridiculous-- no freestyle cutting thru the water with grace and power: more of a moose doing the breast stroke. Somehow I got to the second bouy and let the momentum take me around. This was Fun but oh gosh, I just can't get my pace. A friend had told me that their were scuba divers under the water to be there to help anyone who was going under unnoticed. So I spent a bit of the time trying to spot them just for fun to keep my mind off the water grass wrapping around my legs. I got out of the water in 12 minutes so that was great. But the rain was still pouring down. Got to the port o potty and did this crazy change of clothes because obsessive planner me didnt' want to run in wet clothes later. See the irony of the situation- it was raining outside but I couldn't put that together at the time. Grabbed bike off rack and walked as instructed to the mat and off I went. Fun till the incline to the I-90 floating bridge to Mercer Island. I had worked hills for this, I was ready..but not ready for the lady four people up to bite it going up and so we walked up the hill as the medics pulled her off the side. Ok, not too bad of rain, here we go. Oh no, showers turned to downpour. I gripped the handlebars tight ( yes, this was my fav mountain bike from Costco....continue laughing) as about every mile or so someone was off to the side fixing this or that or getting medical attention. Thru the tunnel and around and back out again in 54 minutes. I was drenched but having the time of my life. Transition was quick and out to the run. This was nice. People were lining the streets and I was giddy. Sports Beans were being thrust in my direction off and on but a snack of two beans the day before had told me they make me kind of woozy so I skipped it. The run follows the lake and some beautiful homes. After the turn around is a steep hill and two guys on african drums made you all but fly up the hill. Slippery road made me cautious but on the way down the crowds were cheering for you and calling out your number. As the road narrowed the chute I was chocking up-- don't cry- they are taking photos! Hearing my name called out like I was a big time athlete, beep of the finish line mat, medal and out the end. I couldn't stop laughing at the fact that yes, I was done and the rain was still pouring and I was totally wet head to toe. Despite all my plans and angst it all worked out just fine and I have this great list of things to work on for next year.
Ok- that is it. And next year I am going to do that swim more like a knife thru butter, bike with more power and run without stopping to walk a bit.

A knife through butter with chocolate chips in it, right?

Anyway, what you described, swimming and biking through lots of people, is what scares me. Of that, I think that biking actually scares me more if I were to be in a pack of a lot of people. I mean, you run into someone swimming and no big deal. You run into someone on the bike and now not only to you crash, but you take someone down with you.

BTW, I haven't yet crashed but my very first trip on this bike I cruise into my garage and, last minute, realize... unclip, Unclip, UNC... topple.

Anyway, off for my long bike this morning.

:D I'm sure everyone on here has done that at least once. Be thankful you were in your garage and not at a stop sign or red light where you get to share your embarrassment with a crowd of people! The nice part about forgetting to unclip is you can't hurt yourself too badly, except maybe damage to your ego.

Welcome Amka, and I bet you will have a wonderful time at your first Tri, whatever distance you choose. You've gotten some great tips here already, and this is really a wonderful time for women in this sport. Lots of support and encouragement and even women's-only races. The race I did last weekend, the most entrants in any age group of all of them was 41 - 44 year old women. Seriously!

And Spacemonkey, I got a kick out of your Danskin story. I have done Danskin Seattle five times and it has rained twice. One time it really poured, and poured, and poured (1998 I think). Gotta love those Seattle summers. I remember not wanting to ride my bike out of that nice, warm, dry tunnel on the bridge. Hope you have a terrific time at your next race too, your race report brought a smile.

That is good. Hope I never top it :)

Thanks for all the encouragement, guys.

I haven't gotten the TI DVD or book yet, but had the luck to watch someone who seemed to really know what she was doing in the pool. She was smoooooth, and slow, and that quote I've seen someone have in their signature just popped in my head.

So I thought... am I actually trying to go fast? I don't think so. But lets actually try to go slow. Slow down, pay attention more.

I think I actually went faster, slowing down. Certainly, I was able to get the breathing in easier and I think even keep my head down lower. And again, I'm loving the hard work with the low impact.