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If trying a triathlon is one of your fitness goal for 2011 don't be intimidated by the swim. I know many experienced runners and cyclist who harbor deep fears of the swimming. While getting your heart rate up in the water is completely different than sweating it out on land, running/biking and swimming complement each other nicely. Running and biking work the legs, swimming works the upper body, and all three build your cardio endurance. If you're ready to make friends with the pool, I have found a great beginner program to get you swimming a mile in six weeks.

Ruth Kazez's endurance building program, Zero – 1650: A Mile in Six Weeks, is to swimming what the Couch to 5K program is to running — I love fitness workout analogies.

Swimming, like running, takes some time to build up the endurance needed for lengthy workouts. With running the first benchmark is the 5k, and with swimming it's a mile, which I learned from Kazes is 1650 yards (1500 meters), not 1760 yards. Curious to see what the first workout looks like? Then read more

I have come to love running but must admit it took me a long time to really warm up to the sport. It's truly the most convenient workout — lace up your sneakers and go — and running burns serious calories. I think these two reasons must be why so many FitSugar readers have listed running as one of their goals in our Get Fit For 2011 community challenge and giveaway. Training programs, like the Galloway method, that mix running with walking will help all you potential runners achieve success with less chance of injury.

Running coach Jeff Galloway's philosophy is to run injury free, no matter the distance, by alternating running with walking. His training plans are low mileage, consist of running three days a week, and he strongly encourages cross training — cycling, elliptical, water running, basically anything that doesn't pound your joints. The plans start with larger portions of walking than running, and Galloway urges runners to take it slow. You can check out his training plans for all distances here. If your get fit goal for 2011 is to start running, find a 5K race near you that is four months away, then follow Galloway's 5K plan.

Be sure to take advantage of our Get Fit For 2011 group as you work on meeting your fitness goals for the New Year. Have you blogged about your resolutions for 2011 yet? Doing so in our Get Fit group will enter you in our weekly giveaway for a $100 Nike gift card.

I am a firm believer that Pilates makes for great cross training and that it makes everything better — from running to yoga, from cycling to sex. Nothing like a little lumbar spine mobility coupled with strengthening your pelvic floor to ramp up your sex life (and more than a few of you have resolved to "have more sex" in the new year, so why not make it better too?).

Now that I have captured your attention, let me tell you that a mat class is the simplest and cheapest way to learn Pilates. You have the benefit of a live instructor, unlike a DVD, and it is considerably less expensive than a private session. If you have never taken Pilates, here are a few things to help you through your first mat class.

• Arrive to class a little early and introduce yourself to the teacher. Let the instructor know if you have any injuries or concerns. Then grab a mat, stake out a spot where you will be able to see the teacher, and get ready to have some fun.
• Wear clothes that are tight enough that the instructor can see your body, but that you can still move in. Leggings and a fitted cotton tank are a great options. Also, classes are sans shoes, but you can wear socks if having bare feet freaks you out.
• The classes are generally 55 minutes to an hour, and you don't need to bring a mat. The studio or gym will provide those. Pilates mats are generally thicker than yoga mats since some Pilates moves involve rolling on your spine.

For a few more tips, just read more

Winter can be brutal for sun-loving people who love to exercise outdoors. When the snow falls and the temperature drops, sunshiny forms of exercise may be tough, if not impossible. That doesn't mean you can't burn it up outside though — you just have to learn to love a Winter sport. One of my favorites is snowshoeing because it's fairly inexpensive, as easy as walking, as challenging as running, and it's a way to appreciate the beauty of Old Man Winter. In an hour of stomping around in the snow, you'll burn 433 calories. Here's how to get started.

• Rent a pair of snowshoes from a nearby gear shop, which will probably cost less than $20 a day. Bring along the Winter boots you plan on wearing, so you can get a proper fit. You may want to rent poles as well to help you navigate up and down steep terrain.
• When you head out, dress in layers. Wear wicking baselayers close to your skin, waterproof snowpants, a fleece midweight layer on top, and a waterproof softshell over that. Mittens, warm socks, and a hat are a must. Don't wear too much because snowshoeing is tough work and you don't want to overheat.
• If you have woods in your area or a hike you're used to doing in the Summer, you can snowshoe there. If you don't know where to go, ask around for good spots. You may want to go to a resort that offers cross-country trails, which are perfect for beginner snowshoers.

For the rest of the tips keep reading

Many of you listed starting running as a goal for 2010. A noble goal for sure, but having a little outside structure helps.

After lacing your sneakers, check out the Couch to 5K running schedule over at Cool Running. Having a schedule not only makes you accountable, but it might save you from overdoing it and giving up your goal due to post-workout pain.

The Couch to 5K plan eases you into running three miles by combining intervals of running with walking. Over the course of eight weeks, you condition your cardiovascular system and your legs while slowly increasing your running time, eventually running for 30 minutes straight, which is about the time it takes to run a 5K. It is a great way to start running, and the schedule has you running only three times a week, making it easy to fit into a busy life. The workouts are listed by both distance and time, so you can use it on a treadmill by adjusting the speed up and down.

Check it out and try the program. Chances are you will get hooked on running. My only caution is 5Ks are considered a "gateway" race to marathons and triathlons.