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2009-10-29 10:28 AM

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Wisconsin
Subject: Beginner tri recommendations
I have been traiining this year to do my first sprint tri next year.  I have to admit to being a little nervous with the few deaths that occured this past year, and am wondering if you all have any suggestions on which would be a good tri for a first timer. 

Thanks
Jean


2009-10-29 10:55 AM
in reply to: #2486495

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Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations

Where are you located? I would do one nearby as you will feel more comfortable in familiar surroundings.

Lake mills has a pretty flat bike and the run is on a trail and flat as a pancake. It was my first and I recommend that one for sure.

2009-10-29 11:00 AM
in reply to: #2486495

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Expert
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Oak Creek, WI
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
^^^  agree...  lake mills is good.. or you may want to consider a female only one - such as danskin in pleasant prairie...
2009-10-29 11:18 AM
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Elite
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In The Peleton
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
Lake mills is a great one.  Early season, nice flat bike and run, small enough to not be overwhelming, big enough to feel like it is a big deal, lots of Donkeys.  Definitely recommend it!
2009-10-29 11:42 AM
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Champion
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Menomonee Falls, WI
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
I think for first-timers, the less crowded events are better. I would recommend the Pardeeville Tri. Or Oshkosh Tri, if you want something later in the season.


2009-10-29 11:47 AM
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Sun Prairie
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
I am training for my first tri also... and am planning on it being the Lake Mills Tri. I have heard it is a good one.

Good Luck!


2009-10-29 11:58 AM
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Elite
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West Allis, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations

Lake Mills.  I would say Tri-ing for Children's but that later on in the season.  Lake Mills is early on, one of the first ones so once you come across the finish line and catch the Donkey/Triathlon bug, you can start training for your second one (Tri-ing for Childrens!)

EEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!!!

2009-10-29 12:19 PM
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Expert
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Madison
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations

My first one was Lake Mills and it was perfect for me.  I liked that they had a beginner wave for the swim start, eased my nerves a bit.  I also did the Danskin Women's only one this past September and it was good too - swim is twice as long, but they have lots of support on the swim course. 

So, if you'd like to do one early in the season, do Lake Mills, late in the season, Danskin.  JMHO!

 

2009-10-29 1:17 PM
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Racine, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations

The early bird in whitewater is a pool based sprint tri that was a good start for me. It was a bit different in that the waves were something like 15-18 at a time so there was never that many people on the course at one time.

J-Hawk Early Bird Triathlon: Sunday, April 25, 2010
http://www.j-hawks.org/tri/tri.aspx
2009-10-29 1:23 PM
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Kenosha, WI
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
Pleasant Prairie, outside Kenosha, also hosts the Trek womens only tri in July, and the open field Pleasant PrairieTri in August.  Its a warm super calm swim.  The womens only events are setup to cross the lake so there's no turn around point.  (sometimes nerve racking for a first timer). 
2009-10-29 2:09 PM
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Champion
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Menomonee Falls, WI
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
The only downside I would mention about Lake Mills is that Rock Lake is still very cold at that time and IMO you definitely NEED a wetsuit.



2009-10-29 2:19 PM
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Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
djdavey - 2009-10-29 11:58 AM

Lake Mills.  I would say Tri-ing for Children's but that later on in the season.  Lake Mills is early on, one of the first ones so once you come across the finish line and catch the Donkey/Triathlon bug, you can start training for your second one (Tri-ing for Childrens!)

EEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!!!



That's exactly what happened to me.  The only thing about Lake Mills (and maybe it was just this year) is that since it's early, the weather conditions kind of stunk.  But the spirit is contagious.  I say go for lake mills and tri'ing.  Lake Mills was an 'experience' - Tri'ing was FUN.

And yea - get a wetsuit.  But try that whole "swimming in it" thing before you do the tri.  That was a lesson I learned the hard way

Edited by LunaTick 2009-10-29 2:20 PM
2009-10-29 2:31 PM
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A little slice of paradise
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
Oshkosh is nice because the lake is pretty shallow and you can stand up if you need to sprint or Oly. And I think the Sprint bike is pretty flat, and so is the run. My husband did his first sprint there and he like it.
2009-10-29 3:05 PM
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Madison
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
I did the Trek Tri in July as my first tri. Have to say that the course was nice and flat.  The swim was longer than a normal sprint - but the water was calm.  The bike was flat and fast and the run was flat too.

It's kind of a zoo - but neat because of all the women cheering you on.

I also did Devil's Challenge later in the year. I would say that this is not for beginners just because of the killer bike course.

