How I Got Started in Triathlon
That’s me at my first triathlon in 2019!
Growing up, I’d always played sports.
I did tennis, softball, soccer, karate, and even showed horses competitively for 13 years.
Yup, that's me!
But after graduating from college, and getting a real job, the opportunities for “adult sports” were slim. I tried going to the gym, and while I enjoyed the physical activity, it was… boring.
I’d spent the majority of my life training for a purpose- to compete- and I just didn’t see an end goal with lifting weights or getting more toned arms and abs. But there was a tiny running track at my gym, so I tried that.
After running in itty, bitty circles on concrete with barely any cushion, I decided some new shoes were in order. That lead me to a local running store. Then, I tried a few trail runs with our local track club. One day, a friend invited me to a triathlon club meeting, and that’s how this all began!
My first triathlon- a super sprint in 2019
Fast-forward six years, and my husband, Matt, and I have completed a combined total of 16 70.3 races, qualified for the 70.3 World Championship three times, and done three Ironman (to date…) in addition to many sprints, Olympics, duathlons, ect.
For us, triathlon isn’t just a sport; it’s a healthy lifestyle that allows us to move our bodies, enjoy being in nature, set goals, and strive to become smarter, stronger, and more successful athletes. Honestly, if we never did another triathlon, we would still swim, bike, and run, because that’s what we enjoy doing.
In fact, that’s the whole reason why I started Triple Threat Life in the first place. Triathlon is an incredible sport that can change your life in so many ways. But it’s complex. For a new triathlete, it can all be a bit overwhelming. For a seasoned athlete, there’s a lot of conflicting information out there- fads, trends, and just plain bad advice. I created Triple Threat Life to cut through all the noise.
I enjoy helping people, and the best way I can do that is with my writing. Because I’m a sports journalist, I have the opportunity to talk with top coaches, sport scientists, and professional athletes, and I want to share what I learn with you! (Including some insights from my own experiences, of course.)
Think of Triple Threat Life as your ultimate triathlon and sport mindset resource, from a best friend perspective.
A bit more about us
Recently, our local run club asked to do a profile on Matt and I for their newsletter. We got to answer a bunch of fun questions about our childhood ambitions, favorite running memory, indulgences, and pets!
If you’ve followed along for a while, you’re probably familiar with some of these already. Such as we rescued two, adorable kittens named Jasper and Monty on a bike ride on Memorial Day.
You Won't BELIEVE What We Found on Our Bike Ride...
Or that I love swimming, I write for IRONMAN and Triathlete Magazine, and I enjoy reading fiction. But you probably don’t know my non-running hobbies, the biggest challenge I’ve faced as an athlete, or my version of the perfect day.
Check it out.
Not sure why it says Brittany Bevis Vermeer. Brittany Vermeer works just fine for me :)
Now, let’s take a look at Matt’s profile, complete with his trademark, dry sense of humor.
The funny thing is Matt never wanted to be a jockey when he grew up… When this came out, I texted him at work, saying I learned something new about my husband. It must have been from an old profile that didn’t get deleted, but we got a good laugh out of it.
He did volunteer at a therapeutic riding center when he was in high school (so we oddly have that horse connection) but he had no dreams of riding in the Kentucky Derby.
In reality, Matt always wanted to be a doctor, even from a young age. He loved science and enjoyed helping people, so Ta Da!, doctor it is. He will tell you that he tried his hardest not to become a doctor, but all the career tests pointed him in that direction, so here we are.
*Paid Subscribers: Just for members of the Triple Threat Life Club, here’s a video where Matt and I chat about our triathlon origin stories. We also do a fun speed round where we take turns answering rapid-fire questions about our favorite post-workout snacks, favorite discipline, most embarrassing moment during a race, and much more!
Join the Triple Threat Life Club for access to this video and more. Attend our monthly expert webinars, get product discounts, receive a free triathlon foundations e-book, get $40 nutrition credit from The Feed, and much more.