Most beginner friendly triathlons

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Most beginner friendly triathlons Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
 
 
of 2
 
 
2009-06-16 9:44 PM

User image

Veteran
238
10010025
Iowa
Subject: Most beginner friendly triathlons

Do you know of a very beginner friendly triathlon?  This thread can benefit BT members in two ways:  help beginners find their first/early tris AND warn the more experienced of the ones they may find frustrating due to lots of newbies.  I did my first tri last weeknd, and while it was great for me, I heard MANY people complaining about all the inexperienced participants that got in the way of their swimming, passing, etc.

Very beginner friendly:  USWTS Subaru Women's Triathlon Series, Naperville, IL

2009-06-16 9:58 PM
in reply to: #2223048

Regular
281
100100252525
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
I'd say the Jekyll Island Turtle Crawl in Georgia.  Perfect temps and it has both a sprint and olympic distance.  You're swimming in the ocean with 75degree water temps and it's flat.  You can also stand up any time you want in the ocean and be about waist to chest high.  They start the olympic swim first and then send the sprint.  Tons of newbies but the fast people dind't seem to have problems with us slow people.
2009-06-16 10:03 PM
in reply to: #2223048

User image

Veteran
295
100100252525
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
Sherox is very beginner friendly...other people shouldn't be complaining as most of the time when more experienced athletes sign up for races they know if it attracts lots of beginners or not. I would think that they would at least.
2009-06-16 10:05 PM
in reply to: #2223076

Veteran
288
100100252525
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons

I was just about to post about Turtle Crawl Sprint, I did that one as my first sprint  a few weeks ago. 

Easy ocean swim with the current, wetsuit legal, flat bike and flat run course. Unless your afraid of the ocean all around great beginner race.

2009-06-16 10:16 PM
in reply to: #2223048


1072
10002525
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
OLd Hickory Triathlon in Hendersonville, TN just north of Nashville. It is a very beginner friendly Sprint Tri.

Swim is 400 yards in a cove on Old Hickory Lake so it is calm warm water. It has a Time Trial start. No mass start that to make it beginner friendly. The swim is followed by a 1.5 mile run to the bike tansition area. Then there is a 12.5 mile bike on a relative easy bike course. After the bike there is another 1.5 mike run. There is around 450 participating with more then 50% beginners. They have a two designated lpeople to be the last finishers so no matter how slow the real last person is they will not be offically last. They run with that person to encourage them make it to the finish.

It is well organized so there hasn't been any issues beginners and more experienced folks getting in each others way.
2009-06-17 2:55 AM
in reply to: #2223048

User image

Master
1322
1000100100100
Chicago
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
The Danskin series... Several locations through out the US. (female only)

Either the Trek run series (former danskin) http://www.trekwomenstriathlonseries.com/

Or the Sherox ones now now known as the Danskin http://www.danskinwomenstri.com/



Edited by IdealMuse 2009-06-17 2:55 AM

2009-06-17 7:19 AM
in reply to: #2223048

User image

Champion
10618
50005000500100
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons


People in eastern Ontario have some fabulous options in the race series put on by Somersault www.somersault.ca). Their signature slogan is "events for everyone.....from start to finish.", and they live up to that with a vengeance.

The Somersault calndar offers about ten events, and each event includes anywhere from 3-10 different races. For example, on July 5, just north of Kingston, ON (easy access for upstate New Yorkers), the new-this-year event in Sydenham offers the following:
- Olympic Triathlon (1500m/40km/10km)
- Olympic SwimCycle
- Sprint Triathlon (500m/20km/5km)
- Try A Tri (200m/20km/2.5km)
- Super Sprint Triathlon (200m/20km/5km)
- Canoe/Kayak Triathlon
- Sprint Duathlon
- Olympic Swim

The gradations of the four triathlons allow for just about the entire range of ability and confidence levels, and all of their events have a similar structure. They are very low-key, right down to "buddy body-marking", and there is nothing even close to military rigor about how they are carried. Yet at any given race event there will be scads of eastern Ontario's finest athletes, so these races are well-run and very well attended. They are also relatively inexpensive, with online registration for the four triathlons above being at $67-75 (oly), $57-65 (sprint), $52-60 (tryatri), and $57-65 (supersprint), depending on when one registers; all the prices are CDN.

Several of the Somersault events (Riverkeeper, Early Bird, National Capital, The Canadian) have the bike course on gorgeous roads that are in pristine condition and that are ENTIRELY CLOSED to traffic. These courses involve multiple loops, which also has appeal for a lot of beginners. For Riverkeeper, the bike travels alongside the Ottawa River; for the other three, the bike is adjacent to the Rideau Canal.

