Pittsburgh beginner friendly training group/club

Not sure if we have an official club, but there are a lot of us on this site. Where in/near the city are you?

I live in Bellevue and swim at the downtown Y. Being a bit new, I have what are probably very typical questions that could be answered on this forum. For example...where to ride now that my bridge to Riverview Park is being imploded.

I'm also sure that there are things that can only be learned by training with others. For example, practice with swimming in rivers like the Allegheny.

I unfortunately don't know anyone locally who does triathlons.

I'm trying to get a few people together as we speak.  There's another guy in my swim class at the Y who's training for a sprint I plan to ask.  We could certainly set a schedule for us to meet to do some rides, runs, or even OWSs (since it wouldn't be smart to do that alone).

The Davis Ave. bridge thing is a big hassle. I don't have it, but the Western Pennsylvania Wheelmen, the local cycling club, sell is big map pack with a ton of rides. 

 My work schedule isn't the best but I could make what I can if something is started around Pgh.

My schedule is nuts too (grad school + wifely duties, LOL) but I will always try to fit some stuff in if we get this thing off the ground

ETA:  The Davis Ave. bridge implosion TOTALLY SUCKS, but you can still access Riverview by taking Brighton --> Marshall --> Perrysville --> Riverview Ave if you're in the southern part of Brighton Heights.  From the northern parts of Brighton Heights or from Bellevue, you could probably take Jacks Run Road or Bascom Road, though the lines of sight aren't great and I seem to remember that the shoulders on Bascom are crumbly.  I go up Perrysville all the time, because that's my easiest access to the park anyway.  The lanes are pretty wide, the pavement is decent, and it's less than 1mi to Riverview from Perrysville and Marshall.

Edited by kat_astrophe 2009-05-12 2:33 PM

Hey all....another Tri-newbie here. I am in Greentree and would definately like to find some other people to train with/learn from.

I am planning to do the Presque Isle Triathlon in Aug as my first one and I am just starting to train.

My work schedule is also pretty busy, but i would try and make whatever meetings I can. I could probably drag my wife along if she isn't working too. She's doing Presque Isle with me.

Depending on how some family commitments work out the next 2 days, I may ride Pedal Pittsburgh on Sunday.

Has anyone signed up for the Pgh tri in July?

I'm kind of debating about the PGH sprint tri -- I know I can handle the biking and running portions of it, and I'm really excited and eager to race, but I'm kind of afraid of having the swim leg of my first tri being an OWS in the Allegheny River -- I feel like maybe I would drown or something  So we're thinking that my first tri is gonna be the Cannonman sprint tri (which, awesomely enough, is on my birthday.)

ETA: Maybe I'll see about volunteering at the PGH tri or something. 

Edited by kat_astrophe 2009-05-15 10:20 AM

If anyone wants to start a Pgh. Tri club, count me in. I live in Bethel Park.

I'll tell you that swimming in the Allegheny is no different than any other OWS - except you'll swim faster.  I don't know how the Sprint will be structured, but the Olympic is 2/3 downstream, so I imagine it will be similar, if not virtually all downstream.

The first thing to get used to is doing an OWS.  It's different than a pool, and there is a definite benefit to getting used to it once or twice before doing it in a race.  There's no line, so you'll need to practice sighting.

The next thing to get used to is doing an OWS with hundreds of bodies in the same space as you!  The only way to practice that is to race!

Once you get used to doing an OWS and the fact that you're doing it in a race far outweigh the difference of doing it in the river vs. a lake.

If you're still not comfortable, another option is the Morgantown race on 8/9.  It's in the Mon, but they shut off the flow at the damn shortly before the start, so it's more like a lake.  The run is also flat like Pgh.  The Oly and HIM have some long hills, but I don't know what the Sprint's bike will be like.

Forgot to mention that I would also be interested in meeting up.

I should have also said that I'm registered for the Pgh Olympic, and the Jackie Kallal sprint in June.  This will be my 2nd year for the Pgh race (I volunteered at it 2 years ago).

If anyone has a mountain bike, I can't say enough for the Montour Trail for training.  You don't really get a good hill workout in, but it's excellent for all other training such as intervals, and basically just being able to push hard and fast for as long as you want without any worries about traffic.  It's great for mimicking race day conditions since you don't stop for a breather waiting at a red light in a race.

Good to know -- thanks for the info!



This is it exactly.  I'm actually pretty comfortable with swimming in open water -- when I have time to take vacations in the summer, I do a lot of recreational swimming in lakes and oceans, and I consider myself to be a fairly strong, albeit extremely slow, swimmer.  But dealing with river currents and a throng of stampeding bodies at the same time has me a bit worried.

Live in Washington about 45 min south of Pittsburgh. I'm interested in forming a training group; however, my participation would be limited to weekends and maybe once during the week. BJ

So, is there any open water swimming in our area? I'd love to get the wetsuit out.

There are a few tris in our area in the near future:

Edinboro on May 30
Penn Run (Jackie Kallal) on June 13
Presque Isle (Erie) Bay Swim on June 20
Crawford County on June 28
Johnstown on July 18
Pgh on July 26
Morgantown on August 9
Schellsburg on August 23
Erie on August 29
Crooked Creek (Ford City) on September 19

For me, Edinboro is a definite. The others I'll play by ear as the summer progresses.

I saw someone was from Washington County. How is the riding at Mingo Park? I've never been there but know the Pgh Wheelmen ride there once a week or so.

Keystone State Park opens their beach this weekend, I believe.  I suppose that is the closest OWS to Greensburg.  I don't think they allow swimming anywhere but the beach area.  However, if you swim out to the buoys and go from end to end it is 150 yards.  It is not crowded on weekdays.  The facilities are new and nice as well.

HI EVERYONE.

just tripped over this thread....

i live in Cranberry Township, north of the city.

i work out of the Rose E. Schneider YMCA.

we have a masters swim team (practices M-S at 5:30 am)

we have a running club - various times throughout the week

but i have not been able to connect w a TRI CLUB in my area.

would LOVE the opportunity to swim, run, and/or bike w other BTers.

HAPPY TRI'ING.
stacieb

All,

We're trying to start a small group in Pittsburgh, so if you'd like to be added to the email list send me a message with your email and I'll add your name.

Best,
David

You can count me in folks.  I'm a newbie, and have been training for a Pittsburgh Tri (sprint).  I've been riding intervals along the Parkway, the Eliza furnace trail, which is flat, but still a nice distance work.  Count me in!

Mike

Yes...I am also new to this...Just looking for a group to train with...Am a competent swimmer...Just bought a bike and have experience distance running...So will be following this thread to see where the tribe decides to meet and move forward....Cheers..=G=

Anyone doing the Cystic Fibrosis Ride on Sunday?

http://www.cff.org/Chapters/wpa/index.cfm?ID=11244&blnShowBack=False&idContentType=1508&Event=11244

I will be there. Anyone else from the group??

The weather is supposed to be nice- 51 at 6am and 62 by 12!!

All...this discussion thread has morphed into a Facebook group. If you're on Facebook, its at http://www.facebook.com/editapps.php?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=90501125746&ref=nf.

Cheers,
Ken

Hi all! Brand new to this! I am competing on the 26th and wondered if you are all getting together or just training alone?? Im trying to swim the river this weekend or even Friday. I also plan on making the ride this weekend if anyone is interested. Just email me, I would love to hook up with some others training!!!

Ryan