STT Micro Triathlon

STT micro-triathlon results
500 meter swim: 9 minutes, 40 seconds
1.5 mile run: 11 minutes, 50 seconds
5 mile bike ride: 30 minutes (storm conditions)

Total distance: ~6.7 miles

For those that ask, the GPS is a Garmin 60CSx

Survival isn't about the most expensive gear or how much gold and silver you possess.  A lot of what makes a survivor is a mindset and a little luck.


Have you ever heard the old saying that chance favors the prepared?  What this means is that you have a large influence on your own luck if you take certain precautions and make certain mental, physical and logistical preparations.


Any that have read the book, Blackhawk Down will know the importance of being in decent (not Mr. Universe) physical shape.  You never know the situations you might encounter or the travails you'll need to endure.  How long before you are forced to run your Mogadishu mile?


Legalese BS Warning:  The STT recommends you check with your physician prior to beginning any exercise program.


Some that follow STT are in shape, some not so much.  For those of you that find yourself a little out of shape, STT recommends you start the following low intensity program to get started on the path to better fitness.

• Wear a pedometer for a week and track how far you walk on a given day on average.  Some of you that walk for a living around a factory floor will obviously rack up the miles more than an office cube dweller might.  Pedometers can be purchased here.  It's important that you wear the pedometer from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed.  Add up the totals at the end of the week.  This is how far you've moved.  Your goal is to increase your mileage.
• After you have the base number from your pedometer, add one mile per day for a total of seven miles per week.  These miles can be counted through walking, running, or jogging.  If you choose to bike your extra distance, multiply this number by three and add it to your base average.  If you skip a day, make it up the next day.
• After a few weeks of the extra miles, add another mile to your goal for a total of 14 extra miles per week (two miles per day over your first week pedometer base average).  Again, you don't need to run four minute miles to count them.  You may walk or jog or accomplish your distance through a mixture of both.

Tips:  Take the stairs every time, park far away from your work entrance (you'll get less door dings and get more exercise), walk your dog more, walk with your spouse and actually have a real conversation (bring up this article for starters).
That's it.  If you understand that the secret to getting in better shape is to lose more calories than you take in and to begin with reasonable goals, you are half way there.  Report your progress in the comments section below this article.  Good luck!