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.
MMTC Intro to Triathlon Clinics. This is truly the best place to start for an introduction to triathlon as we assemble a team of experienced athletes to first put on a bit of a triathlon show and tell and more importantly save a lot of time for Q&A. Check our club calendar for these bi-monthly events held at different locations around the area.
What area 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 newbies. A couple good early season sprint triathlons are:
Bethesda CAN Triathlon - April. This event features a pool swim instead of open water.
New Jersey Devilman Sprint Triathlon - May. First year in 2005 so no detials but the race director does an excellent job.
Triple L Triathlon - August. Gunpowder. Catering to newbies, and a fun Mid-pack competition.
Dewey Beach Triathlon - September. Enjoy the beach and a race!
Osprey Triathlon - October 2, 2004. One of the last local races of the season - you still have time to train! Free beer afterward, too.
How much and what kind of training do I need?
The proverbial question....listen to me now and beleive me now! 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. Look through the articles found there and also at Active Radio. In the magazines are a lot of ads for coaching, books and videos that are helpful.
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 the first time as they can be expensive. As far as the bike goes, much is written about triathlon bikes but to start anything will do, even a mountain bike. Ultimately, it's more about the engine (you!) than the equipment.
Click here for a thorough race day checklist.
More New to Triathlon Information
Golden Gate Triathlon Club
Sample Training Program
Tri Newbies
Beginner Triathletes
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