Many people each year make a resolution to get fit, and a large number of these people look to some major event as their motivation, with many deciding upon a triathlon. So, books are bought and videos are watched, and then training begins: a light jog, a winded bike ride, and a humbling first swim workout in the pool.

Many who start this way have wonderful intentions, but they have not provided themselves with a real, definable goal. Before training, select a race, register for it, and create a training plan that seeks to peak you for that performance.

Most experts claim that a person wishing to enter the sport of triathlon should do at least one major race per training cycle. Obviously you will place yourself in the best situation to succeed if you match your training to your ultimate competition. Considering this idea, you make your job near impossible if you approach your triathlon experience with no goal. Training just to see offers a million chances to make excuses; however, paying for a race and obligating yourself, telling people about it, is more apt to keep you going.

Once you have locked into a race, you should plan on competing in several other, normally slightly smaller, triathlons during the training cycle. While you can certainly work to excel in these lead-up races, the real goal is still the race at the close of your training cycle. But these events will give you invaluable experience, as running in and out of transitions and competing with others in close proximity cannot truly be replicated in a normal workout.

Also, participating in lead-up races will serve as a barometer upon which you can measure your progress. No other workout you design can match actual competition, so give yourself the chance to gauge your current level. Doing so will allow you to adjust your training to address weaknesses and to have an increased level of confidence when the real race day finally arrives.

Thus, make a concrete commitment that disallows you from creating excuses. Set a schedule to train for this day, and use smaller races to get you ready. In the end, you'll find yourself in incredible shape with a new found sense of confidence and purpose.

Sure you can take a short drive down to your local Outback restaurant to gaze at the mass produced Australian "artifacts" that adorn the walls, the ever-so-menacing warnings to beware of the crocodiles, and the fuzzy presence of a fake kangaroo. Once you sit, you can order the pure shrimp on the barbie, cleverly named kids' meals, which each end with "roo", and jazz all the dishes up with some serious spice. But, if you're into something a little more authentic with a running twist, consider packing away some cash and heading to the real Outback, deep in the heart of Australia, for the Outback Marathon in late July of 2010.

The day's events, which include a full marathon, a half marathon, an 11k and a 6k, take place primarily off-road on the famous red earth that is common across the central portion of the country. Carving your way through bushwhacked lands on unsealed roads and paths, you'll run past a lifetime's worth of scenery, none more spectacular than Ayers Rock and The Olgas.

With the 6k and the 11k open to all age divisions, this could be a nice family event to punctuate a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. The half marathon requires a minimum age of 15 whereas the full marathon calls for only those 18 and up. All participants, however, receive a commemorative medal at the conclusion of the race, and certificates are available for printing on-line.

Yes, you can run a marathon any place in the world, and most would be significantly closer to your home. But, how many times in your life will you ever be able to claim that you ran through something most only imagine, a place that most people only visit in books or on the internet?

Thus, a true athletic challenge awaits a half a world away, in a place offering memories for both young and old. Make a trip you will forever recall, and along the way interject a day of pure joy as you run through the Outback. For more information about the marathon, visit www.australianoutbackmarathon.com.