Beginner's Luck

There is no day like today to show up and start going after your goals, writes Meredith Atwood.

"Anyone who has completed a race knows that the community is so much stronger than any one of us individually."

Want to have a better, more productive off-season? Starting thinking about it now.

Part of starting the sport of triathlon is being afraid—and pushing right through it.

Feel like you're the one standing in the way of your goals? "Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood shares two things she's learned about overcoming self-sabotage.

For some athletes, letting go of time goals will lead to freedom.

"Motivation and hope are great things—but they are only real in the face of discipline, hustle, and work."

Outer order equals inner calm. Here’s a fool-proof organizational method that will have you on your way to feeling a tri calm.

"Don’t doubt your ability to move forward, change your life and execute on a great day that will change your life forever."

Meredith Atwood shares a personal story about how swim, bike, and run have helped her to learn to embrace the unknowns of life.

You jump into this sport full of hope for a challenge, and maybe a change—but then the fear of everything sets in.

The list of what you need to know before competing in your first triathlon is shorter than you might expect.

Triathlon will always be there for you—no matter what you're going through or how much or little attention you're willing to give it.

A simple choice every beginner triathlete can benefit from: I will think differently today.

Intimidated by triathlon? Meredith Atwood shares a formula that will help you get excited about reaching the start line.

It turns out the spirit of endurance has very little to do with swim, bike, and run.

What experiences from your past are keeping you from finding athletic success in the present?

Sometimes finding success in triathlon—and everyday life—is all about showing up day after day.

Showing others what is possible is the way to bring others into our sport.

The key to your first race is... not making it the focus.

Failure in life and triathlon is where the lessons are born.

Meredith Atwood reflects on the last decade as a triathlete and shares her biggest realization: we all have an important role in this sport.

You can crush any goal—as long as you pay attention to this one major factor.

It's important to keep an eye on the messages you're giving yourself as you transition from the off-season back into structured training.

We tend to over-complicate New Year's resolutions and instead need to "show up, open up, and see what happens from there."

Most of us will never make it to the Ironman World Championship, but that doesn't mean we don't have a valuable spot in this sport.

Improving at swim, bike, and run is a great goal—but don't lose sight of why you started this sport in the first place.

It's all about surrounding yourself with the right tribe, writes Meredith Atwood.

You've registered for your big "A" race! Now it's time to settle in and appreciate the process it will take to get there.

Tired of setting off-season goals you never accomplish? "Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood can relate.

Even if you're the only one who reads it—a race report is a useful tool toward helping you become a better triathlete.

Sometimes taking a day off of training is the smart—not lazy—decision. 

The secret sauce to racing successfully sometimes means humbling yourself and your expectations.

Many of us tend to go to a dramatic place in the hours and minutes before a race.

Injured? Don't crawl in the “this is the end of exercising hole" and give up.

Starting your training later than you had planned for an upcoming triathlon? It is possible to cram—in certain situations.

At the end of the day it's your fitness and it's up to you what you want to do with it, writes Meredith Atwood.

There's something scary about letting your identity get too wrapped up in the sport.

Your first time getting in the pool as an adult can be downright scary.

Sometimes those "big workout days" are better spent in another arena of our lives.

Is there a magic number of races completed where you no longer need the support of a Sherpa?

Here's what you really need to know ahead of your first triathlon.

Meredith Atwood shares the keys for becoming a well-rounded triathlete.

A small shift in mindset is the key to success in your first triathlon!

"Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood shares four key steps to take in pursuing your first triathlon finish.

A thing that is terrifying now, need not be terrifying forever.

You swim, you bike, and you run, and now it's time to do these three other things.

Being a beginner triathlete requires the strength to overcome the fear that comes with so many aspects of the sport.

It might feel cheesy, but coming up with a mantra can have a big impact on your training and racing.

The gear and training knowledge required to make it from T1 to T2 can feel overwhelming.

"Remember to keep a strong heart and an even stronger determination."

Presenting two more “hacks” to ensure your family life continues to run well while you are out there chasing your big dream.

Meredith Atwood shares two key ways to keep yourself in check.

Remember to find your reasons for triathlon and go back to those each time, writes Meredith Atwood.

Meredith Atwood gives her advice for making sure your tri-resolutions are in line with real goals that translate into progress and PRs.

Step one: Decide that you will. Keep the promise to yourself.

Think about taking your goals in a different direction in 2018.

Setting up your 2018 race schedule? Take this advice from "Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood before you hit that register button.

Social media is one of my favorite things in the world. Social media is also one of my most hated things in the world.

How does one stay motivated? That’s the million dollar question.

Yes, rest is important. But be weary of falling into the trap of forming too many bad habits during your "non-triathlon" months.

Beginner triathletes don't need to learn how to bilateral breathe, right? Wrong, writes Meredith Atwood.

Meredith Atwood shares her four tips for avoiding the depression that often comes after a big race.

You never know what great things may happen as a result.

Meredith Atwood writes about the art of prioritizing your goals and ultimately tackling the big scary ones.

Race morning: It’s a combination of emotions ranging from “YES! It’s here” to “[insert your choice expletive]! It’s here!”

"Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood writes about the importance of your frame of mind when it comes to swim, bike, and run.

Meredith Atwood on the power of just showing up, even if the weatherman isn't predicting the ideal conditions.

"Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood writes about the ups and downs of her first half-Ironman.

What’s a slow, back-of-the-pack, seriously time-constricted, triathlete to do in order to improve? What is the "Secret Sauce?"

"Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood writes about her most recent race commitment.

"Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood shares advice on becoming a confident open-water swimmer.

What is this elusive IT that we really want?

Sometimes, during the pursuit we can make our lives better by remembering why we are pursuing it in the first place.

"Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood writes about the draw of signing up for race after race.

Walking in a race will slow you down, right? Not necessarily.

For those of us who came to running or triathlon late in life, the issue of running in public is a real challenge.

A reminder: We were all beginners at one point in our triathlon journeys.

In triathlon and in life, it’s really easy to get bogged down by the negative voices in our head.

It's important not to lose sight of the crazy reasons we do this sport on race day.

"My internal gut has (and will remain) one of my most valuable assets."

Sometimes you have to just say “no” in order to stay sane, writes columnist Meredith Atwood.

"Beginner's Luck" columnist Meredith Atwood shares the biggest factor that helped her improve as a runner.

Meredith Atwood on using this sport as a tool to bring out the good in yourself and others, not the opposite.

Beginner's Luck author Meredith Atwood on navigating the tough moments of a race.

Four ways to know that sleeping in on race day might be the best race plan of all.

"Beginner's Luck" author Meredith Atwood shares the story of her first triathlon.

What happens when the love for tri seems to be headed for divorce?