We host a number of events aimed at educating the prospective, new and beginner triathlete. The clinics we hold are especially helpful as they give a chance to rub shoulders with more experienced athletes and of course see how they do things and ask lots of questions.
Indeed triathlon can be a complex sport, which is part of the appeal. How much to train? What bike to buy? Where to race? These are a few of the thousands of questions each of us as triathletes has asked as we've grown with the sport and become better athletes and in a lot of cases better people. Since you are reading this, let's assume you are new to triathlon and are looking for more information to get you going.
Which races are good for beginners?
The shortest distance races are called sprint triathlons and they are roughly a 1/2 mile swim, 15 mile bike and a 3 mile run. Since they are the shortest, most sprint distance triathlons go out of their way to cater to first-time racers.
How much and what kind of training do I need?
The proverbial question ... listen to me now and beleive me! Every answer to this question (no matter who answers it) begins with "it depends". And it does, on your current conditioning in the each of the three disciplines, on how competitive you are, and on how much time you have to train. A good place to look for this kind of information is Triathlete magazine and Inside Triathlon magazine. Each of these usually list generic training programs that are great starting points. Another good place to look is the Triathlon section of active.com.
There are also a number of excellent books on the subject:
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The Triathlete's Training Bible by Joe Friel
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Training Plans for Multisport Athletes by Gale Bernhardt
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Triathlete Magazine's Complete Triathlon Book by Matt Fitzgerald
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What gear do I need to complete a triathlon?
To do a race requires at least the following:
- Goggles
- Bike
- Helmet
- Running Shoes
That said, most people also use a wetsuit since it provides warmth in cool
water and extra buoyancy. A lot of people rent or borrow a wetsuit the first time as they
can be expensive. As far as the bike goes, much is written about triathlon bikes, but anything
will do to get started, even a mountain bike. Ultimately, it's more about the engine (you!)
than the equipment.
Click here for a thorough race day checklist
Where can I find more information?
Tri Newbies
Beginner Triathletes
Check our Links page for more sites.
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Copyright © 2003-2008 Mid Maryland Triathlon Club, Inc. PO Box 1194 Columbia, MD 21044
