Flowood area

There's a LOT of people in the area that do the tri thing.  Give us about two weeks and the Jackson Triathlon Association will be launching a new website with a re-vamped club.  We're planning on clinics, training sessions, etc. 

You should check out the Flowood YMCA or the Courthouse on Lakeland for a nice pool.  There's always the Trace to ride on, and there is a nice run/bike path on Northshore parkway.

Lemme know if you have any questions, and hopefully by Oct. 1st there we'll have that site up and going.

-bill

Thanks Sesh,  I can't wait!  I am excited about the whole Tri thing (training and competition).  I have just been struggling to get my training kicked in high gear.  I guess I didn't realize how out of shape I was and/or how difficult these three sports truly are.  I rode my bike yesterday and it felt like I was trying to pedal a bus...lol.  I guess too it will help when I can afford to buy a real bike, one that is Tri specific.

 Anyway, thanks for the post, I am looking forward to meeting and training with some of the Tri members in the area.

Yea, i live in laurelwood right in that area.... i just started doing this stuff in May and have loved it. There are tons of great rides that i do from my door. For open water swims the water off the sea wall at trace park near the yacht club is great. I do my swimming mostly at the Courthouse on lakeland but might start trying to get more in there. I run mostly on lakeland and maybe up ridgewood or other places. Like sesh said.... the trace is always nice... and also there are some roads (mapquest: shiloh road) southeast of brandon that are great rides. Hope you enjoy it! Got any plans for races as of yet? Hopefully the new jackson tri club site will be a great resource for all of us around here. Good luck

-andrew

Hi Andrew, I am Todd.  I just started myself.  I actually got the idea around the first of Sept., doing research, learning what I could and acquiring some good shoes and a bike (not so good).  ANyway, I only have in about a week and a half of actual training.  I do have some plans for a race or two.... My goals for 2009, I would love to do the "Soak up the Sun" (Madison, MS) I hear it is a really good sprint for a beginner to get his/her feet wet, then I would like to follow that up with the "Heatwave" (Ridgeland, MS), I would also like to find an Oly in late summer early fall and sometime before the year is out I want to attempt my first Century on my bike. 

I figure three races and a century would be decent goals for a beginner in his first year.  What you think, a little too ambitous or not enough?

Todd

Pretty good goals.  My first year doing this stuff I did Soak up the Sun, the Heatwave (very slowly), the Sandestin Tri, and two metric centuries (62miles).  Pretty similar to what you're talking about, so it can definitely be done.

The plan is to get this website going, get all the triathletes in the area on board and joined, up, then start expanding the club.  I'm hoping to organize some clinics and such covering stuff like transitions and open water swimming.  Keep an eye out, and I'll pass on the link as soon as we launch.

So do I

No matter how long you've been in the sport, there's always something new to learn.

Good luck guys....It's good to see other beginners in the same boat as me.  I also live very close to you guys and am looking toward next year to start doing some races.  Soak Up the Sun is my first goal then (maybe) Heatwave...part of me wants to go do an Olympic distance out of town rather than the Heatwave.  Lots of work to do before then!!  But, like I said...Good luck

I'm glad to have found this site, since i am transferring from Ft. Benning, GA to Flowood the beginning of Oct. I've been into mountain biking, run decent because the Army makes me and even swim because of SCUBA school, just never put them all together until I got to do a sprint marathon several months back. Now i'm thinking of really getting into this Tri stuff because of the challenge and health benefits.

I would be interested in seeing what the new club formation has to offer a serious beginner such as myself as well as meeting someone who would want to train. Gonna switch over my mountain bike for a rodie or tri when I get to MS. 

Keep me posted on any club developments. 

Any idea what part of Flowood you will be moving to?  I live out near Castlewoods and train at the YMCA near Dogwood.

Anyone know anything about the Natchez Trace trail off Rice Road?  I went and ran there tonight and was just wondering if it is a loop or if it's just an out and back trail.  I just did about 3 miles (judging by my time).  Also, I noticed some milage markings and was wondering where to start or which way to run to follow the milage markers.

 Also, I am also a member at the YMCA in Flowood and live near Castlewoods off Hugh Ward.

Yes, it does go all the way to Highland Colony. You can follow it from the old Craft Center at the Natchez Trace exit toward 51, cross 51 at Jackson St. and continue until you get to Highland Colony. I think it adds another 1.5 to 2 miles.

I use it to make a long run by starting at Old Trace Park or Madison Landing and first going up Post Rd., taking a left at the stop sign, looping around the neighborhood, come out, head to the Yacht Club, run back to Post Rd. and back toward the park or boat launch. From there, I will run along Dock Rd. (or whatever it's called) along the reservoir (with a quick out and back on the jetty) all the way out to the Spillway, turn around run back toward Rice Rd., cross the road and hit the trail for an out and back. Then, cross Rice Rd. again and back up to Dock Rd. and head home. I think you can get a good 17+ miles out of it and it's easy to shorten by lopping off some of the loops or out and backs. It's nice because traffic is minimal and the view's not so bad.