How much money have you spent on triathlon?

After a while, it gets pretty cheap. Well, unless you like to spend money. With a stable of 8, I don't need any more bikes (though it doesn't stop me from looking). Wetsuit is already covered. Pretty much just entry fees and travel to local races. And Lisa and I can get our entry fees comp'd for volunteering at other events.

But, this year...

Bike clothing: Probably about $200. Things have been wearing out. After 5 years or so, it's to be expected.

Entry fee to RAMROD: $90.

Entry fee to Spring Century: $25.

New rear wheel: I think that total was about $120 (I built it myself on a rim I already had).

That's not to say that's ALL the money I spent this year, but that's pretty much all I spent on specifics for tri or my events this year. I would be riding and training regardless of whether I was racing or not, so I really can't count that as "extra" spent.

LOL, I was thinking about this just this morning!!!

Ok, so I am just getting into this whole Tri thing and trying to do it as cheap as possible without sacrificing the important things. A year ago I didn't even know anything about this sport in the slightest. Now I think I am hooked. I digress.

So, working backwards I just bought a 2012 Orbea Ordu off ebay for $1850 + $50 bucks for the bike shop to put it together when it gets here + $200 for a professional bike fit so I will have $2100 in a bike. I spent $100 on Shimano SPD pedals/cleats. I got some clearance specialized tri shoes for $130 (a steal since one of the local bike shops flooded and the box was the only thing that got wet). I joined the local Tri club ($60) and another local Team kind of thing that included some good training tips and tri information ($40). I ran a little supersprint named my first tri (in basketball shoes and on a mountain bike) so $50, Plus a sprint I run in next weekend $75. I also registered for another supersprint that got canceled due to a hurricane and they only refunded 75% of my money (wtf) so I lost $15 or so. I joined the Y here which is $35/month plus I joined a master swim class ($25/month). I bought a pair of tri shorts and then also a tri suit for races, I got $150 in those and then spent another $120 on a good pair of running shoes.

Oh, and I have spent $300 in road bike rentals for various training events and a members only tri.

So all in all for my first year I have spent about a total of approximately $3600-3700 if you include all the other little crap running belt, water bottles, GU's, etc. That is waiting buying things as really good deals came along, working out at the Y, and taking advantage of group training deals in the area. My goal was running an Olympic tri by this time this year. I am def in the shape to do it (and have on various training days this year), I just couldn't find one close enough that worked with my crazy life schedule. Had I ran the AmeliaMan Oly which "kind of" worked but some things changed in the last month that prevented me from doing it. I would have right at 4k in my first year of Triathlon. 

Next year, I expect that number to be much lower since I will have the bike and proper gear. My wife is also due in April with twins and we have a almost 2yo so my racing will be limited for at least that first year they get here. Although, I will likely pay off the bike and then invest in a cycle trainer. So my estimate for next year will probably more like $1k-$1500. I expect it to hover around that including racing, travel, replacing gear, etc. from there forward assuming I don't buy another bike in one of those years.

After reading another post where someone mentioned "paying off" their bike, it sounds like some people spend too much.  For me, the tri-specific items have only been shorts, a tank (both on clearance at REI) and goggles.   Oh, and I bought new running shoes becuase my other ones were close to 10 years old.   I only do local events, so no hotels.

This beeing my first season and my wife first season our budget took some serious hits.

2 Road bikes

2 cyclo cross bikes

2 Wetsuits

1 Trainer

Various other things (2 sets of road-bike shoes, 1 (set of) tri shoes, 4 tri singles suits, 1 tri suit 2 piece, gels, gus, gatorade, garmin fr60, garmin swim, ogio endurance 9.0 bag, 2 sets of tyr goggles, 6 water bottle cages, 2 rocket pockets, 4 saddle bags, 2 spd pedals, 2 spd-sl pedals, xlab wing, 4 co2 cartridges, 2 sets of aquasphere googles, 2 buoys, 2 kickboards, 3 sets of flippers, 1 set of paddles, 2 swim stuff bags, 2 bathings uits, 2 swiming trunks/speedos, member ship to tri-club, entry fees to pool, 2 front lights, 2 rear lights, 3 running lights, 3 road ID's, 8 (or more) pair of running shoes, 2 vibrams, trainingpeaks subscription, compression knee sleeve, 2 compression pants, various sports bras, etc...)

