General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Tri club? Rss Feed  
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2013-03-07 5:05 PM

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Subject: Tri club?

I've been doing triathlons for 3+ years and have finally come to the realization that solo training isn't resulting in noticeable improvement in my results. So I'm wondering if joining my local tri club would be worthwhile and beneficial. 

I also want to know who has the kind of flexible schedule that allows them to train at "I'm independently wealthy and don't answer to anyone" times?! I'm guessing the independently wealthy?

Any thoughts?



2013-03-07 5:12 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?

I am in a tri-club and have a coach.

I think a club will do little to improve your times, a coach will do a lot.

2013-03-07 5:59 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?
timf79 - 2013-03-07 6:12 PM

I think a club will do little to improve your times, a coach will do a lot.

+1. The caveat being that a club *might* offer organized workouts that get you off your bum more often and push you faster/longer than you do now. But I think that's more the exception than the rule.

2013-03-07 6:05 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?
karlaj - 2013-03-07 3:59 PM

+1. The caveat being that a club *might* offer organized workouts that get you off your bum more often and push you faster/longer than you do now. But I think that's more the exception than the rule.

That's kind of what I hope will happen. And I'm guessing a club will put much less stress on the wallet than a coach would.

2013-03-07 6:22 PM
in reply to: #4650930

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Subject: RE: Tri club?

Depends on the club.  You have a couple possibilities, LA Tri and Conejo Valley multisport?  LA tri can be very (too) social.  I know fastyellow is associated with both, so maybe he can give advice.

I am in LA tri and train with a few local members, but other than the sunday ocean swim, I don't do any club workouts.

2013-03-08 8:00 AM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?
Laloosh - 2013-03-07 7:05 PM
karlaj - 2013-03-07 3:59 PM

+1. The caveat being that a club *might* offer organized workouts that get you off your bum more often and push you faster/longer than you do now. But I think that's more the exception than the rule.

That's kind of what I hope will happen. And I'm guessing a club will put much less stress on the wallet than a coach would.

I'm not in a club, nor do I have a coach, but I do run with a local group.  If you're anything like me it will help you push harder/farther than solo running (ridding or swimming).  I'm pretty competitive and simply running with faster folks makes me determined to keep up.  



2013-03-08 9:23 AM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?
I am a member of a local Tri Club and we have organized workouts 4x a week. Since joining, I think its the main reason I have seen improvement. I have not worked with a coach before but there are alot of experienced triathletes in my club who run the workouts and help push everyone. One guy in the club is a coach who I will work with this summer to train for my first HIM in the fall. I think depending on the type of club it is, they can be very beneficial. My club is social but more about the sport and training together.
2013-03-08 3:29 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?

I probably wouldn't be racing if it wasn't for my tri club.  The leader is a coach and you can pay for one on one coaching too.  I did just that for my 2 IM races. 

There is a fee to join the club but we get organized workouts, tri tops, etc.  Two swims, 1 track workout, 1 long bike and a long run each week.  For the swims, she puts together the workouts with assorted drills.  Same with the tack workout - mostly intervals.   We go to almost all the same races so we are pretty much training for the same things so she varies the workouts to match the races.

The best part is the people I get to train with.  They are friends now, not just training peeps.  Lot of fun!   But I also know not all tri clubs are like this.

  

 

2013-03-08 4:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?

I love working out with my club members. They are dedicated, push me harder, and offer the needed level of guilt to get the heck out of bed in the morning.  i.e. tomorrow 5:00 AM swim followed by spin class followed by treadmill pain.

Otherwise I would probably turn the alarm off and sleep til the kids need to eat.

 

 

2013-03-08 5:21 PM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?
I joined the local tri club but mostly for the discounts, most of the trainings and meetings are on the other side of the city and are at least 45 min drive for me so I rarely go. But the discounts they have are great. 25% off at the local running store. Saved more on my Newtons than the membership cost.
2013-03-10 4:17 AM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?
Laloosh - 2013-03-07 7:05 PM

I also want to know who has the kind of flexible schedule that allows them to train at "I'm independently wealthy and don't answer to anyone" times?! I'm guessing the independently wealthy?

I do.  I work 7p to 7a 3 nights a week so I can train every day I want.  So I try to do a swim/bike/run every other day and race once a month here in Miami. Where I train there are groups of 50+ riders, runners running 24/7 and swimmers in the open water swimming every day.  Who needs a club?

 



2013-03-10 9:08 AM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?

I'm in a club and on their board. We have organized training and also piggyback off of our sponsors organized rides and runs. The reality is that it really breaks down along training schedules. Where the club is very useful is in bringing together people on the same schedules and with similar abilities to be able to train outside of the club organized sessions. That being said, most of us doing long course also have coaches, as the club is not for coaching. We are starting a 'try-a-tri' this year for new triathletes, and our more experienced members will buddy up with them and help them through their first race.

A great example of how our club works is the Saturday OWS, which is not organized by us but by one of the local triathlon coaches (who is also one of our sponsors). Pretty much all of us show up, split up to swim whatever distance we are training for, regroup to eat, then break up again into smaller pace and distance based groups, and bike.

Our club decided we would be more social-activity based this year. There are some common races a lot of us wind up doing (i.e. first tri of the year and Lake Placid), so we bring the BBQ and tent, and a lot of families also come to party. We also do a regular pub night out.

2013-03-10 9:25 AM
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Subject: RE: Tri club?

If I had a tri-club a reasonable distance near me I'd join it. Why not?

It's not really in our family budget to be able to have the help of a coach, but I joined a good BT mentor group led by a well respected member, and he pretty much kicked my butt into shape.

Getting help where I could and making myself accountable has kept me pretty motivated over these winter months. 

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