Good luck.
2009-10-29 3:27 PM
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Sun Prairie, WI
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations

My first Tri was Lake Mills this year.  I enjoyed the experience.  It was well run and organized.  The course is not overly difficult, the only downside was the rain.  I would recommend it as a first time event.

Greg

2009-10-29 3:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
scoobysdad - 2009-10-29 2:09 PM The only downside I would mention about Lake Mills is that Rock Lake is still very cold at that time and IMO you definitely NEED a wetsuit.


+1


I think I was one of 10 maybe that didn't have one and I was hyperventilating the whole swim. On top of the fact that I hadn't swam in about 10 years it made it interesting to say the least.


2009-10-29 3:56 PM
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Marshfield Wi
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
If you are more central Wi, I usually start with Green Bay in June. They have a easy swim in a manmade "lake". They also have a very nice and safe kids tri on Sat. In late June, South wood county YMCA tri in Wis Rapids has a nice swim, very flat 14.5 mile bike and a 3.6 mile trail run. Again small and well run. Wausau has the longest running tri in August. Easy, safe swim, nice flat run but a challenging bike with lots of hills.
If you are new to the tri life you will find that you will meet many great, friendly people of all abillities that are more than happy to help in any way they can. That is what got me hooked.
2009-10-29 4:58 PM
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Marshfield Wi
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
Yes there have been some tragic deaths. At Oshkosh I had a PR in the sprint and was on top of the world then I heard a young gal passed away durring the swim. As was stated earlier a person can stand the entire distance at Oshkosh. The swim can be a bit of a contact sport but I don't know of anyone that has drowned (I could be wrong) I think most are cardiac situations.
The best thing is to talk to as many people as possible, have a plan, stay calm and have fun.
2009-10-29 7:27 PM
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Verona WI--Ironman Bike Country!
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
Hey Jean....

As  a beginner swimmer, I went really short distance and did Mighty Wolf as my first a couple of years ago.  It was a whopping 200y swim which was perfect to get my feet wet.  I really think Silver Lake in Portage, Oshkosh and Green Bay are all well run events and good for beginners.  Green Bay  you can basically touch bottom for 1/2 of the swim if that is important to you.  Have fun!

Suzy
2009-10-29 9:32 PM
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Elite
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Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations

Just a little north of Madison...I would highly recommend Pardeeville or Portage.  Awesome beginner tri's. 

2009-10-30 1:48 AM
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Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
I'll second the J-Hawk (Whitewater) EarlyBird triathlon.  Very well run and a great event for beginners or experienced triathletes. The early one is nice and early in the season as well. It is a 500 yd pool swim, but the waves are managed well and can remove some of the OWS anxiety some people have from your first event.

It was my first tri and I turned out ok!


2009-10-30 7:07 AM
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Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
Thank you so much for all the great suggestions.  I really appreciate the input.   I am really looking forward this.   After the first tri do I get bit by the donkey bug?

Edited by JENO 2009-10-30 7:20 AM
2009-10-30 7:48 AM
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Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations

JENO - 2009-10-30 7:07 AM Thank you so much for all the great suggestions.  I really appreciate the input.   I am really looking forward this.   After the first tri do I get bit by the donkey bug?

 

Probably just end up getting bit by a donkey.

2009-10-30 2:39 PM
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Madison
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
Ha.  I can offer up a 3 year old donkey offspring if you need someone to bite you. He's a pro.
2009-11-01 12:43 PM
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Stoughton, WI
Subject: RE: Beginner tri recommendations
My husband decided to sign me up for a triathlon without telling me - Bigfoot Olympic - when he was just starting in triathlon.  I had never done one either, but was swimming and running at the time.  I decided I didn't want an Olympic distance to be my 1st, and we signed up for Capitol View also.  I am a swimmer by nature, and the open water was a little nerve-wracking for me.  SO, we decided to do the J-Hawk Early Bird as it was a pool swim, but we could go through the motions of the transition to bike and to run and see what this sport was all about.  It was kinda cold that year (08), but we enjoyed ourselves.  Even though it was a pool swim, it helped me be more calm for the next tri.  Robert has done the Aquathon series the last 2 years, and I joined him this summer.  It is a nice way to get you used to open water swimming.  I am planning on a 1/2 IM this summer, probably will do Bigfoot again - olympic, and I think I will try Lake Mills as it is so highly recommended.  I very much disliked Capitol View - at least the sprint.  The lakes are cold early in the season - I had a really hard time even with a wetsuit.  Definitely get in once or twice before the race just so you know what to expect.  
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