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Getting ready!

The Boy is going to participate in his third triathlon on Saturday.

Here's how to get kids to train for triathlons: 1. Get the kid a bike and helmet. 2. Let the kid ride the bike and run around the yard or neighborhood. 3. Take the kid swimming once or twice before the race. Wetsuits are totally optional!

Seriously, it doesn't take much discipline to get a kid ready for a kids' triathlon. Typically these events are not competitive; all kids get an award for reaching the finish line. And the distances are really short - it only took The Boy about 20 minutes to finish his first triathlon last year, consisting of a 75-yard swim, 2-mile bike, and half-mile run.

The day before his first event, I walked him through what was going to happen. "You swim first, then when you exit the water, run to your transition area and take your wetsuit off. You'll put your bike jersey and socks and shoes on, then your helmet. You have to run with your bike out of the transition area, then get on and follow the directions of the volunteers on the course!"

When you're done biking, I told him, return your bike to your transition area, and don't forget to take off your helmet! Then listen to the volunteers again as they direct you on the run course.

The events The Boy did last year took place within a state park, with lots of room for adults to run around and watch their kids. And since the kids events accompanied adult triathlons - ones in which I was participating - we got to go out and celebrate together when it was over. My baby crossed the very same finish line that I had a couple of hours earlier, and got the very same medal. It was a pretty special day for both of us.

I really believe that for adults, triathlon is a really accepting sport of all people of all abilities. You really do see all types out there, elite athletes mixing with the recreation seekers. It was cool to see last year how that extended to children, too - it didn't matter how fast or slow the kids went, there were tons of adults around to cheer them on.

For a list of kids' triathlons, check out active.com. Your kids will thank you for it!