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Taylor Ahrens remembers the start of her first triathlon vividly, like the music echoing across the beach that morning in Panama City, Fla.

“It’s a Beautiful Day” played in the nerve-wracking moments before a few hundred fit fanatics plunged into the water to start their grueling race.

“The energy of all the competitors and the positive forces at the start of the race were electric,” Ahrens recalls. Ahead of her that day were 2.4 miles of swimming, 112 miles of bicycling and a 26.2-mile marathon.

To complete any one of these events is a worthy physical accomplishment. To do all three back-to-back-to-back, known by those who’ve felt the pain as the 140.6, is a grueling test of perseverance for even the most highly trained and dedicated competitor.

Louisiana may be known as a place of calorie-rich foods and having a good time, but Baton Rouge is proving itself as a fertile training ground for top-notch triathletes.

In 2005, 21 members of the Baton Rouge Triathlon Society traveled to Tempe to compete in the inaugural edition of the Ironman Arizona.

Susan Hayden, a three-time Ironman finisher, credits the club’s culture of support as a reason for such high participation in the race. “It really helps to have someone to train with when you’re doing a seven-hour bicycle ride.”

So just what does it take to train for an Ironman?

For starters, somewhere between four months and a year of preparation, depending on fitness level. During that span, the athletes spend a majority of their time working out.

Chuck Grose, Baton Rouge Triathlon Society president, sums up his technique simply: “You work, you sleep, you train.”

Some athletes use coaches or coaching services to prepare for their race, while others just make sure they can comfortably complete each distance.

An average week of workouts consists of two to three swims, three to five bicycle rides and three to five runs. Practicing two disciplines back-to-back in what athletes call a “brick” is the best way to train your body to handle the transitions your muscles must make on race day.

Physical preparation isn’t the only commitment an aspiring Ironman competitor must make. The resources required to put on three separate world-class events all in the same day are sizeable. With entry fees ranging from $450 to $500, this definitely isn’t your daddy’s one-mile fun run. Even at this premium price, slots for each event fill up quickly, within days or even hours of opening registration, which occur a full year in advance. Next year’s Ironman Florida filled up in only three hours, which means it’s not too early to start training for 2007.