Go do a triathlon, yes you!

You are over 40, maybe even over 50, and it's been a little while (okay a long while) since you've done something athletic. We think you should do a triathlon. So does the Los Angeles Times who recently published a series of articles about in its Health Section (may require registration to access). If you are thinking that a triathlon means a grueling all day race through the lava fields of Hawaii, that's the Hawaii Ironman and there are thousands of shorter and easier races. In fact the most popular races are so-called "sprint" triathlons and they can be as short as 1/4 mile swim, 9 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run. It might seem daunting but it is far less than you think and the payoff is well worth it.

Here are a few tips and links to get you started.

1. Go to TriathleteMag.com and poke around the articles to get a feel for the sport. Another good resource is BeginnerTriathlete.com

2. Go watch your first triathlon. You can find triathlon's in your area by a website like Active.com or through one of your local bike/triathlon shops.

3. Consider an intermediate goal like a 10k or a 50 mile bike ride.

4. Swimming is one of the biggest concerns for most first time triathletes. However you likely have a friend who is a regular swimmer and you can ask them for tips. Most cities have municipal pools where for $1-$2 dollars you can do your swim workouts.

5. You don't need to go crazy buying specialized equipment. Most triathlons allow mountain bikes and regular road bikes. Odds are you have a friend who can lend you a bike for your training and the race. If you enjoy the experience and plan to do more then you can start buying equipment of your own.

6. Don't concern yourself with the time nor consider it a race. Your goal is to just finish. That said, one of the many age friendly aspects of triathlons are that if you do decide to compete for time you are only racing against people in your own age group, whether that is women 40-44 or men 65-69.

Why might you want to do this? The reasons are many. First off it is a great sport for people of all ages. You will meet great people. Second, triathlon training breaks up the monotony of single sport training. You are always doing something different--especially if you include gym work as well. Third, as we age our bodies become more susceptible to injury. With triathlon there is almost always some activity you can do while recovering plus you are less likely to be injured in the first place due to the cross-training aspect of it. Lastly, it could change your life.

Disclosure: I am an avid triathlete and contributor to TriathleteMag. Other than dabbling in the sport in the early 80s, I didn't seriously pick it up until I was in my late 30s and have never stopped.