"This is so normal, how you feel is totally normal," Bri reassures me. "The Ironman grumpies are so prevalent–I have some athletes whose spouses only allow them to train for Ironman every third year." Normal? Seriously? I am a working, married mother who habitually volunteers too much and has already ponied up the equivalent of a mortgage payment for the privilege of putting in crazy miles in the pool, on the bike, and on the run so I'll be able to swim 2.4 miles, cycle 112, and then run 26.2 o

Watching the warm-ups of a soccer game on a Saturday afternoon last spring, I was decidedly uncomfortable. And not just because my jeans were sticking to my legs on that unexpectedly warm April day. After a minute of sizing up the two teams, I could tell my son's team -- let's call them the Stars -- was doomed. The team, filled with 8-year-old boys who were either fairly new to the sport or hadn't developed far enough in their brief careers to be picked for a more advanced team.

As fans flooded the Canyon of Heroes for its Women's World Cup victory parade, the U.S. women's national soccer team showed everyone why women's sports matter.

WHY: You get fresh air, endless route options, and scenery more interesting than whatever a treadmill is facing. HOW: Look for walking routes with sidewalks, if possible — even better if they're protected from traffic, like in parks or greenways. WATCH OUT: The weather can make you miserable if you're not dressed right. Start with a synthetic base and pile insulating layers on top. WARM-UP: Walk for 10 minutes or so at a moderate pace; plan your route so it takes you to the bottom of a hill.

Good question. Despite being a mediocre, unnatural runner, I've clomped through two marathons, plenty of half-marathons, and a variety pack of triathlons. For most races, I'm content with following a basic plan with no adjectives (fast, easy, tempo); no strides, repeats, recovery; no track, no hills. I train with just one goal in mind: to make it to the finish line. This, it should be noted, is an absolutely fine way to train. The risk of injury is fairly low, and motivation is conversely high.

But a physically present and not exhausted spouse doesn't necessarily mean a parent superattentive to the needs of the house and the family. After a long run, I want more sympathy (the floor swept, my back rubbed) and I imagine he wants the same after a big ride—or at least an hour to clean his bike in peace. Instead, my mom-switch gets flipped on as soon as I step inside the house, and I am often emptying the dishwasher and coloring pictures of butterflies before I shower or even eat. As imperfect as the system is, I console myself by thinking we're setting a good example for our kids, through both our sweat sessions and playing fair.

Set two primary goals. If you've never run a race before, set your sights on your first 5-K. Veterans can take it up a notch—within reason. "Maybe it's a faster 5-K in the spring and your first marathon in the fall," says Carl Leivers, an Atlanta-based running coach. "Having two goals lets you train hard, have a little downtime, then focus again. It's a nice mental balance."

Trainers don't need to meet any federal or state requirements. Even the woman who waxes your upper lip may have had more training--and she is certainly subject to more legal oversight--than the one who pushes your cardiovascular, muscular, and nervous systems; jacks up your heart rate and blood pressure; and strains your joints and ligaments.

What to do when your doctor disappoints: Expert advice on seven real-life situations.

Chi Running is inspired by Tai Chi, the Chinese martial art that purports to generate the life energy (chi) flowing throughout your body. Practitioners of Tai Chi aim to train their bodies to stay centered and calm, which leads to efficient yet powerful movement. Similarly, Chi Runners are taught to focus: Engage your core, maintain a forward-leaning posture, relax your limbs, and take plentiful, light steps, landing midfoot.

I reached the gas station far behind the “A” group, which included mostly men with shaved legs, $5,000 bikes and multiple Ironman finishes. Still, I felt more or less O.K. That changed on the supposedly easier downhill ride. Unaccustomed to being on a bike for an hour, let alone four, I winced every time I rolled over a crack. With aching wrists, back and bottom, I crept into base camp, a Holiday Inn. Jacobson, playing greeter, asked me how it went. “Fine,” I whispered. “Are you going to run?” he asked. The runs, he had told us at orientation, were optional. I could just head for the minibar.

When I started training for my first IRONMAN, I knew I’d be tired. I knew I’d constantly be hungry. I knew it would take two alarms to force myself out of bed most mornings. What I didn’t realize is how much time I’d be spending by myself. I’ve got a handful of women in my neighborhood, some of them already "Ironmoms," who offered to train with me, but various injuries, conflicting schedules and differing paces meant I was solo 98 percent of the time.

"All right, Mom," he says, and sprints off on his spindly legs. For about five steps. Then he's back to his geriatric-like walk. "I just can't," he says, voice full of drama. "I'm soooo tired." "Come on, let's just get up to that corner," she says, pointing to a spot about 100 feet ahead. "Oh, that one?" he asks. "No problem." And he flies off again. Sanders smiles and falls in behind Spider; Jada, her 8-year-old niece; and her husband, Erik Schlopy, who is holding Skye's hand to coax her along.

What's more, a solid core will help eliminate unnecessary upper-body movement, so that all the energy you produce is delivered into a smooth pedal stroke. Sadly, cycling's tripod position, in which the saddle, pedals, and handlebar support your weight, relies on core strength but doesn't build it. To develop your high-performance chassis, try this intense routine, designed by Street. It takes only about 10 minutes to complete and focuses on the transverse abdominus, the innermost abdominal muscle.

Is a little voice inside your head insisting that your obstacles to exercising are stronger than you are? Psych it out with a few ingenious strategies that overcome just about every excuse.