So for my 1000th post, I wanted to contribute something to the board that I hope others can
read and benefit from. I thought about what I could contribute, and with another triathlon coming up for me, I figured a little crash course in deciding to train for a triathlon might fit the bill.
So if you've made the decision to give it a shot, but don't know where to start, hopefully
this will help a bit. First things first, you need to have a goal in mind for your training -
a triathlon you are going to race. There are many helpful websites, the most helpful being
www.trifind.com - a listing of all upcoming tris by state. Another helpful source of info
is your local bike shop (LBS). Often times, the employees will know of upcoming races, and
could point you in the right direction. Make friends with the folks at your LBS, they are
brilliant people (usually) and can be insanely helpful. A common theme that is popping up (and will surely happen more this year) is "Enticer Tris" - shorter distance races for beginners to get a feel for it, see if triathlon is for them.
Once you have a triathlon in mind, you need to take a survey of what gear you're going to
need. The necessities are goggles, a bike, and a good pair of running shoes. My personal
opinion is that you should invest in some good shoes, because with the increased amount of
running you'll be doing, shoes will save you some knee and ankle pain. Any bike will do, but if you have a few grand lying around, you can go out and invest in a real good road bike - but by no means is this necessary. I found my first road bike for about $500. I think a lot of people feel like since they don't have a bike, they can't race - and that is wrong! If you have a mountain bike, or any bike, you can race with it.
If you are a gear freak, and have the money to spend, you can get all kinds of triathlon gear, such as tri shorts, jerseys, socks, shoes (both bike and running), race belts, hats, wetsuits, etc, etc. Most of it is not necessary for your first race or if you are just giving it a try, but can become helpful once you decide to do more (which you will
). But if you have a pair of running shoes, a bike, and some swim goggles (which can be picked up at your local sporting goods store for @ $10), you're ready to train.
There are so many training programs out there, it's sick. I picked up a book and began to read it (Joe Friel's Triathlon Training Bible) just to get an idea of the terminology and what I was getting myself into. It was helpful for me, and I would suggest just getting out there and reading about what to expect. If you work well with trainers, and prefer to spend some moola in exchange for having everything prepared, there are many online coaches who can get you a program, the key is to find a coach that will work with you to tailor your program to your needs. You might pay a bit more, but in the end, it will be worth it to find someone to work with you. I worked on my own for my first season, and decided I wanted to have a coach to work with this year. For an online coach, you can pay anywhere from $30 month to $500 month, it all depends. A few good online coaches are:
</font>
However, from what I've seen on this board, most folks are really good at finding a pre-made program that will work for them. For my first tri season, Fish suggested the site Beginner Triathlete (
www.beginnertriathlete.com) which was an incredible resource. It's a forum similar to this, and I found that I learn well from reading from other's experiences. It's also a great site for finding local triathletes should you decide you need a training partner, either virtual or live. They also have a free training log online that I found to be very helpful. There are articles galour, as well as other folks to bounce ideas/questions off of. Either way, pop over there and give it aread. BT also has some very good pre-made training plans for free or at a pretty cheap price. It's worth a look.
Most folks have problems with the swim or are afraid of it. If that's you, there are a few options. First, hire a swim coach. Obviously, this is the most expensive option, but can prove to be the most beneficial for someone who has never swam before. Another option is to find your local Masters Swim Club, and join. It's usually about $5/session to swim with them, and they will meet anywhere from 2 - 5 times per week. The benefit here is you are surrounded by other swimmers, and the coach has a workout already prepared for you. And sometimes, if you pay the session fee, you don't have to pay the pool entry fee that some pools have. Swim clubs work for people who have swimming experience, but not the foggiest idea of how to train in the pool, or just for someone who likes to workout with others. The final option is to just get on the great internet and find some workouts. Either way, don't be afraid to get in the pool and give it a go. There are a lot of posts on this very site about swim workouts.
Some people will tell you to join a triathlon team, which is definitely another option. A tri team is basically a group of athletes that will train together, etc. Typically, you'll pay a fee, and in exchange, they will provide you with various resources, anywhere from team gear (jerseys, wetsuits, shorts, etc.) to travel and accom at your tris. Another good option is Team in Training (
www.teamintraining.org). This is a national organization which raises money for Leukemia & Lymphoma. I believe you pay a small fee, and then they provide you with a training program, transport to and accomadation at your triathlon, wetsuit, jersey, basically anything you'd need. In exchange, you promise to obtain about $1500 in donations prior to your race. It's really a great organization, and if you think training with others would be a better option for you, then take the time to check these guys out. You can find a local tri team and ask them some questions as well if that is the avenue you choose to take.
Finally, in the few weeks prior to your race, read
Fish's Survival Post a few times, as this is a great post detailing everything you need to know race week.
Triathlon is a lot to take in, and there are a million things to remember, and try, etc. In the end, like anything else, you need to find out what works for you, and what will make you enjoy the training. It's a far different type of fitness than lifting, but it can be just as rewarding. There is nothing better than a beer and some snacks after crossing the finish line, since you know you've earned them. I hope I haven't added to much to the confusion. There are a lot of us here that have done triathlons (Fish, ODB, Ninja, ODBSGirl) and our always hospitable bike guru Kaiser who are available to ask questions of as well. Just get out there and have fun with it.
E
Linear Mode
