Curious about Ironman? Think you might actually like to tackle one some day? There?s no better way to learn about this all-out-endurance-fest than by volunteering.

Volunteer opportunities abound at Ironman Arizona. Whether you?re interested in handing out chicken soup to tired runners or stripping wetsuits off exhaulted swimmers, there is a spot for you at the 2nd annual event.

To learn more or register to volunteer, go to www.ironmanarizona.com or call 480.894.8158, ext. 111. Ironman Arizona is one of just five Ironman North America events in the U.S. and Canada. The race is Sunday, April 9.

What to wear? It is one of the most common questions asked here at Triple Sports, and for good reason. Deciding what to wear on race day is no simple task ? and the right answer often depends on the race distance and conditions.

Triathlon is all about speed and efficiency. No matter your skill level, we all strive to be as fast as we can, and this includes our time transitioning from swimming to biking and from biking to running. For that reason, it is best to start and finish your race in the same clothes. Race apparel takes you seamlessly from sport to sport and saves you precious time in transition.

Triathlon apparel also is designed to support your muscles and improve performance. The technical fabrics these clothes are made of will wick moisture from your skin and provide added support to tired muscles.

One of the best investments triathletes can make is in tri shorts. These shorts are designed to take you through an entire race ? from your first stroke to your last stride. They have minimal padding to add some cushion to your ride without weighing you down during the swim and run.

A tri top is simple ? it is fitted to your body to reduce chafing and drag, and it has pockets to hold mid- race goodies like energy gels or bars. You may also opt for a tri suit, which combines everything you need for race day in one aerodynamic piece.

Here?s how the race you do can affect what you wear: Sprint racers need not worry much about the padding a tri short provides. They may opt instead to do the race in a swim suit. This is particularly smart if the race is a pool swim.

Olympic distance and Half Ironman athletes will want the comfort and convenience of a tri outfit ? whether two-piece or one.

Once you hit the Ironman distance, all bets are off. Some Ironman athletes chose to race in a tri suit (one or two piece), but some opt for the added padding of a bike short on the 112 mile ride. While it is theoretically possible to do an entire race in bike shorts, most of us don?t like the idea of running with all that padding on our behind. For those who want to ride in a bike short, then, they will often consider changing into run shorts for the marathon.

Whatever you decide to wear on race day, remember the enduring rule that comfort equals power. Make your body happy ? it always returns the favor.

Kim Portelli is a lifelong athlete with a true love for what others might consider the daily grind of training. On any given day, you can find Kim ? always with a smile ? running the Scottsdale greenbelt, cycling the hills of Paradise Valley or swimming hard at El Dorado masters.

But Kim, 37, isn?t just pushing her muscles to work harder ? she?s pushing the very notion of what it means to be diabetic and a serious athlete.

?Everything was going along fine in the 8th grade as a chubby, softball player until I started to lose weight for no apparent reason,? says Kim, who lives in Scottsdale with husband and fellow runner, Jerry. ?I thought it must be a miracle. But no. The summer before I began high school, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.?

It was then that Kim developed a true passion for running and triathlon.

?Throughout high school and college the one thing that always remained constant - I ran,? says Kim. ?Not always a lot, in terms of mileage, but enough to stay healthy. I firmly believe that exercise has kept me healthy and away from the complications of diabetes.?

But that doesn?t mean it?s easy. While other athletes stress about how many calories to take in to keep their muscles moving, Kim must also think about her body?s insulin level.

?Jokingly, I tell people that I am a human science experiment,? says Kim. ?What I mean when I say that is every single day I am constantly making decisions regarding how much insulin to take to ?cover? or counteract how many carbohydrates I eat.

?That may sound simple, but throw exercise into that mix? lots and lots of exercise, in my case. Too little insulin and my blood sugar becomes too high. Too much insulin and my blood sugar becomes too low (which means I bonk). It is such fine balancing act that it sometimes feels like I am on a tightrope made of thread.?

Exercise is a way for Kim to clear her mind, but she can?t be unprepared. On every run or bike ride, Kim brings a glucose meter and insulin. She also takes cash and ID in case her blood suger drops and she needs food fast.

?Another way that my diabetes has an impact on my training and racing is that I have to stop and check my blood sugar during activities,? Kim says. ?Depending on my blood sugar level, I then make a decision as to whether I eat something or perhaps take some insulin. This only takes a minute or so and I am on my way again.?

Kim is training for Barb?s Race, a women?s only Half Ironman in Sonoma this August. She will also do the Valley of the Sun Half Marathon this weekend, the Tour de Cure metric century ride on March 25th, the Tribute to the Armed Forces International Distance Triathlon on April 30th and the Tempe International Triathlon on May 20th. It?s a busy racing season, but Kim is undaunted.

?I strongly believe that running and doing triathlons has kept me healthy and out of ?diabetic? trouble,? says Kim. ?It is such a positive thing in my life to participate in endurance events. I absolutely love the lifestyle.?