To join or not to join

Thanks for asking the questions. I've been wondering about joining too, but I'm slow and feel so uncoordinated (well, I am, actually).

I've enjoyed training with a buddy, but she got so good so fast, I was slowing her down. We stay in touch but don't train together. I love the company, and having someone ot ask questions and moan and groan with, but it's intimidating. Actually, more so than the idea of the first tri! I think this is fallout of what others on the board have mentioned--being chosen last for a team in grade school! Oh--to finally be mature!

I look forward to the responses.

My experience has been very positive. Our group is small but the more seasoned members are very generous with their time and experience. There are club races, dinner meetings, and a party or two during the year. Hope you find the same sort of group in your area.

I was thinking the same thing. I emailed our local club and I think they say they swim 1 - 1.5 miles in the ocean per week. It sort of intimidated me because I was 1)not sure I can make that distance and 2)if I couldn't, they might be hundreds of yards ahead of me by the time they figured out I was not at their pace and was having problems. Uh...I'm just not sure either

I can't speak for everyone out there but I love helping newer triathletes. I love helping people in general. I talk to at least 3-4 new people looking to enter my industry on a monthly basis and give them career advice. I have similar "advice" conversations with newer triathletes as well.

Remember, just because people may be faster than you or have been in the sport longer than you have doesn't mean they don't want to talk to you or have anything to do with you. The complete opposite could be true and you could benefit greatly from it.

My tri club has over 1000 members and they devote a lot of time including rookies in the club. If there aren't any newbies, this sport will die and we can't have that! Check out your club and see if they have beginner workouts and any classes offered. Before our regular meeting we have a beginners meeting at the same time as the IM meeting, where rookies can ask questions and meet others that are in the same boat. We have beginner club races for beginners but experienced athletes are asked to volunteer, mentor and race. We also have transitons clinics and surf entry classes geared at the beginner triathlete. IMHO I think tri clubs are the best thing for the sport, and it is worth looking into
Tom

Join join join!

I'm a rookie but here's the story....

Last year I did a couple of mini tris and this year entered mini tris for the season (currently racing now). I'd been training with a group of friends but I had 6 months off training for travel and study and they just kept getting better while I lost form.
I am really keen to step up to the sprint and later olympic distances and felt that the training I was doing by myself just wasn't cutting it. I was improving but I want to be pushed more and I know I won't push myself as much as I need.

I have since joined a tri club - well, will be a paying member by Feb - I'm currently in 'try out phase' the head coach wants me to get to as many sessions as possible to make sure that they fit into my lifestyle and that I actually enjoy the training that's done. I love love love it so far!

The second swim session I went to I swam over 2 kms (I'd been swimming a max of 1.6km) and there was only one other 'beginner' in the group the rest were all training for Olympic or half IM distances. Talk about intimidating. But they were completely supportive, explained their swimming etiquette helping me fit in and I figure they started as a beginner at some stage right???

My greatest initial fear was that I would be the slowest. This is true of me so far in the running sessions. The head coach is well aware of this and I'm encouraged to go my own pace and build a base and do the best I can. Someone will always be the slowest - it's extra motivation for me to improve and it won't be long before another beginner comes along and takes my place - hopefully!! The thing is there are people training at so many different levels and really only focussed on what they're doing rather than how slow the newbie's going!

So far it's been a very positive experience.

Now when I race theres a massive cheer for me from the club. I love a good cheer at race time it really picks you up!

Every single one of us started out as a rookie.  I'd bet that practically everyone you meet in a tri club will not care one bit about whether you finish first, middle, or dead last as long as they see you out there trying.  I think you'll find more support and have a great sounding board and support network at your local tri club and that you should join.

Go for it!  Get involved in the club too!  My experience also has been very positive. 

How do you go about finding a tri club?

I just did a Google search entering Triathlon and Columbia Maryland.

You can find registered triathlon clubs at http://www.usatriathlon.org/Clubs_Regions/clubs_find.htm

My club experiance has been positiveas well. we do some of our running on the track, and swimming in the pool too, so pace isnt a problem for anyone. 8-) When we do run on a open course or bike togather people seed themselvs by pace and usually everyone has 2 or 3 people torun or bike with. You will get a lot of instruction on transitioning and strategy. I would say go for it. I dont make it to the club workouts as often as I would like but I really enjoy the ones I make it to.

Hey!  If you are lucky enough to have a triathlon club in your area ... JOIN IT!!!!!  I can pretty much guarantee you that nobody will laugh at you or belittle you in any way.  Think of it ..... veryone of the members in any club was a newbie at one time or other.

Marcy,

Join! The time you will save by having other members to talk to is enormous. Our team in Greensboro has people of all levels and we utilize that by letting the more experienced people act as coach's and sounding boards for new people. Had I joined the team earlier I would have had a much better first year than I did. The training would have been more focused and knowing to register early would have let me race during the second half of the summer! Your LBS may help in pointing you to a team as that was the case for me.

Fred

In columbia MD you can check out this club - good group.

http://www.midmdtriclub.org/

I did a few workouts with this group in 2003 and felt absolutely no discomfort with the fact that I was a newbie. It is most definitely NOT a group of egos or snobs. In the 2004 season I planned to join but my schedule didn't work out to allow me to join their group workouts, so I didn't get involved last year. Maybe this season.



Edited by econway 2005-01-17 4:57 PM