All of Somersault's events are extremely user-friendly!
2009-06-17 7:25 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2009-06-17 7:34 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Regular
102
100
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
Power Sprint in Richmand VA, it was my first and they have a whole Q and A session the day before just for first timers. I had a great time.
2009-06-17 7:39 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Pro
4824
20002000500100100100
Houston
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
TriGirl in the Houston/Humble, TX area.
The Super Sprint in May is 200 yard swim, 8 mile bike, 2 mile run.
The Sprint in August is 300 yard swim, 11 mile bike, 3 mile run.

It is women only.  VERY supportive atmosphere, nice swag and lots of volunteers - an awesome experience for first timers.
2009-06-17 7:54 AM
in reply to: #2223466

Austin, Texas or Jupiter, Florida
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
Coconut Creek Season Opener at Tradewinds Park near Boca Raton, FL in February.

Yes, February.  It's a very small group (~300) the course is really beginner friendly and closed to all traffic.  Run course is 2.5 miles (a little shorter).  People are very helpful because it's the first race of the year down here so they're just getting-back to their racing and they're a little more understanding of new folks.  Check it out on: www.multirace.com

2009-06-17 7:57 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Expert
966
5001001001001002525
Decatur
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
For the women:

Ackworth Sprint Tri  (atlanta area)- all females and VERY VERY newbie friendly. They offer tons of clinics too.

Edited by latrina 2009-06-17 7:58 AM
2009-06-17 8:08 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Champion
11989
500050001000500100100100100252525
Philly 'burbs
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
I'll throw out a plug for a local race organization; CGI Racing. They are a married couple, both triathletes, who put on 4 races in the NE US (NJ, MD, PA). They are good people who put on good races, and are BT members.

But they really need to step up and put on an Ultra Distance. Philly needs an Ultra!
2009-06-17 8:11 AM
in reply to: #2223535

Champion
9060
5000200020002525
Charlottesville, Virginia
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
For those in the Maryland area I think the Hagerstown Sprint Tri in July is pretty beginner friendly.  Pool swim where you split a lane with someone else for the swim, they drop someone else in when one person finishes so don't have to deal with the hassle of the snake swim.

He does a Q&A the day before, pretty easy ride and run.  I see people on every bike configuration imagineable, even one guy riding a beach cruiser with a basket on the front...
2009-06-17 8:15 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Cycling Guru
15134
50005000500010025
Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
In my experience, most sprint distances are very beginner friendly.

I did a mini-sprint (uber short) in March called the Tune Up Tri in Manasas, VA that was really well run and designed around beginners.  It is in March though so it is a reverse tri with an indoor pool swim at the end.
2009-06-17 8:16 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Champion
5117
5000100
Brandon, MS
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons

Soak up the Sun in Madison, MS.

It's a 250 yard swim in a residential lake, 8 mile bike, and a two mile run.  Out of the 400 participants this year, something like 260 were doing their first ever triathlon.  Very few that do it have done more than a couple, though some experienced racers use it as race specific transition practice.   We had search dive teams, a gazillion kayaks, and lifeguards along the shore.  There is a mountain bike division separated by age groups on top of the normal classifications.  We even have a designated last place guy to hang out, walk, and talk with the BOPers.  This year he was in a cocunut bra and hula skirt.  He also has done something like 8 Ironmans, and while I was worried how some BOPers might take that, they absolutely loved having him around for motivation and support.

Our tri club puts it on, so all the volunteers are experienced triathletes who are instructed to go ahead and answer the question you know they are too shy to ask.  Most of us actually did this race as our first ever tri way back when, so we're all eager to help out. 



Edited by sesh 2009-06-17 8:20 AM

2009-06-17 8:49 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Pro
5011
5000
Twin Cities
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons

Pigman Sprint Tri, Palo, IA (Cedar Rapids)

It's well established, well-organized and efficiently run. The transitions and course are chaos free, and easy to understand. The water is usually warm, but still wetsuit legal. There are a couple hills on the bike, enough to give folks a change of scenery, but the rest is flat. The post-race drawings and giveaways are fabulous (QR bike, Zipp wheels, transition bag with $1000 of gear in it, wetsuit, etc).

2009-06-17 9:17 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Expert
721
500100100
Chenequa WI
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
Door County Sprint Triathlon in Wisconsin.

