Happy New Year’s Resolutions! What were they this year? Probably one of the usual promises made with optimism and haste in the waning moments of 2007:

· Quit Smoking

· Lose Weight

· Exercise More

· Spend More Time Outdoors

How are those resolutions going so far? Are you sticking to the plan? Did you make a plan? Do you have a goal? That is where I come in. I have your goal. I have your reason to exercise and spend more time outdoors. I have a 2008 challenge for you.

On Saturday, May 3, 2008, at the Gulf State Park Beach Pavilion, there will be the 2nd annual Brett/Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon. What is this triathlon? It is a race where the participants are required to swim 1,000 yards in the Gulf of Mexico, ride a bicycle for 19.5 miles and then run or jog for 4.5 miles.

Last year the winner, Tyler Stanfield, took one hour and about 26 minutes to finish the race. Most people finished between 2 hours and 2.5 hours. The last placed finisher took 3.5 hours. You and I will be somewhere in the middle.

The history of triathlons is fairly young. In the late 1970’s swimmers, bikers and runners argued about who were the better athletes. So a race was born to answer that question. Now just like every other sport, it has a governing body - USAT. It was formed in 1982. Since then USAT has created a rule book for racing, sponsors Olympic hopefuls, sanctions races, compiles race results on about 1,800 races annually and has over 90,000 members. Sixty-five percent of the members are male. Triathlons became an Olympic sport in the year 2000 at Sydney.

Over the next three months, I will write about training, equipment, race strategy, and how to finish your first triathlon. I did my first triathlon in 1990, after a cold winter in Louisville, Kentucky. I was from Alabama and thought it was too cold in the wintertime to go running outdoors in Northern Kentucky. So I changed my exercise regime to swimming in an indoor pool. The lifeguard at the pool had done a triathlon the year before and convinced me that I could finish the race that year. I rode the bicycle I bought in Junior High and finished 5th in my age group. I was hooked. You can be too, or not. But give it a tri, pun intended, and live out those New Year’s resolutions.

To register for the Brett Robinson Alabama Gulf Coast Triathlon go to www.team-magic.com. Right now the cost to register is $60 for an individual and $95 for a relay team. You can register online or download a form to complete and mail. Sponsors are also needed; please contact Michelle Russ at the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, 251-974-4631. If you just want to watch and get an up close view, maybe being a volunteer is for you so visit www.alabamabeachsports.com.

About the author:

A 1982 graduate of the University of South Alabama, David Lloyd is a triathlon veteran after participating in more than 100 events in the last 18 years. His career highlight so far has been finishing the 2006 Ironman Florida, which features a 112 mile bike ride. David resides in Gulf Shores with his wife and two daughters.