ALTHOUGH I have always been a cyclist at heart, a triathlon bug has been buzzing in the back of my mind for years. Last December, I decided that 2008 was the year and the San Jose International Triathlon was the event. But research on the course, training methods, equipment, nutrition, etc., never prepared me for everything I was about to encounter. Never did I expect to overwork my left ankle into tendonitis, suffer a sprain in the right ankle in the same month or throw out my back, let alone deal with silly bike accidents that would end up in very unfunny stitches. Clearly, this stuff was not included in Joel Friel's Triathlete's Training Bible, or any other book or website. And according to Carl Guardino, Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO and triathlete, "that's life." Luckily, I have always found myself to be healthy overall and resilient, but putting myself through the wringer I'm seeing firsthand what triathletes go through. This weekend more than 1,500 of them from the Bay Area and beyond will be congregating at Lake Almaden in San Jose for the Mountain Bike Sprint and San Jose International triathlons. Spectators beware, the triathlon bug will be lurking and a bite may result in early registration for the next event.

SAN JOSE MT. BIKE SPRINT TRIATHLON With swim, 10-mile mountain-bike ride and 3.1-mile run. Saturday, June 7, 8am. $70–$80. Almaden Lake Park, Coleman Road, San Jose, 866.300. RACE.

SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL TRIATHLON Includes 1.25K swim, 40K bike and 10K run. Sunday, June 8, 7am. $98–$105. Almaden Lake Park, Coleman Rd, San Jose, 866.300.RACE. www.japroductions.com

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