The Loneliest Triathlete
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Tribro posted 19 weeks ago.
If there aren't any established clubs in your area, maybe stat one, even if informally. I'm sure there are some people around who might have an interest. Maybe the school would be interested in helping start a club?
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krazyfranco posted 19 weeks ago.
There has got to be someone at your school that runs, bikes, or swims! Go find them, even for a easy workout once a week or so.
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theShiba posted 19 weeks ago.
Maybe if you told us what city/area you live in, someone might want to hook-up for a ride or something.
"Every journey has a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware." —Martin Buber
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tsilcyc posted 19 weeks ago.
I miss the camaraderie that I had when I was part of a bike club. The long days get lonely when going solo. I ran into a cycling team the other day and it has me thinking I want to join a club of some sort just to interact with real people.
How about a city/state roll call?
tsilcyc
SF Bay Area
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ryanweeg posted 19 weeks ago.
Huntington Beach, CA. I'm down for some group open water swims in the OC area. Maybe even some run/ride partners.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
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scottbland247 posted 19 weeks ago.
Orlando, fl.......me and a buddy are dying for someone to do some workouts with......it's just us and we don't know jack about triathlons as we are both newbies
It is better to hurt from doing something than from doing nothing...
First Triathlon (400m/20k/2.75mile) 1:39.15 including 33 minutes in the water
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Sully800 posted 19 weeks ago.
M, 21, Philly/Allentown PA
Looking for a young female triathlete accomplice. Will provide pictures of shaved legs ;-)
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jellings9 posted 19 weeks ago.
Baltimore, MD...tons of good roads to ride and run on. Don't know any where to go for open water swims.
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GGehrke posted 19 weeks ago.
I know I'm forcing myself to sign up for some races that I don't really even care about just for the sake of talking to other racers and traveling with a local friend who does tri.
Personally, I sort of prefer training alone, though, so I dunno. I also already think about training and racing more than I should (should be focusing on school more) so for me, not allowing triathlon to dominate my life is important. I definitely feel you on the accountability issue, though. That's probably the toughest aspect for me.
And for the "roll call" I'm in Monterey, CA. About 2hrs south of SF and 5hrs north of LA.
-Grant-
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GGehrke posted 19 weeks ago.
Another thing I just thought of, too -- in my experience, cycling is an extremely contagious disease. I know I've influenced several friends to start riding or to ride more seriously, and I would not have become interested in triathlon had it not been for the influence of others. Perhaps some of the people around you just need a spark and they'll become infected as well ;)
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theShiba posted 19 weeks ago.
Fullerton, CA... Student at Cal. State Fullerton.
"Every journey has a secret destination of which the traveler is unaware." —Martin Buber
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krazyfranco posted 19 weeks ago.
St. Louis, MO. SLU student. Go Billikins!
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TriSig posted 19 weeks ago.
Have you talked to your LBS about group rides?
Don't forget though training alone will make you faster.
Denton, Texas-University of North Texas
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Tribro posted 19 weeks ago.
hey guys. good idea on location roll call. let's start a new thread for that... don't want to highjack jalyon's thread. also working on improved profiles which will include locations to hopefully help connect members...
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fpugsley posted 19 weeks ago.
I didnt see the new thread, so...
Dallas, TX 1/2 mile from White Rock Lake. I like the Saturday Mirage/RBM ride
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TriSooner posted 19 weeks ago.
You may be the best triathlete in school but probably not the better than the best runner, cyclist or swimmer. Instead of trying to find friends who do all three, have one (or more) friend who is a runner, one who is a cyclist, and one who is a swimmer. I've found that training with people or groups that specialize in only one discipline generally means they are faster than me in that one sport (ergo, I train with people better than I).
Ironman Germany (July 6, 2008)
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jsk85 posted 19 weeks ago.
I was waiting for a new thread too, but am too lazy to make it. So I'm stealing this thread.
Cincinnati, OH (apparently one of the few midwesterners around here).
Haven't been in the area long enough to know the best routes, split my time between Dayton and Louisville the past 4.5 years until 6 months ago.
MapMyRide is my best friend
My blog: http://jsktri.blogspot.com
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outexan posted 19 weeks ago.
Austin, TX here...would love someone (or someones) else to train with.
Help me raise money for the LAF by donating anything that you can. Thank you so much!
http://www.livestrong.org/grassroots2008/ironmanchris
.jpg "jalyon's picture"){kind=avatar}
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jalyon posted 19 weeks ago.
I have been working for the past semester in starting a club, and it just got approved by the university last week. In getting the word out and gauging interest I got 25 or so names (more than I expected) but the problem has come in actually coordinating workouts and getting people to take the plunge and sign up for a race. I'm the only one who has actually done a tri, but some of the guys and girls I know are pretty handy ex-HS runners who would get very competitive very quickly. They've just gotta catch the bug! So my question is how to get people to commit to this when #1- it isn't a priority to them right now, ie they don't know how cool it is #2- many of them do not have a bike, and buying one is a big financial commitment #3- I don't want to come across as pushy, because I know many people aren't like me and they tri for sheer enjoyment/social as opposed to competition
Another question, since group rides will be popping up around town once the time changes: how do you balance group rides with sticking to your training plan?
