Training for a Tri

HCC: With just a few chapters left to write, my fellow LGs and I are almost done with the book. Kind of like cramming for finals, we've hunkered down over our computers, fortified ourselves with coffee and chocolate, and have pulled more than a few all-nighters.

Now we're ready to shoot for a different kind of challenge: training for a triathlon. We had plenty of practice on the road, between running stairs in Cusco to prepare for our 26-mile Inca Trail hike, biking the 20-plus miles around Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and practicing our strokes while at surf camp in Byron Bay, Australia. Still, it's been awhile since we've pushed ourselves physically.

Unlike marathons, triathlons require a lot more equipment. To help decide what kind of bike to get, how to find a wet suit that fits, and how to move faster through the transitions, I went to a triathlon education night in New York City organized by Dr. Jordan Metzl, a sports physician and six-time Ironman triathlete. You have to sign up to see the webcast, but it has a lot of useful information. We'll keep you updated on which triathlons we'll be doing, and would love any training tips from those of you who have done one before.