Happy 2017!  What are the top resolutions for the new year according to NBC News? The top 7 include “Get Healthy”, “Learn New Hobbies”, and “Travel”. If you read my bio, you know that triathlon is my hobby. While I was doing a 90 minute bike trainer workout yesterday I re-watched NBC’s 2016 broadcast of the Ironman World Championship from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii and was reminded yet again of how global and inspiring the triathlon community is. Watching the video is worth 66 minutes of your time as you consider your 2017 resolutions. At the very least, start at the 57 minute mark and I dare you not to get off the couch and get moving. You will see the story of Shirin Gerami the first female ironman athlete to represent Iran in addition to the amazing professional athletes from the US, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, and the UK.

2016 Ironman World Championship NBC

Not all tris are Ironman distance (2.4mile swim/112mile bike/26.2mile run). There are shorter distances and locations all over the world to swim, bike, and run including New Zealand, Chile, France, Bahrain, Canada, Thailand, and Spain to name a few. There are some epic races here in the US too. I did my first Ironman at Mont Tremblant, Quebec with 2500 other athletes from around the world and it was a truly amazing global atmosphere in a spectacular location. On July 23, 2017, I will attempt another Ironman in Lake Placid, NY. Lake Placid is special as it is home to 2 winter Olympic games and the famed “Miracle on Ice” where the United States men’s ice hockey team defeated the globally dominant Soviet team in 1980 as Cold War tensions were raging.

If you want to get healthy, learn new hobbies, and travel in 2017, triathlon is the way to achieve all three and it will change your life.