Well, we’ve (USA Triathlon) finally made the leap into the blogosphere. What do we hope to accomplish? That’s still up in the air. We do recognize that blogging and social media are growing more and more popular among the techno-savvy and those who enjoy hearing ideas and opinions — and sharing their own — on every topic under the sun. With a membership that is now surging past 100,000, USAT knows that this is another vital way to connect with our members and other multisport enthusiasts.
With this blog, we hope to share our opinions on the latest happenings in the sport and how they affect our athletes, coaches and race directors, key developments at the national office, and just vent a little bit about the issues (challenges and opportunties) facing multisport. We hope that you will jump on board, visit often, and offer your own thoughts and responses to what we post.
Tks for starting this blog. I don’t have a complaint (other than every complainer should include 3 possible solutions for the complaint…).
I’m 60 YO and even if I were younger I realize you need to have a break or slow down at some points during each year to give your body a chance to heal from the stress of racing. But I enjoy the festive atmosphere of the tri events and miss it in the “off” (cold) season. I have a feeling I’m not alone (or do I hear an echo?). It could be viewed as a step forward in our sport if there were indoor tris in the months of Nov. thru Feb. I seem to remember some Manhattan YMCAs had them in the past and some of the health clubs in the larger metropolitan areas had them. The distances/times could be shorter with times (and dates) to be at the Y instead of waves for the swim start.
Time for 500M in the pool; miles on the stationary bike in 15 min; time on the treadmill in 15 min. The “race” may take all month if we are lucky and many folks register but it would be interesting and fun. I’d bet some Ys and health clubs could use the funds for their budget.
If you know of any tris like this already set up for Nov thru Feb please let me know. I’m looking to complete a tri in each of the 12 months of a year and would prefer not having to shlep me and my bike across country to get a triu in those winter months. But there also have been many winter months in past years when I’ve felt the urge for a tri. There’s mental and physical fitness to be improved…and maybe money to be made (these are good things as I see it).
Again Thanks.
By: jim ebert on September 28, 2007
at 1:42 pm
sweet! welcome to the blogging world!
By: aj on October 21, 2007
at 7:04 pm
I am relatively new to multisport – and I LOVE it! I am a cuppola years younger than Jim. I live on Long Island in NY, where the water gets colder and so the TRI events end in September/early October and resume in the late Spring/early Summer. We do love our open water swimming here! I have recently participated in a duathlon, which was fun, but I did miss that swim. I hope we remember that not all of us are Olympic Champions – some of us want to do our best, enjoy participating and being around people who are positive. Training is an amazing experience. I hope anyone who reads this grasps that it isn’t that you are the first place finisher in an event … more importantly that you are a participant who is trying to achieve a goal. We each have our own reason for being in Triathlons. Jim has some good ideas for off-season. My friends and I are creating our own version of a Tri for December which includes a post-event Party! We don’t need big events… just some inspiration and NO registration fees!! Wishing you all a great “off season”. Please write about your ideas.
By: Elizabeth on November 8, 2007
at 3:23 am
I’m also new to the multisports arena but I have to say I became quickly addicted! Last year was my first time fumbling through the training of a mutlisport event but the process of it has changed my life. I live in Ohio so it makes off-season events difficulte but I’m also a HS wrestling coach and my training through the summer keeps me in great shape for wrestling season!
I completely agree with Elizabeth on the fact that the wonderful thing about this sport is the experience of it, rather than where you place. I don’t know about the rest of you but I went through a lot of teasing and razzing about deciding to do a triathalon. But after completing my first race, and surviving, I’ve found that a lot of my friends who initially teased me are now asking me to help them get ready for their first race!
One of the things that I would like to see more of are the addition of kids-tri’s to the events. My daughter is 10 and she trained with me and raced in a small kids tri and loved it. What I love about it is that it’s something that we can do together. We’re having fun whether it’s riding, swiming or jogging and she doesn’t even associate it to ‘work’, for her it’s fun! Now i’m not advocating that kids should start training young to do Olympic or Iron Man distances but the smaller youth events she really enjoys and I see it as a really good way to grow the popularity of the sport from the ground up.
Just some thoughts, thanks!
By: Chris on January 22, 2008
at 6:17 pm
I’m a couple of years in on the tri also. I don’t take time off in the off season, except for the swimming. It’s cold for the biking but i look to do less miles. But a lot more hill work on the north shore [ suffolk county ]. Also doing a lot of trail running. always looking for some one to do some light training with. Not a strong runner only strong at cycling.
By: Butch on March 12, 2008
at 12:28 am