How to have a memorable first-time triathlon experience

If you’ve ever had doubts about trying a new sport, whether it be running or triathlon or honestly anything else that gets you moving, just talk to Kas Seerla, who’s training for her first triathlon with CNN’s Fit Nation 6-Pack. Once you hear a few snippets from the 34-year-old Naperville resident’s story, you’ll want to get outside and get moving—or at least abandon the couch and veg time for a while.

Seerla works, she’s a mom (her kids are 4 and 2), and she’s training for the Nautica New York City Triathlon on August 7. I’m a triathlete too (it grew out of the running), but I felt lazy talking to her, followed by the immediate need to drop everything to exercise. Maybe that’s because Seerla the newbie was A. training far more than me (smarter, too), and B. had way cooler experiences to share as part of Fit Nation's elite six-person squad.

Like submitting a video to CNN on a whim and being selected as one of the six budding triathletes to train with CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Like swimming off the Kona, Hawaii, coast with former Ironman World Champion Tim DeBoom guiding you. And biking her longest bike ride to date through the lava fields that challenge triathletes competing at the Ironman World Championships every October.

Like adopting the sport because it offered a challenge for the self-professed non-runner. “I don’t come from an athletic background,” she says.

Like surviving her first Lake Michigan open water swim and gutting it out to complete a mile—without freaking out.

Like reaching out to the local triathlon community to learn how to swim, and find riding and running buddies.

Simply put: Seerla is motivated to reach that finish line. Don’t believe me? You can watch her story first-hand July 9 on CNN, when she’ll be profiled as part of the Fit Nation coverage leading up to race day. Seerla’s segment airs at 6:30am, just in time to jump-start your morning workout or training run.

A trip to race in the Big Apple is great and all, I had to ask Seerla if she planned to participate in the Chicago Triathlon three weeks after her New York challenge. While she didn’t rule it out, she had another goal in sight: to get faster. Wouldn’t we all like that?