Once out of the water, you'll be in for a long, grueling bicycle race.

The triathlon is, as its name suggests, a three-sport event consisting of swimming, biking and running. Athletes from all ages and backgrounds train long hours for these grueling competitions, and most do it only for the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with crossing the finish line. With a little information and a lot of dedication, you too can become a triathlon competitor.

Ron Donckers has been participating in triathlon competitions since 1984, and he has nearly 70 races under his belt. Here, he gives us a peek into the world of these unique three part races.

• Three distances. According to Donckers, triathlons come in three distances. Sprint Triathlons are the shortest, followed by the Olympic distance triathlon. The granddaddy of them all is the Ironman Competition, which consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 miles of cycling, and a full 26.2 mile marathon to top it all off.

• Training clubs. One of the best ways to train is to join a triathlon club, where you can benefit from the knowledge of experienced competitors and triathlon coaches as well as receive support from other triathletes-in-training.

• USA Triathlons. Most Triathlons in America are governed by USA Triathlon, and membership is a good way to become a part of the triathlon scene.

• The rewards of dedication. To get to your first triathlon, you'll need a lot of dedication and a lot of training. The races are designed to push athletes to their limits, and in doing so they offer the chance of continual improvement and the lure of the personal best.

For more information on triathlons, check out the following organizations and websites:

USA Triathlon
www.usatriathlon.org

Yahoo Listings: Triathlon Clubs and Teams
dir.yahoo.com

Triathlete.com
www.triathlete.com

Inside Triathlon
www.insidetri.com

Online Triathlon
www.onlinetriathlon.com

The Triathlon Pages
www.geocities.com/skusz