Triathlon is a three pronged whoop whoop! In this order, you open water swim...change your outfit...bike....change your outfit....and then run. You switch activities up in a transition area. The time of each segment and the transition between each leg of the event counts in your overall time. The transition area is a roped off competitors only area where you set up your gear for the bike and run. There are 4 different lengths of triathlon, Sprint, Olympic, Half-Iron Man, and Iron Man. Over the next few weeks, I will divulge more info on all four. There are some other takes on multi sport out there as well!
There are prizes! Typically finishers get a finishers prize and a t-shirt. And after the event, there is a temporary mini-city of goodness! Tents containing post-race snacks, vendors with interesting gear, maybe even a free massage (sign up for this!), and sometimes a raffle for good stuff based on your entry number. Awards typically go to the top three overall winners divided by gender and also top three in each age group divided by gender.
I just completed my 9th sprint triathlon Sunday! Woohoo! There where two events, an Olympic (1700 meter swim, 28 mile bike, and a 6.2 mile swim) held concurrently. I have to say I am not a super competitor at this time. My goal is to decrease times and speed up as the summer moves along, I would love to scoot into the top half of the pack. I did have one shiny moment! It was also one of my best swims ever. It was a great race, pulled together by a seasoned iron man triathlete who is all about creating community.
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| Ahhh, the finish! |
Also you get to have your number and age grease penned on your body! For whatever reason it fills me with glee!
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| Glee face! It was raining and I tried to quickly show my Tri-nest behind me! Better pics next weekend. |
Talking to the race director, Patrick Bolan, I was inspired. Patrick is a seasoned athlete, an ironman, as mentioned above. He owns his own small business and has a family. He is passionate about the Clackamas Cove site and it's potential as a venue and so filled with love for his home, he SAVED up to throw this party. For a first time race, I was impressed. This has been part of everyday life for Patrick and his family since NOVEMBER! Hopefully, this triathlon will be a yearly event.
This race was organized, the volunteers where effective and the course was beautiful, well marked and easy to follow. I look forward to maybe leading a GO Training Team next year! Here's a link to how the Clackamas Cove Triathlon came to be, and info about the site.
http://www.clackamascovetriathlon.com
This particular race was a 900 meter swim, a 12 mile bike, and a 3.1 mile run with a solid stair climb in the middle (not typical but a love to hate it "bonus"). The swim started in a cove then scooted out into a river, so my great swim time was aided by Mr. River and his friend, Le Current. I'm taking it! The added feature of swimming in the river was a kick in the chattering teeth, but also a confidence booster as next weeks triathlon is in colder waters. The drop in temp as we pulled out into the river was due to snow melt that feeds this river.
The swim is a wave start. Elite athletes going first, followed by age groups. You get a swim cap indicating your wave.
This is a sprint distance triathlon. The distances for a sprint can vary a bit. The standard sprint is 750 meters swim (about a half mile), a 20K bike (12.4 miles) and a 5K run (3.1 miles). Course variation is usually due to logistics, size of body of water, and location of the transition area. You USUALLY always come back to the transition area, so the course length may be influenced by that or just by the race director organizing the event.
There are also closed and open courses. This pertains to the bike and run segments. If the course is open, live traffic is on the roads you are riding and running. The tri last weekend was open, although traffic was minimal. Volunteers/police help to manage traffic at turns or signals to promote the safety of the participants. You just need to be aware of your surroundings and take a role in keeping yourself safe on an open course. In some cases, the course is "closed" and traffic is not as issue. Larger parks and recreation areas are more likely to be able to close the course.
Triathlons come in all shapes and sizes! The one I did today capped at 300 participants but some can have thousands of people.
Triathletes are an inspiring bunch! I love the wide array of ages and bodies, in all shapes and sizes. I have seen 86 year old participants, 12 wear olds competitors, as well as elite and amateur and first timers. You can do this, is what I am getting at. You could be a triathlete! If the possibility strikes any fire inside you, you can be a triathlete!
How to get started?
- First, what fitness level are you at? Are you ready to take the plunge? Are you injury free? Check out http://www.trinewbies.com/index.asp and peak at some of their training plans. There are things for folks at all levels, from couch to triathlon training plans up to elite level athletes. Be honest about your starting point and the time you would need to train. Then pick an event far enough out that you'll be able to complete the training. A good goal for triathlon number one is finishing healthy!
- Maybe start now for next spring, summer, or fall? Look for indoor triathlons in the winter! It's a low cost way to sample and then plan for the following year. If your a little unsure about diving in, and obtaining equipment, or even an open water swim, check out your local triathlon club, look for an indoor triathlon. Occasionally, you can find a triathlon that has a pool swim.
- Also, consider a relay where one person does each discipline and the torch of effort is passed from person to person. If you are an amazing swimmer, and want to check it out, find a willing biker and runner and sample the sport without the pressure to do all three.
- Get support. Look for a local triathlon team, a coach, or recruit a buddy! Make sure your family is on board. A national resource is the The American Triathlon Calendar. Just click on your home state and find a triathlon in your home state.
- Women only triathlons have been trending in the last decade! One example in North Carolina, the Ramblin' Rose series sports shorter distances to help participants check out the event with the intimidation factor turned down! And your supported by sisters in fitness! The Iron Girl website is another resource for ladies only triathlon opportunities.
Do to my recent travel and move, I did not have as deep of a well of training to lean on for my swim in my upcoming Olympic triathlon next week (I will tell you all about that!) and was really challenged by the cool temperature (even in a full wet-suit) in my open water swim practice last week here in Portland!
This sprint was a great wet run for next week. If you are considering a triathlon, I would highly recommend getting in open water prior to your race, and more than once would be ideal. If you have trained in the pool, you may not be accustomed to the lack of visibility, the temperature on the water, and the stimulation of being in a pack of swimmers.
I grew up on an inland lake in Michigan, sometimes getting in the water in April! Despite having a deep love for water, I initially had no idea how to freestyle swim, and was not used to pack swimming. Once a very kind and skilled friend got me underway on the proper freestyle stroke, I still needed that open water preview for the not being able to see the oh-so-useful lines on the bottom of the pool.
Keep checking in this week for beginner tips!
Also looking for "My First Triathlon" stories!
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