Outdistance Joe? We'd like to see you tri

My first triathlon -- and I'm in the lead!

Of course, no one else has set foot on the course yet, and they won't until Nov. 16.

That's the official date of the second annual -- sorta -- Splash, Spin, Sprint Indoor Triathlon at UNC's Meadowmont Wellness Center in Chapel Hill.

Second annual -- sorta?

"We held one in ... 2003," says race director Monette Williams, who doubles as a personal trainer at Meadowmont. That was a graduation ceremony for a program aimed at teaching triathlon to folks older than 50. It attracted 18 participants.

The SSSIT is open to anyone, Meadowmont members and nonmembers alike. As of Friday, 22 indoor triathletes had registered; the race will cap at 54.

"An indoor triathlon allows people to get a feel for the sport who might not otherwise be able to participate in one due to various reasons, such as not owning a bike or not wanting to swim in open water," Williams says. And, she says, it gives experienced triathletes a "fun way to do something different" at the end of their season.

The indoor tri concept is relatively new hereabout, but seems to have found a winter audience in the Midwest. The Midwest Indoor Tri-Classic Series, for instance, is a four-race series in the Chicago area. A similar three-race series is scheduled for the first of the year in Pleasant Prairie, Wis.

In fact, the Midwest is the inspiration for SSSIT; Meadowmont trainer Diane Shugars did one in Michigan and thought it might go over well here.

Here's the Meadowmont race's format:

Swim 15 minutes, five-minute transition, ride the stationary bike for 15 minutes, five-minute transition, finish by running or walking the treadmill for 15 minutes. The winner is whoever goes the farthest in those 45 active minutes.

"We wanted times that didn't sound intimidating to people," says Kathy DeBlasio, Meadowmont's lifestyle enhancement director. "Twenty minutes just sounded too long, especially in the water."

Even 15 minutes, though, could involve more time swimming than the popular sprint triathlons. Sprints typically involve a 500-meter swim, 12.4-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. I'm not a swimmer, have a combative stroke that creates more chop than Clyde Cooper's and still managed to get in 600 yards (12 laps in the 25-yard pool) in 15 minutes.

A tip or two if you elect to take the challenge:

• Familiarize yourself with the equipment beforehand. I managed to get through 52 years of life without stepping on a treadmill. It took me 14 minutes to figure out that: a) it's easier if you don't cling to the handrails. ("It requires about 30 percent more energy," advises DeBlasio.); b) if you're terrified of getting spit out the back, there's a kill switch that alligator clips to your T-shirt; drop off your pace and the machine will shut off before you're dropped off the back; and c) programming an incline into your 15 minutes only earns you more sweat, not more distance.
• If you're not a swimmer, the backstroke is an acceptable alternative. I swam five breath-sucking laps before flopping over onto my back. (Note: The lone requirement for this race is that you be able to swim a minimum of one lap.)
• "Practice up to the time allotted per each discipline," Williams suggests. Also practice transitioning: changing from swimsuit to bike gear, bike gear to treadmill wear.

Competitors will be sent off in waves of six beginning at 8 a.m. Race ends at noon.

OK, so here are your distances to beat if you want to wrest first place away from me:

Swim: 0.48 miles (12 laps).

Bike: 5.75 miles.

Run: 0.99 miles.

Total: 7.22 miles.

See you at the finish.