Try a triathlon

Take intimidation out of the equation by registering for this women-only, beginner-friendly triathlon (above). Brush up on your strokes in the very natatorium where the race will take place, or attend a weekend clinic to learn the basics of a smooth transition from pool to bike to foot. The lineup includes a 350-meter swim, a 12-mile bike ride and a 2-mile run. Whether you sign up with a relay team or as an individual, this July 27 triathlon is an ideal way to earn your racing stripes.
rocketchix.com

Step it up a notch for this Sept. 8 sprint race in Lafayette, which bills itself as a rite of passage for all endurance fiends. The course begins with a 1/2-mile open-water swim followed by a 20-mile bike race on flat terrain interspersed with gently rolling hills. The triathlon ends with a 3.1-mile run on the level grounds of the Lafayette Regional Airport. Five hundred athletes participate each year—and most hang out afterward for the post-race party.
lafayettefitness.org/cajunmantri/

Challenge yourself with this Sept. 29 race, one of the only Olympic-distance events in the region. Participants start the course with an open-water swim of 1,500 meters—or just shy of one mile—in False River. A 24.9-mile bike ride follows, looping through the flat landscape of Pointe Coupee Parish. The course concludes with a 10K run through the streets of New Roads. Whether you have five or 50 triathlons under your belt, this race is one to try.
beta.active.com/new-roads-la/?duathlon/races/big-cajun-triathlon-2013

This Half Ironman triathlon, scheduled for Nov. 9, also takes place in picturesque New Roads. Athletes swim a 1.2-mile open-water course in False River, utilizing boat ramps for smooth entry and exit. The 56-mile bike route begins downtown, eventually crossing the Mississippi River via the Audubon Bridge. The 13.1-mile run is on a flat course winding through a rural setting before finishing at a historic cotton mill, where friends and family gather to greet their athletes.
riverrouxtri.com