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"Triathloning is where marathoning was in the '80s," says Pete Mueller, strength and endurance coach and owner of Body Mechanics Training Studio. And this healthy bandwagon is driving around town not only to shape up the sluggish but also to help others live.

Mueller has competed in more than 10 marathons, and he'll test the waters -- and bike and running trails -- this July in the TDS Pewaukee Triathlon. But for this personal trainer of 16 years, it's not about the competition; rather he's racing to raise money for breast cancer research.

Transition Cycle, Quizno's Subs and Body Mechanics join forces for the Medical College Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Challenge; they hope to raise $250,000. The idea came to Jon Rehorst, owner of three Quizno's Subs, last December as sort of a tribute to his father, mother and sister; he lost them all to cancer.

To get more people moving and more bills in the research bank, Rehorst bets that Mueller of Body Mechanics, John Huenink of Transition Cycle and Quizno's 42-item menu can shape him up to finish the race within 1 hour and 59 minutes. If he doesn't, Rehorst promises to match pledges up to $10,000 for cancer research.

Mueller has Rehorst on a "reasonably aggressive regimen," says Mueller. He started at 262 pounds, and the goal is to get him down to 190 before the race.

Rehorst says he's down 40 or maybe even 45 pounds already.

Right now a typical training week for Rehorst includes swimming, biking, running and strength training, all twice a week, Mueller says. "He's putting in anywhere from seven to 12 hours a week," he adds. "Most people need five to seven hours minimum, depending on how gifted they are or the base they already have."

But exercise is only one dimension of reshaping Rehorst.

"Pete tells me to eat anything I want but to stay away from sugar and basically eat until I'm full enough," Rehorst says. "About one-third of it (the Quizno's menu) is very, very healthy." And it needs to be since he's promised to eat from the menu twice a day.

"I'm trying to stay away from a Jared (Subway diet) type thing," says Rehorst. "All he did was have a dietician standing over his head telling him to lay off the mayonnaise," he says laughing.

The guys are having a great time working together and getting Rehorst tuned up for the big day, and Mueller and Rehorst say it's even more motivating because they know the end result will be remarkable.

"There's been a lot of interest in just signing up," says Rehorst. "Is there any money in the bank? No, but there are some very prominent people with forms, and I'm not worried about getting the money."

Muller says 100 percent of proceeds go to research in Southeastern Wisconsin. "And people don't need to do the race in order to support the cause," he says. But if the triathlon is a challenge you're looking for and you need to shed some fat and build up some muscle and endurance, Rehorst says, "Pete Mueller is probably the best-kept secret in all of Wisconsin."

The TDS Pewaukee Triathlon is Sunday, July 17 at 7:10 a.m. in downtown Pewaukee. It's a one-quarter-mile swim, 15.7-mile bike and a 5k-run race. To learn more about supporting the Medical College Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon Challenge, go to bmechanics.com/personal_training.

Fitness tip from Pilates and yoga instructor and personal trainer Andrea Dow of Core Concepts and Body Mechanics:

Those exercising intensely for more than 60-90 minutes per day need proper fuel for fitness success. About three hours before competition or training, eat a meal or snack with high carbohydrate, little protein and very low fat composition and drink 16 ounces of water. If exercising early in the morning, it is very important to eat something first. Drink eight ounces of water an hour before exercise and four-six ounces 15 minutes prior to start.

Note: Eating a high fat meal or snack has shown to speed up onset of exhaustion during workouts. Drinking sports drinks before workouts is not recommended. This combination can be achieved with one cup yogurt and an apple, two slices of whole wheat toast and peanut butter, string cheese and Triscuits, one-half cup cottage cheese and fresh veggies, one-fourth cup nuts and one banana, one-half cup oatmeal and one-fourth cup raisins, three ounces of grilled chicken breast or fish and one-half cup whole grain rice, one cup of cereal and skim or soy milk.

Please contact Andrea Dow with any fitness questions at coreconcepts-pilates.com or (262) 853-4882.