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ChunkyB posted 19 weeks ago.
BTW, everyone check out this thread to find out where all the other trifuelers are.
That is a bummer though, not having anyone to talk tri with. I guess that's why we have trifuel. Good luck finding some buddies. I echo what's been said about finding people that are interested in each individual sport. Check out your LBS for some people to ride with. Good luck.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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antelope0531 posted 19 weeks ago.
Tri to start a sprint triathlon race at your school. You've probably got a pool that you can use. You can get some help from the XC or track team with the running aspect and maybe try to get a local shop or bike club to help with the bike aspect.
Proceeds from the race can benefit your new club. Miami U in Ohio has a race that the student gov't/association puts on. You can email them and ask how they got the race going. http://www.orgs.muohio.edu/musf/Triathlon.htmlx for more info.
Good luck.
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catwood posted 19 weeks ago.
I just started a club at my school (Whitman College) this year too. Its been lots of work and I've learned that there is never enough money, there are too many rules and regulations to work around to even access the money, and people can never be counted on to do anything.
However, out of a school of 1500, I have 40 people on the listserve - maybe about 10 are taking this seriously. Including myself, we have 3 going to collegiate nationals (not funded by the school because we aren't using all of our budget to bring a 'chaperone' grrr), 7 going to an existing triathlon and 2 going to an existing duathlon this spring. It was like pulling teeth (or rather twisting arms) to get 7 to register for a $20 race. The swim team here puts on a low key triathlon each fall and spring and we'll probably have a pretty good showing there.
I'm pretty darn pushy about recruiting people. You have to be. A fair amount are intimidated by the sport even though pretty much anyone could complete a sprint tri tomorrow and be fine. Another chunk only want to do triathlons in the summer (the ones we are doing as a team are during the school year). Most everyone is a swimmer or runner or taking the triathlons sports pe class. We have a very active cycling team and its nearly impossible to pull people away from there and we can't really do fall tri's since such a high % of the membership is on the xc team.
Let me know if you have any questions... This is our first season and we haven't traveled anywhere as a team yet, but I've gotten though a couple of roadblocks that you probably will encounter. Beware of the people that take on responsibility -- check up on them often and be prepared to do it all yourself if they look like they are going to flake.
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jalyon posted 19 weeks ago.
antelope0531 wrote:
Tri to start a sprint triathlon race at your school.
That's a really good idea. Can't believe it never crossed my mind since one of the races I'm doing this season is one put on by Ole Miss. Probably too late to start planning for having one this semester, but it would be great for the fall, thanks!
catwood wrote:
Its been lots of work and I've learned that there is never enough money, there are too many rules and regulations to work around to even access the money, and people can never be counted on to do anything.
Cannot be more true! My percentages are about the same as yours (25 say their interested, more like 4 or 5 will actually do something). It is a big plus to have a tri PE class and an active cycling and xc team though. Samford doesn't even have men's soccer, much less cycling or swimming (the students don't support the "spectator sport" teams we have, so the school isn't very interested in starting new ones). But I think you're right, I'm doing this all myself, so I think I'm gonna start drawing a hard line on when things are happening and what to do to be a part. People are just too wishy-washy about it, which is understandable when I'm trying to get them to do tri's and they have never swam more than 50m at once and don't have a bike! Good luck to your new club, see ya at Nationals.
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Tamara posted 19 weeks ago.
My cousin is a senior at Ohio State, and I've pushed her towards training for her first triathlon this spring. As a result she found the OSU Tri Club, which sounds like it has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 3yrs. "If you build it, they will come."
http://osutriathlon.com/faq.html
"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." ~George Sheehan
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FlashRedGLS1.8T posted 18 weeks ago.
Tamara wrote:
My cousin is a senior at Ohio State, and I've pushed her towards training for her first triathlon this spring. As a result she found the OSU Tri Club, which sounds like it has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 3yrs. "If you build it, they will come."
Hey, do you know why they aren't part of the Ohio State Triathlon on May 4th?
Recently I've been dealing with loneliness. Not like depression, but in the sense that I love triathlon, and cycling. Absolutely love it. So that means I like to talk about it. But, no one else I know at school (small university 2500 students) is really interested in cycling or tri. It's become blatantly obvious these last two days while I've been watching the ToC. My housemates purposely avoid the TV b/c they know I will try to get them to watch it, I think. I'm trying to be more active in forums, but it isn't even close to being the same. I want friends who will make the connection when I make a joke about the size of Paolo Bettini's thighs, you know? It makes training harder too because there is no accountability. Whether I do that extra run or not, I'm still the best triathlete on campus. Anyway, maybe this is just venting, but I'm open to advice as well.