“Tri”ing Something New: Florida’s Summer Sport

When you hear the word triathlete you probably think of the elite athletes that train for hours every day, endure miles of running, swim in the open ocean and own those really expensive bikes. Well, you’re right. Triathlons are an extreme sport for the super fit endurance athlete but they can also be for the beginner who is just entering the world of fitness.

Triathlons are actually one of the fastest growing sports in the country with over 1 million people participating in a triathlon last year – 37% of them women. If you’re getting bored with your 5 and 10K’s and want a new challenge, a triathlon could be for you.

Just like running races, there are several different triathlon distances to choose from:

Ironman: 2.4-mile swim; 112 mile bike; 26.2 mile run

Half Ironman: 1.2-mile swim; 56 mile bike; 13.1 mile run

Olympic: .93-mile swim; 25 mile bike; 10k run

Sprint: .25-mile swim; 12-mile bike; 5k run

Tri Brook Bike

Unless you have some experience under your belt and are prepared to train almost every single day for hours a day, I wouldn’t attempt to start with the ironman distance. The Sprint distance, however, is much more doable by the average athletic person and a beginner triathlete. Training for a Sprint will take between 4-5 days per week and 1-2 hours per day.

If you’re the type of person that needs someone to tell you exactly what, when, where and how to train, then I would recommend a triathlon coach. One of my favorite local coaches is Skye Johnson. She offers detailed training plans, one-on-one training, swim clinics and much more. If you want to just get out there and “tri” it on your own, here is my best advice:

Tri Swim FinishSwim: A quarter of a mile swim may sound like a lot but it is really just 16 laps in a swimming pool. The toughest part about the swim is just getting in the water, especially if the triathlon is in the ocean.  Most triathletes train in the safe confines of a swimming pool, complete with lifeguards and lane ropes with a shallow bottom to walk on when you get tired.  These obviously aren’t available in the open water and that can be very intimidating.  To feel confident on race day,  practice in the open water at least a  few times before the race.  Grab some buddies (never go alone) and take a swim in the ocean just to get a feel for how much different it is than the pool.  Try to practice swimming against the current, staying in a straight line, and taking a look to see your whereabouts every so often (I recommend every 11 strokes).

Tri BikeBike: The most intimidating part of the bike portion of a triathlon isn’t the 12-mile distance but the fact that you are surrounded by other cyclists riding at fast speeds, sometimes in traffic. Again, practicing in groups can help ease those concerns, but the biggest thing you can do is learn the riding rules of the road. Not only will this prevent you from getting a traffic ticket or getting disqualified during a race, but it can also save your life. Some are as simple as riding with traffic instead of against and not riding more than two abreast during a group ride.

Another obstacle of the bike portion of a triathlon is finding an actual bike. If you are competing in a triathlon for the first time, most likely you haven’t invested in a road bike, as they can be quite expensive. The easiest thing to do is just borrow one from a friend! Some bike shops will even rent them out to you.

Tri Swim transistionRun: Training for the run of a triathlon isn’t too much different than training for a 5K race. Since the run in a triathlon is the last leg of the race, you will need to build muscle endurance to prevent yourself from crashing before the finish line. The best way to do this is interval training (running shorter distances at higher speeds) and “brick” training.  Brick training is back-to-back bike-run training to teach you how to run on legs that feel like jelly after getting off the bike.

Gear: One of the keys to a successful race is to have the right gear. Finding a bike to borrow is probably the best for your first few triathlons. You’ll also need some additional items to participate, the obvious being goggles, a helmet, and running shoes. Some choose to change clothes between each leg of the race, but if you’re worried about time I’d recommend a tri-suit for all legs of the race. They usually consist of a top and bottom (although onsies are available), are moisture wicking and dry fast. JMB partner Jacksonville Running Company carries one of the top brands in triathlon gear – 2XU.  JRC also carries other triathlon gear such as bungee laces, race number belts and water bottles, not to mention all of your nutrition needs during a race!

Jacksonville Running CompanyLocal Races: Once you’ve got your training figured out and have purchased/borrowed your required gear, you’ll need to pick a race. Jacksonville is a very popular spot for triathlons due to its easy access to the ocean for the swim, flat roads to cycle on and beautiful sceneries to run through.  Some of the more popular races here in Jax are the Jax Tri Series in Fernandina Beach and the BFAST Tri Series at the Naval Station in Mayport. If you’re too nervous about swimming in the open water, then the Queen’s Harbor Sprint Triathlon would be great since the swim is in the pool at the Sports Complex.

Check out JRC’s event calendar for a complete list of triathlons in the area.

If you are looking for a challenge, gather up some courage and sign up for a triathlon! Not only will you increase your fitness level and improve your physique, you will accomplish things you never thought were possible. Who knows, if you enjoy it enough, next thing you know you could be training for your first Ironman!

Are you a triathlete or training to be one? Tell us your story below!

Thank you Jacksonville Running Company for sponsoring this post! Please checkout the JRC Facebook page for more information on community runs, products of the week, and special events!

Bridget
Bridget was born in Jacksonville but raised in Tallahassee where she developed a strong love for soccer and other sports. She went on to play soccer for the University of West Florida where she met her husband, John. After earning their graduate degrees from Florida State University, they moved back to John’s hometown of Atlantic Beach where they now reside. Bridget worked in the finance field for several years and is now a stay at home mom and the mother of a fun-loving, very energetic daughter Addison, and her adorable newborn daughter Cameron. She recently became certified as a group fitness instructor and teaches class two days a week at Jacksonville Stroller Strength.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here