Thinking of attempting a triathlon this summer? You're certainly not alone.

Triathlons are quickly becoming one of the fastest growing sporting events in the country. Men and women from all over the U.S. are making the commitment to swim, bike, and run their way to better fitness and cardiovascular health.

When most of us think of triathletes, pictures come to mind of ripped Ironmen (and women) struggling across the finish line at the end of a grueling, ten-hour event. There are, however, other levels of triathlon events that don't require the year-long commitment an Ironman does (or the deep pockets necessary to fund the undertaking). Triathlons generally fall into one of four lengths:

Sprint - 800 meter swim, 15 mile bike, 3 mile run

Olympic - 1600 meter swim, 26 mile bike, 6 mile run

Long Course (or Ironman 70.3) - 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run

Ironman - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run

A first-time triathlete obviously isn't going to jump right into an Ironman, but the sprint and Olympic distances are very much within reach for the first-timer. Even better, a sprint-distance triathlon can often be done with the bare minimum of equipment, allowing you to try the sport first before investing your life savings.

All you need is a bike (even a mountain bike will do) and helmet, a swimsuit and goggles, running shoes, and the dedication to stick to a 12-week training plan. Sounds good, right? In case you haven't been fully convinced that triathlon is the right sport for you, I'm offering my top ten reasons to try a triathlon this summer:

10. They give you a free t-shirt.

9. It's a great way to enjoy the outdoors.

8. Who hasn't wanted to wear a wetsuit just once?

7. At least one of your friends will take you out to dinner to celebrate.

6. Races are a great place to meet new people.

5. It's a great excuse to eat carbs - Italian food, anyone?

4. They often serve beer at the finish line. Free.

3. You can ride the "I just did a triathlon, so I can have this piece of cheesecake" excuse for a good two weeks post-race.

2. You sound pretty cool calling yourself a triathlete.

1. Outside of an 80's hair band concert, you won't see a better display of spandex anywhere.

Now that you've decided that a triathlon is well within your reach (it was the beer that convinced you, wasn't it?), you may be wondering how to start. Luckily, there are some great resources at your local library that can help you on your journey. The following books contain all the information you'll need to get started, including equipment checklists and training plans:

The 12-Week Triathlete by Tom Holland

The Woman Triathlete by Christina Gandolfo

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Triathlon Training by Colin Barr and Steve Katai

Slow Fat Triathlete: Live your athletic dreams in the body you have now By Jayne Williams

All of these titles (and many more) are available through Douglas County Libraries.

Congratulations! Now that you've decided to make the commitment to do a triathlon, the only thing left is to do it! Pick a target race, sign up, and get cracking! Triathlon is what you make of it; you get out what you put in. Challenge yourself and see how far you can go. Who knows? You may decide (as I did) that this newfound sport has become your newest passion. Next stop, Ironman!