Do you enjoy working out? If you don't you probably won't be doing tris very long.

I stared training at 16 and did my first race at 17 (I am 18 now). You need to know you will have to spend a lot of time training so if you have a lot of homework at school you will have very little free time.

As for setting up a training program you can look online or look in books. I read Triathlon 101 before setting up my training program. For swimming you want to start learning how to do the stroke correctly right away. I read Total Immersion and that helped me tremendously.

First off I applaud you on stepping out of your comfort zone and trying to make a change in yourself. Your already ahead of many people!!! Do it this way......do it for yourself because you have a dream to become a Triathlete, screw all those haters that sit on there couch and rot away, your end result will accomplish the attitude towards them. As far as training goes, weights...lots of reps with low weights. You dont need to be the guy in the corner screaming at the weights with a huge vein sticking out of his head!!! (haha yes weve all seen him) My roommate, accomplished body builder, likes to loose weight for shows by wearing a hooded sweatshirt on the elyptical, make sure your still taking in lots of water though!! You can do the run/shuffle/walk on the treadmill till you can run constantly and weve all been there. Just set reasonable goals and get to work. After youve established a level of fitness then youll be able to get a training plan on paper and the tri is just on the horizon. Good luck to yah, keep hanging out here cause this place rocks!!!

I agree with everything that everyone had posted so far. And I will give you my 6 important points.
1. SET REASONABLE GOALS - before you start this program, make 1, 3, 6 month and 1 year goals. Set them reasonably to begin with, no one has every said you can't change your goals, so start low and increase if necessary.
2. TRAINING LOG - record ALL of your training. This website has a very good log that you can use and it even does the calculating for you. Plus, with a log you can see your progress, everyone loves seeing improvements!
3. DON"T OVERTRAIN - after a while you will feel like you can train all the time or that you can extend your session considerably more . DON'T! As much as you feel like you can conquer the world, be cautious, all it takes is a small misstep with a fatigued muscle and your season can be over! A lot of people will even say training can turn into an addiction.
4. MIX IT UP - Don't do the same routes all the time and use different forms of training (i.e. sprints, hills). Mixing it up will keep you from getting bored, plus it can strengthen muscles as well.
5. ENJOY YOUR TRAINING - like everyone has said, doing this to prove people wrong will only get you so far. You have to enjoy what you are doing. Prepare your self mentally for what's in store ahead. I used to dread running, now I can't wait to hit the roads.
6. LIFESTYLE CHANGES - along with training, you will have to change other aspects of your life, such as diet and rest. As weight loss being a part of your training, you will most likely have to have a TOTAL change in diet. This is a whole other subject in itself, my easiest tip, try to eliminate processed foods and focus more on raw (whole) foods. Also, especially being 16 and still growing, you need to get your rest minimum 8 hrs. Your body is going to need to recover daily. One more lifestyle change, you may find with your school schedule that you don't have a lot of time. Don't be afraid to change to sleep schedule to have you wake up an hour or two before school to do your training.

You have made the first step, now continue that motivation throughout your training and you will find yourself reaching your goals before you know it! Don't be reluctant about putting up signs around your house for motivation. It may seem corny, but you'd be surprised at the help it can bring. Whether it be a sign on the fridge keeping you from drinking a soda or other unneeded food to a motivational sign on your mirror to get you going in the morning. I have a sign on the back of my front door saying "Redemption" to remind me of the bad performance I had at my last race due to a lack of training the month leading up to the race. The only bad part is I have to wait 6 months for my redemption!
Good luck!!

Anger is a great motivator, and not always a bad way to get started.

I was in a car accident 11 years ago, and lost the use of my left arm. When I started running again, my unbalanced body had such bad form that my doctor told me that some people just aren't meant to run. Well that got me mad, and 4 marathons & 14 half-marathons later, I not only showed her, but eventually ended up proving something to myself.

When my occupational therapist told me that cycling was essentially a 2-handed sport, I proved him wrong by getting on my bike the next day.

And when people thought I wouldn't be able to swim again, I taught myself to do freestyle one-handed, and have done 2 sprint triathlons.

I'm hooked now, and plan to do an Olympic distance event next year.

You can do anything you set your mind to--and you'll feel great about yourself, which is the best revenge :)

Does your highschool have a cross country team? Or track team? Thats your best bet they
can teach and coach you on running.Thats how i got my start 25 years ago! Get in shape w/
that first then add the swimming and cycling later. Good luck to you!

Copey, you have already made the most difficult decision and realization in overcoming the the viewpoints of what society thinks and portays us all to be. Magazines, TV, Movies etc. Making a stand and being able to communicate it like you have takes two very big ones and at 16 I wish I had the gaul to shirk that expected image and be comfortable with my inner self in who I am.

Firstly, I was the fat overweight kid in school struggling to gain the aceptance of my class mates and more importantly, trying to get a girlfriend. Man it was a very difficult time in my life. I didnt find triathlon until I was 32, but I did find a very competitive sport (Rugby) that changed how I viewed myself, and in that change I was able to see and accept who I was. I thought I was never going to fit in or get the acceptance of others, and in your words prove them wrong. The only person you have anything to prove to is yourself. Once you realize that the world changes very quickly, and you start to become brimming with self confidence.

Welcome to the world of Triathlon. I would think that all of us at Trifuel would take you under out wing and help you acheive your goal.

The first one will probably be the hardest one to accomplish as it is the first one you mention. Swimming, and being on the pool deck in your shorts. Just being there is the biggest step. Take swim lessons, get in the pool. Swim. Just enjoy being there.

Get walking fast, not casually, it should make you sweat and when you feel ready, run or jog slowly. It is a slow progression, but until you start loosing the weight, and even though you are young, your knees and ankles are the parts you have to protect.

Ride a stationary bike or even better, go into a spin room, and use a spin bike as I find they more closely resemble a bike on the road. Ride easy, and get you basic level fitness without over excerting yourself.

Post here weekly, with your progress. We all will be able to give you advice and everything and collectively we have been though it all.

Finally and more importantly, give yourself a goal that will allow you to measure your progress and achievment. Find a local triathlon in the spring next year and make that you goal to finish. Not win, just finish, because you find the journey is as satisfying as the destination.

Crossing that finish line is like nothing else you would believe for the first time. Because at that point, you no longer have anything else to prove to yourself.