Entry fees to: 2 triathlons, 4 half marathons x2, 2 5ks x 2, 2 15ks x2, 1 duathlon x2, 1 10k x2, 1 10m x2, 1 50k run x2 (in 2013).

Now putting dollars on that... I don't have the time for that.

But beeing 55 lbs lighter than a year ago and beeing fit and healthy is worth every cent spent!

Wow, I managed my first tri season on much less than that!

Cheap road bike: $250

Bike gear (helmet, pump, etc.): $100

Tri-suit for racing: $125

Registration fees for 2 tris: $140

I already had swimming and running clothes, and I don't count stuff that I was already doing before I started tris and would be doing anyway (registrations for half marathons and masters swimming).

One thing is for sure,

even though it is cheaper than Tri's, Rugby is MUCH harder on the body and I think I am in better shape!!!

I loved Rugby wholeheartedly (still do) but it's not an old man's sport so this is much better for the knees and shoulders regardless of the cost.

Triathlon:  This is my first full season of Tri training.  So with a new road bike, bike accessories (new shoes, helmet, pedals...), tri clothes probably around $3,000.  Still to come wetsuit, aero bars, bike trainer probably another $800.  Four Tri races, $240 in entry fees.  Total for year - around $4,000.

Running:  Five pairs of shoes - $500, New running clothes - $200, Race registration for 9 races $700, Travel for NYCM - $1,600.  Total for year - around $3,000.  

Medical Savings from participating in endurance sports at age 53 - Priceless.

Still a lot less than some of my friends spend on golf.

Hmmm, this is my 4th year of tri's. 

Maybe 300 on new gear-shoes and jersey and stuff.

Probably 1300.00 for all of the races. Much of that was paid for last year.

Maybe another 2000.00 for travel, but some of that was "vacation" to a race location, so not as bad as it sounds.

But the rewards of completing my races and being healthy-PRICELESS

x2... I don't want to know and I am only 1 race in and already planning an Ironman 70.3 in Puetro Rico.... enough to trade in my car and get a new one.... BUT wouldn't trade it for the world!

Let's just say I hope my kids are really smart or good at sports so they can get scholarships to college. 

And that's about all I got to say about that.

nolken - 2012-09-26 10:17 AM

rungirl222 - 2012-09-26 10:13 AM

x2... I don't want to know and I am only 1 race in and already planning an Ironman 70.3 in Puetro Rico.... enough to trade in my car and get a new one.... BUT wouldn't trade it for the world!

I think the "enough to trade in my car and get a new one" should be in parentheses, as I believe you meant, "I wouldn't trade tris for the world" and not "I wouldn't trade my car in the world" but if you love your car that much then that must be one heck of a car! Just saying

No I enjoy my car but I am in LOVE with my Barbie Bike. I was just saying looking back on it I could have gotten a new car with it Every time I turn around I am having to buy something new... yesterday the wetsuit... this weekend I am trying on Aero helmets in Jacksonville.

Goodness...I don't want to add up that number.

Depends a bit how far you stretch the definition.  I mean, I can for sure say that bikes, bike equipment, tri equipment, race entry, race travel, coaching, pool fees, etc. are directly tri-related.  But what about gym fees?  I'd go to the gym even if I didn't do tris, but you COULD call it tri related.  Nevermind how much I've spent on massages and medical over the years...probably at least 50% of which I wouldn't have needed if I didn't do tri's...

If I attributed ALL of it to triathlon I would think that my number would be well up over $50k in the 8-ish years I've been doing triathlon.  But I've had coaching for at least 6-7 of those years, owned two tri bikes, get bi-weekly massages and have to pay out of pocket for things like ART because AF medical stinks...and I've done several BIG NAME races that are expensive (Kona, Alcatraz, Nations, 2xIM, etc).  so...I would think I've probably spent more than the average person.

All of it.

No regrets either- at least about my role in the sport.