I have never participated in an actual triathlon. However, I love running the occasional 10K; when I am home in the summers, I take the bike for a spin with my dad, and I do love to splash around in the ocean (mostly below it with scuba gear on). Although I have not put that trio together in any competitive manner, I will still claim to be a triathlete.  

I completed my first “triathlon” some years ago with my grandmother, then 68 years old. We built our triathlon one sunny Minnesota afternoon: walk around Lake of the Isles, kayak in the waters of all of the Minneapolis Uptown lakes, and then eat at Amore Victoria. That is a true Italian triathlon, friends.

There is something about a fitness trifecta, even if it is not the traditional swim, bike, run. Completing three of any sweaty, stretchy combo feels like success to me. While over the past months I have been off of my more intense fitness routine, more recently I have created my own triathlon to get in at least one day of a hardcore workout each week.

I love this concept of building my own triathlon because I can cater to my own needs on any given day, and so can you.

Here are some ideas to get your endorphins excited:

 

The Tear-It-Up Triathlon

A hilly three-mile run, tough TRX session, Bikram yoga class

 

The Recovery Triathlon

A brisk walk, an aSweatLife mobility session, Yin yoga

 

The Family Affair Triathlon

A brisk walk with mom, a bike ride with dad, an Insanity workout with sister

 

The See-a-New-Side-of-Your-City Triathlon

Find a new park for a run, bike the trails less traveled, look up the best look-out where you can complete a bodyweight workout.

 

The Baby-It’s-Cold-Outside Triathlon

A treadmill workout, a Zumba class (or your gym’s favorite studio class), hot yoga  

 

Since landing stateside a week ago to celebrate the holidays with friends and family, I have indulged in seafood chowder, homemade ravioli, double chocolate torte … and a good deal more. I have no regrets. That’s all soul food and my heart is happy. It is time to restore some balance now, though, and get my body working as much as my jaw has been chewing.

Tomorrow’s trio: a brisk 4-mile walk with a couple of dear friends, a good Vinyasa session with Vytes on My Yoga Works, followed by Just Dance with the family (actually the best sweat of my week when we got this going on Christmas Eve).

 

What will make up your first original triathlon?