10 Things Every First-Time Triathlete Knows To Be True

There's a first time for everything, including that semi-delusional moment when you think you can handle an Olympic-distance triathlon: .9-mile swim, 25-mile bike, 6.2-mile run. You got this, right?

1. After your first training session, you realize that perhaps you were being overly optimistic

You signed up for WHAT?

2. But you persevere, diving head-first into all things tri

Bikes. GPS watches. Body Glide. Gu. Tri shorts. Wetsuits. Maybe if you have all the right equipment, you'll feel like you can do this?

3. Then again...

Maybe it won't be quite so easy.

4. You develop true hatred for your alarm clock

But NOTHING will keep you from your early-morning training.

5. After a few false starts, you begin to find your groove

After all the crack-of-dawn practice sessions and long weekend bike rides, you start to feel like an athlete. You GOT this.

6. Before you know it, race weekend is here

You are not intimidated. At all. Really.

7. And you're off!

You'll be kicked in the head, and you will at some point pee in your wetsuit, but you will survive.

8. This is how you cross the finish line

...at least in your head. In reality you stopped feeling your legs a couple miles back. You're doing something resembling a crawl. But in your mind you just won the whole thing.

9. You *really* tried to scrub off your race number in the shower, but it just wouldn't budge

Bragging rights at the office on Monday morning wouldn't be the WORST thing.

10. You know you've officially become a tri addict when...

...you secretly signed up for your next race before you even finished the first. Welcome to the club.