Beginner's Luck

Meredith Atwood writes about the three kinds of off-season characters - and what we can learn from each of them.

"Around the time that I developed a small smidgen of mental confidence about the whole first triathlon thing, I learned of the appropriate racing 'outfit.'"

"Oftentimes, I am the very culprit of my own negative space or feelings."

DNF (“did not finish”) is perhaps the ickiest phrase in triathlon.

Ask yourself if you can channel your inner Hare, just for a little while, and see what you are made of.

Pick a big, scary goal—your personal, perhaps proverbial “ironman”—and get to work.

A healthy body image can be frustratingly elusive, especially when old habits—and thought patterns—die hard.

Whether or not you need a coach depends on a lot more than your athletic caliber.

Sometimes, satisfaction in triathlon is a matter of perspective—and semantics.

Without the right mindset, social media can bring more pain than gain to your triathlon pursuits.

Sometimes having nothing to lose is when you have the most to gain, writes Meredith Atwood.

"Triathlon and a new attitude helped me find the person I had lost in the rat race of life."

Those race T-shirts may be worth more than just bragging rights, writes Meredith Atwood.

No matter what, you can always put one foot in front of the other.

Columnist Meredith Atwood on "how the fat girl got a little fitter"—from the inside out.

No. 1: Never take yourself too seriously. We do this sport for fun. Very few of us are actually feeding our families via swim, bike and run.

Keeping the flame burning for triathlon can be tough, especially after a big race.

Advice for the adult-onset swimmer.

Compromise and competing interests can be a harsh reality in a two-triathlete household.

New to the sport? Meredith Atwood on why she thinks mental toughness is key for beginner triathletes.

Take ownership of the awesomeness within you—no matter where you are.

Advice for avoiding panic attacks and other perceived perils of open-water swimming.

As an aspiring or new triathlete, a race resolution may not be the best plan of attack.