This year, the Sprint is on Saturday, July 18th and the Half-Iron is on Sunday.  There is also a Kid's Triathlon on Saturday at 2:00pm at the nearby YMCA.  The entire race is a great "destination" race as Door County is beautiful and a very nice vacation spot in July. 

The races themselves are well-run with a very good RD in Sean Ryan.  The food and refreshments at the end and for spectators means you have a reason to stick around.  Last year was pork sammy's if I remember correctly.  Lots of great volunteers on each of the courses plus wetsuit strippers.  All in all, it makes for a good time for both beginners and experienced athletes.
2009-06-17 9:26 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Regular
227
10010025
NorCal, near Lake Tahoe, Ca
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
TBFRacing puts on a Tri for Fun and a Tri for Real series outside of Sacramento that's very beginner friendly. There's also a Lunabar women's tri that's halfway between a sprint and an oly at the same venue in August.

The only problem is that it can be VERY hot in Sac in the summer.
2009-06-17 9:43 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons

Races with pool swims tend to be beginner-friendly simply because they draw a lot of beginners, who are scared of OWS.

2009-06-17 10:19 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Regular
173
1002525
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
Agreee on Hagerstown being friendly. My first was actually the Pocomoke Triathlon in late May/early June. Very laid back, very friendly for first timers. It's also pretty good for the family, since the swim start, transition, and finish line are all within about 100 yards of each other. I've done it every year for three years now, partially as a measure of my improvement, partially because it's such a fun, laid back race.

2009-06-17 10:42 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Master
1591
1000500252525
San Diego, CA
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
The Toyota Desert Sprint race in La Quinta, CA is a great beginner race.  Lots of TNT racing.
500yard lake swim, 14 mile bike and 3 mile run.  The sprint race usually goes off an hour or so before the international distance. Bonus, this race is cheap compared to some of the other local races with entry being 65 or 70 dollars.

FYI the International distance was very competitive this year and had a lot of fast and competitive racers who used this race as a warm up for California 70.3.

The Tinsel Tri in Hemet is a mid December race (reverse tri set up). I think more than 1000 people raced last year. Lots of first time racers. It's a draft legal race and people all over the road, you really can't get too frustrated. People get dressed up and have a lot of fun here. Lots of people riding beach cruisers and mountain bikes.

Tritonman is a February race and part of the College race series. There are some very fast racers but lots of newbies. The Age Groups athletes start after the college kids and there is plenty of room on the course. This is another fast and flat course.

Edited by jezzieswims 2009-06-17 10:57 AM
2009-06-17 11:11 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Extreme Veteran
451
1001001001002525
Stoughton, WI
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
My first race will be the "God Bless America" tri on July 4th, Wautoma, WI.
It bills itself as a first timer friendly course, with swim 200 yards, bike 9 miles, and run 2 miles. I drove the course memorial day weekend, and its fairly flat, with only a little bit of rolling hills at the back side of the bike course.
2009-06-17 11:20 AM
in reply to: #2223048

Expert
908
500100100100100
Niskayuna, New York
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons
For those in middle new york, the mini-musselman is a great first event, it was my first one last year. Sometimes the lake can be choppy but the bike and run are very flat and its just a really well run event.
2009-06-17 12:14 PM
in reply to: #2223123

Master
1289
1000100100252525
Franklin, TN
Subject: RE: Most beginner friendly triathlons

browncd - 2009-06-16 10:16 PM OLd Hickory Triathlon in Hendersonville, TN just north of Nashville. It is a very beginner friendly Sprint Tri. Swim is 400 yards in a cove on Old Hickory Lake so it is calm warm water. It has a Time Trial start. No mass start that to make it beginner friendly. The swim is followed by a 1.5 mile run to the bike tansition area. Then there is a 12.5 mile bike on a relative easy bike course. After the bike there is another 1.5 mike run. There is around 450 participating with more then 50% beginners. They have a two designated lpeople to be the last finishers so no matter how slow the real last person is they will not be offically last. They run with that person to encourage them make it to the finish. It is well organized so there hasn't been any issues beginners and more experienced folks getting in each others way.

The Old Hickory Lake tri mentioned above is on the 27th of this month and is put on by www.Team-Magic.com They host several tris in the Nashville area and are very beginner-friendly. The GJCC mini-sprint is a 200 meter pool swim, 8 mile bike and a 2 mile run. It is held on Memorial Day.

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Most beginner friendly triathlons Rss Feed  
 
 
of 2