BT Forum

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS 

It's the New Year! Time for untold thousands of people to resolve that this is the year. Maybe it's the year that you're going to get off the couch and get in shape. Maybe this is the year that you fulfill that crazy dream of completing a triathlon? 

Whatever your specific resolution, many of you have found your way here to beginnertriathlete.com looking for information and advice. We've got plenty of that, but due to the special nature of this community we have a few other things we can give you that you may not be expecting:

• Inspiration

• Hope

• Our own experiences in losing the weight, in learning to swim, in dealing with doubtful people around us.

• Our strategies for dealing with and overcoming the doubts, fears and setbacks that inevitably accompany an attempt to achieve fitness and well being.

We want to make sure that you are fully prepared on race day be it in March, April, May or June.   The 'Beginner Triathlete Mentor Program.' is here to help.

This program was created to match beginner triathletes up with mentors having similar backgrounds or goals to conquer in the New Year.  All of our mentors have a variety of experience in triathlon racing, training and even weightloss.  By putting beginner triathletes in a small group led by a mentor, this will give you a lot of focus and motivation while begin able to pick the brains of your mentor. 

Who are the mentors?

We will have several current BT members in various shapes, sizes and years of triathlon experience willing to mentor 10-15 new people(only a recommendation) each into this great sport.

What is the role of the mentor?
The mentors will give you advice on your questions that you ask. They will check-in frequently weekly in your group's thread to offer tips and motivation. They will also visit your training logs regularly to check-up on your progress and leave comments.

*Note, these mentors are most likely not coaches, treat any advice as just that...advice and keep our terms of use in mind.  Our mentors have been through the ropes already and have done several races, for which they have some invaluable experience to share. 

How long will this last?

This mentoring program will last 3-4 months from January to the end of March/April.  That should be long enough to get beginners triathletes or beginner exercisers into a program consistently while also giving enough time to begin to conquer fitness and weightloss goals and get that first race done in the Spring/Summer.

Who can join?

Any beginner triathlete, exerciser or an not-so-beginner triathlete can join.  The prerequisite is that we encourage you to log your workouts on BT's training log (that big 'Training Log' link at the top).  Why?  That way our mentors and your other group members can look at your workouts, leave comments and even answer questions.  It's a great reference source too especially if you ask a training-related question.

How does this work?

Make sure you have first registered at Beginnertriathlete.com.  Then login and follow instructions below:

1. Choose a mentor.
   Our mentors have filled out a short profile of who they are, their interests, triathlon experience and how they train.
    
   BROWSE through the profiles of our available mentors in our 'Beginner Triathlete Mentor Program' forum.  A 'Full' designation in the subject line means that the mentor already has 5 people in their group.  'Open' means that this mentor is accepting people.
    

2. Adding yourself to a forum group
   Once you have found a mentor that you like that also has an 'Open' designation in the subject line, just 'reply'  to his/her thread with an intent to join.  Post a short bio of yourself along with your goals.

3. Ask questions!
   Throughout this mentor program, ask questions to your mentor's group by 'replying' to his/her thread in the Beginner Triathlete Mentor Program' forum. Everything is in one place and other group members can talk too.

4. Add your group to your training log
   Add your mentor and other group members to your training log for easy access to view their workouts and to leave comments.  You can configure your training log settings and add these people by username to your 'friends' list via your training log control panel.
   *You will want to set your log to 'public' for this program so your group can see you.

5. Log your training
   To log your training, just hit that big 'Training Log' button at the top.  Read more about the training log features.
    
   Read more about using the training log, see 'Setting Up Your Log' and 'General Logging'.  More log articles in the 'Training Log Category'
    
   The 'Inspire Me' link is pretty cool and will allow you to leave comments and motivation in other members training log.

Good luck!  Don't be the resolutionist that didn't make it.  Accomplish your goals!

NOTE: If you have any technical or specific questions about the program, just REPLY to this thread.