Post by doug on Feb 15, 2009 15:00:25 GMT
If you have clicked on this page you have taken the first step to becoming a triathlete.
‘What is Triathlon’
Triathlon is a multi sport event consisting of 3 disciplines, swimming cycling and running without rest carried out over several different distances with the clock ticking at all times.
Triathlon is for everybody, especially the complete novice. Signing up for a triathlon is a great way to motivate yourself
Triathlon is probably one of the most rewarding challenges you will ever take on,
Why: because you will cross the same line as every body else and you will have done the same distance as everyone else, regardless of the time.
At Midland tri we pride ourselves on helping people of all ages and all abilities to get involved in triathlon and reach there goals.
If you are thinking of getting involved or joining up here are some easy to follow steps to help you on your way.
Make contact with the club via the web sites contacts list, or introduce yourself on the forum www.midlandtri.proboards51.com .
Come to the training sessions, swimming, running and cycling (see training) this is a great way to get to know fellow club members.
Ask questions, you will find that people who know a bit about triathlon love to share there knowledge so ask ask ask.
Volunteer to help out at events you will be welcomed with open arms.
The following are the most popular distances although a lot of sprint’s now cater for novice swimmers with reduced swim distances.
Sprint - Swim 750m, Cycle 20K, Run 5K
Standard/Olympic - Swim 1500m, Cycle 40K, Run 10K.
/Half Ironman70.3 -Swim 1900m, Cycle 90K, Run 21.09K.
Full/Ironman- Swim 3800m, Cycle 180K, Run 42.2K
What do you need to get started?
A bike: entry level bikes can be bought for as little as €450, but you can also spend up to €10,000. You will also need accessories, helmet (always a must no exceptions), bike shoes, cycle shorts or leggings depending on the weather and jersey’s.
A wetsuit: a decent triathlon wetsuit can be bought for as little as €180 and can go up as far as €800, but you will also need a tri suit (usually worn under the wet suit during the swim) these are worn for the remainder of the race and come in one piece of two piece. Most clubs have there own tri suits ours can be seen under club gear on the web site.
Goggles: there are many different types of goggles and it really is trial and error, but once you find a pair you like remember the name for future reference as you will find there very easy to loose.
Runners: always buy good quality runners, Nike Asics Saucony and addidas to name but a few, a lot of shops now offer gait analyses and will tell you which runner best suits your foot.
These are the basics there are books (Joe Frail’s Triathlete training bible) and magazines (Triathlon 220) to help you along the way or just ask fellow club members, there’s no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to triathlon.
HISTORY OF TRIATHLON
How did it all start? When did it all start? And what the hell possessed them to go as long as an Ironman distance???
Triathlon as we know it today can be traced Back to 1974, Mission bay, South California, where a gang of friends began to train together, some were swimmers some were runners, and others cyclists. Before long the training turned to friendly races, and under the direction of Jack Johnston and Don Shanahan on the 25th of September the first Mission bay triathlon got under way, the race was funded by the San Diego track club and with a field of 46 athletes the first recorded triathlon was born. The race then consisted of 10k run 8km bike and a 500mtr swim.
That’s how triathlon came about, how ironman came about is a completely different story, in 1978 Hawaii was host to 3 original events, The Waikiki Rough water swim(2.4 miles), The Oahu bike race (112 miles) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles).After an argument about which discipline required the greatest endurance, one of the participants commander John Collins suggested the three were combined and they’d call the winner ‘Ironman’.
The first ironman had a field of 15 athletes with only 12 making it to the finish line, The first winner being Gordon Haller with a time of 11hrs 46 minutes and 58 seconds, within the space of four years it had increased to 580 athletes.
A full history of ironman can be found on the official site and if you have any interest in ironman this is a brilliant read, ironman.com/mediacenter/history/ironman-triathlon-world-championship
‘What is Triathlon’
Triathlon is a multi sport event consisting of 3 disciplines, swimming cycling and running without rest carried out over several different distances with the clock ticking at all times.
Triathlon is for everybody, especially the complete novice. Signing up for a triathlon is a great way to motivate yourself
Triathlon is probably one of the most rewarding challenges you will ever take on,
Why: because you will cross the same line as every body else and you will have done the same distance as everyone else, regardless of the time.
At Midland tri we pride ourselves on helping people of all ages and all abilities to get involved in triathlon and reach there goals.
If you are thinking of getting involved or joining up here are some easy to follow steps to help you on your way.
Make contact with the club via the web sites contacts list, or introduce yourself on the forum www.midlandtri.proboards51.com .
Come to the training sessions, swimming, running and cycling (see training) this is a great way to get to know fellow club members.
Ask questions, you will find that people who know a bit about triathlon love to share there knowledge so ask ask ask.
Volunteer to help out at events you will be welcomed with open arms.
The following are the most popular distances although a lot of sprint’s now cater for novice swimmers with reduced swim distances.
Sprint - Swim 750m, Cycle 20K, Run 5K
Standard/Olympic - Swim 1500m, Cycle 40K, Run 10K.
/Half Ironman70.3 -Swim 1900m, Cycle 90K, Run 21.09K.
Full/Ironman- Swim 3800m, Cycle 180K, Run 42.2K
What do you need to get started?
A bike: entry level bikes can be bought for as little as €450, but you can also spend up to €10,000. You will also need accessories, helmet (always a must no exceptions), bike shoes, cycle shorts or leggings depending on the weather and jersey’s.
A wetsuit: a decent triathlon wetsuit can be bought for as little as €180 and can go up as far as €800, but you will also need a tri suit (usually worn under the wet suit during the swim) these are worn for the remainder of the race and come in one piece of two piece. Most clubs have there own tri suits ours can be seen under club gear on the web site.
Goggles: there are many different types of goggles and it really is trial and error, but once you find a pair you like remember the name for future reference as you will find there very easy to loose.
Runners: always buy good quality runners, Nike Asics Saucony and addidas to name but a few, a lot of shops now offer gait analyses and will tell you which runner best suits your foot.
These are the basics there are books (Joe Frail’s Triathlete training bible) and magazines (Triathlon 220) to help you along the way or just ask fellow club members, there’s no such thing as a stupid question when it comes to triathlon.
HISTORY OF TRIATHLON
How did it all start? When did it all start? And what the hell possessed them to go as long as an Ironman distance???
Triathlon as we know it today can be traced Back to 1974, Mission bay, South California, where a gang of friends began to train together, some were swimmers some were runners, and others cyclists. Before long the training turned to friendly races, and under the direction of Jack Johnston and Don Shanahan on the 25th of September the first Mission bay triathlon got under way, the race was funded by the San Diego track club and with a field of 46 athletes the first recorded triathlon was born. The race then consisted of 10k run 8km bike and a 500mtr swim.
That’s how triathlon came about, how ironman came about is a completely different story, in 1978 Hawaii was host to 3 original events, The Waikiki Rough water swim(2.4 miles), The Oahu bike race (112 miles) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles).After an argument about which discipline required the greatest endurance, one of the participants commander John Collins suggested the three were combined and they’d call the winner ‘Ironman’.
The first ironman had a field of 15 athletes with only 12 making it to the finish line, The first winner being Gordon Haller with a time of 11hrs 46 minutes and 58 seconds, within the space of four years it had increased to 580 athletes.
A full history of ironman can be found on the official site and if you have any interest in ironman this is a brilliant read, ironman.com/mediacenter/history/ironman-triathlon-world-championship
