I Have Chosen!

The die is cast!
The gauntlet thrown!
The challenge issued!
I'll take door number....well, you get the idea. I have picked the race that is to be (hopefully) the start of a beeyootiful friendship.

August 1st, 2009 - EP Tom Sawyer State Park Triathlon
(blurb from official site)

E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park is proud to host its 28th annual Triathlon on August 1, 2009. The race is a USAT sanctioned event that consists of a ½ mile swim, 14 mile bike ride and 5K run. All phases of the race will be held either on the park grounds or on the surrounding roads. Both individuals and teams are welcome, with registration opening on May 26th and running through July 11th. The race fee is $55 for individuals and $90 for teams. In addition, a $10 one-day insurance fee is required for all non-USAT members. All race participants will receive an official triathlon shirt and prizes will be awarded both to age group winners and overall winners.

I'd love to get a bunch of people to complete the race with me. The more the merrier, you know? So I want to tell you how doable this race it for a beginner, like me. However, the sentence "I'm doing a Triathlon" is just so bada$$ that I don't want to downplay my (and maybe your?) task. Oh well.

Reasons to sign up for this Tri with me:

• You get to say stuff like this for 3 months and annoy all your friends and family. "No thank you, I'll pass on the Krispy Kreme, Twinkie, Funnel Cake, I'm training for a Triathlon."
• You can use terms like Brick Workout, Fartlek and Squid Lid in everyday conversation with civilians (See? It's annoying already isn't it!)
• You can totally geek out on workout stats, schedules, charts, lists and uhm, a blog, about your training
• You can avoid household chores because you MUST get your swim, bike, run in for the day.
• Ben says that if you think you're going to die in the Swim Leg, you can stand up. It's a shallow pool.
• Race T-Shirt. Score!
• Race numbers look really cool on your wall after the race.
• If you train for this even mildly, you are bound to drop a few pounds
• When you're old, you can impress your grandchildren by telling them all about your valiant effort when you were a young'n.
• Pfit 2 is about to start. Training for this will guarantee that you will work out for the contest.
• You, too, can be a BA a la Jack Bauer, Chuck Norris and Joan of Arc
• C'mon it'll be fun!!!

If you're the kind of person that needs more serious reasons for tri-ing this out (hah!) then here's an article from Eric Harr - Triathlete and Triathlon Trainer Extrordinaire on 20 Reasons Why You Should Do a Triathlon.