Newbie in Madison area

H-

I am new to tri, too. Started training a little last Fall. Got more serious this spring. Shooting for a sprint in September. I swim mostly at Gold's Gym in Fitchburg but do some open water swimming from my pontoon on Lake Mendota (with my wife trying not to run me down). I'd like to hear where folks go for decent beach swimming. Is there a 'marked' course anywhere? An acquaintance used to train in Lake Wingra I think, but I don't know nything about it.

Jeff

Hello, and WELCOME, newbies!
There are a few Madisonian BT members that hopefully can pipe in and add their input since I'm a little outside of MadTown, but do work in the downtown area.
Unless you swim with a buddy, I wouldn't venture into the water myself. Blue-green algae is horrific in the summer for lake swimming, but, people do swim in the lakes at times.
Governor Nelson's State Park has a roped area that you can swim from the dock out for a 100 yards or so, which is okay.
I have a membership at PAC (Prairie Athletic Club in Sun Prairie) which has a 25 yard lap pool.
Knowing that you are at UW Madison, you do have the SERF (next to the Kohl Center) to swim. It is a 50 meter pool but they seperate it for 25 meters during the winter (8 lanes split to make 16, and another 20 yard short pool). Well worth it, but you will need to get the calendar for open lap swimming schedules.

I'm pretty new to triathlon also. Capitol View this year was my second. I joined the Endurance House training program for short course triathlons (Spring and Olympic). There are lots of places around here to find running groups if you think that will help you get motivated. Endurance House (both locations) do weekly runs so does Movin' Shoes (Park St) and Berkeley (University).

Consistency is going to be key. Since CapView I haven't ran much and I'm really regretting it right now as I try to rebuild my endurance.

If you ever need anything most of these forums are very helpful.

Best of luck!
-J

I concur going to the SERF for free. Otherwise, since you'll likely be on the west side of campus frequently for nursing, the Natitorium has swimming as well. I swim at the Y, and work out there in the winters too. You really won't need to worry about swimming outside until it warms up again next year.

For outdoor swimming, I usually swim at Lake Wingra, just becuase it is two miles from my house. In the middle and ent of summer, it can get pretty weedy, but on the plus side it is a no-wake lake, you won't have to be worried about getting hit by a speedboat...only a high-speed paddleboard or kayak. I've swam in Waubesa in the spring and that is very nice...shallow and sandy on the west side of the lake, but there is boating and fishing traffic. Firemen's Park in Verona is also very popular because it is right on the Ironman bike course. It very small (approximately 200x500 yards), and during the summer, you can swim outside of the ropes when lifegaurds are present (12-7 I think).

Hope that gives you some options.

Have fun!
-Peter