newbie advice

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » newbie advice Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2008-04-11 3:53 PM

User image

Regular
63
2525
Tampa Bay Area, FL
Subject: newbie advice
I've tried triathlon training before...by my work life caught up to me and I just got too busy for three sports. I did somehow manage to put in the right amount of running training to run two marathons in 2007 and two half marathons (so far) in 2008.

I have now decided to really start training for my first tri. But... I am very concerned about choosing a first-timer friendly race. I'd like to start now and train through the summer for a July/August race (preferably a sprint), as I'm also going to be mixing in training for the Marine Corps Marathon in October.

Does anyone have any good advice for a Tampa-area race in that time frame??

Thanks,
Mandi

2008-04-12 3:24 PM
in reply to: #1331885

Member
5

Subject: RE: newbie advice
Publix puts on a seris of sprint tris from about May to October. Do a search on publixfamilyfitness.com. I think that is the correct address. They have one in Ft Desoto, around mid august. there is also one at the start of August in Sarasota.
2008-04-13 6:41 AM
in reply to: #1331885

User image

Extreme Veteran
475
100100100100252525
Tampa, FL
Subject: RE: newbie advice

The website address is actually www.familyfitnessweekend.com

Here is a list of the individual sprint races on their calendar:

  1. Saint Augustine May 3-4, 2008
  2. Deerfield Beach May 17, 2008
  3. Saint Leo June 14-15, 2008
  4. Fort Lauderdale July 12-13, 2008
  5. Englewood/Sarasota County August 2-3, 2008*
  6. Fort DeSoto August 16-17, 2008
  7. Miami Beach September 13-14, 2008
  8. Cypress Gardens October 11-12, 2008

You might also want to consider the Olympic distance race at Disney in September. It's a good race for first-timers as well. http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/endurance/events/detail?name=EnduranceAthletesforaCureTriathlonEventDetailPage

It says this is the inaugural event at Disney, but it's really been going on for years and has just had a name change and probably is being managed by a different company.

2008-04-13 4:21 PM
in reply to: #1331885

User image

Regular
63
2525
Tampa Bay Area, FL
Subject: RE: newbie advice
Thanks for those races! I'm used to using active.com or Florida Race Place for running events, but I find its a little bit more difficult to find triathlons. And there's obviously no substitute for real people who can give feedback.

I suppose I would also be willing to try a race in the Orlando area; my parents live there, so I'd have a free place to stay.

Happy Training

Mandi
2008-04-13 4:38 PM
in reply to: #1331885

User image

Extreme Veteran
475
100100100100252525
Tampa, FL
Subject: RE: newbie advice

Try www.trifind.com to look up triahtlons categorized by state. There are so many around the state of florida, you could probably do one every weekend if you wanted

2008-04-13 5:36 PM
in reply to: #1331885

User image

Master
1480
1000100100100100252525
Plant City, FL
Subject: RE: newbie advice
The Crystal River Sprint series are great races too!  May, July and September.  Not too far, small, friendly, but competitive races.  There are usually quite a few of us that go up to race those. 


New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » newbie advice Rss Feed