Hello from Minneapolis

Hello everyone,

My name is Alex, I am from Minneapolis, Minnesota and am interested (seriously) in getting involved with doing triathlons.  I have done many sports in the past, with the most recent being mid-distance / sprinting in track and field.  I am now in my sophmore year of college at the University of Minnesota and am looking for something that I can do to achieve even better physical condition and create a lifestyle for myself doing something that I can continue for many years to come. (Track and field eventually does have an end).  I am excited to engage in the competition and brutal workouts to become the best I can be.  I am a very dedicated person and have always done very well in sports.  Running and Biking will not be my main worry at the begining, I really need help figuring out how to do the swimming part of the triathlon.  Even though, of course, I am always looking for help and ways to improve in both the cycling and running portions too.

Any tips for how to learn to swim 1/4 mile on up?  I have never really been taught how to swim, just kind of picked it up on my own.  I can swim decent just not sure I can go that far.

Thanks, and I hope to be visiting here a lot!