I was just going over the [URL=http://www.set-upinc.com/rp5/nctshome.shtml]NC Triathlon Series[/URL] events for next year and on the front page it recommends registering when it's first available...which is January 1st. Now, I want to do anywhere from 5 to 7 events next year, one being a Half Ironman in September, which I won't make the final decision until the end of summer...I need to know what condition I'm in.
Now some of the events were closed by January 3rd of last year and the web site lists the ones and suggests early registration for those (luckily most are around March and my child is due then so I can't make any of those).
But my question is...do ya'll sign up for the races immediately or what? When do they usually fill up? If I signed up for all races at once, it's more of a financial hit...especially since it's right after Xmas! I'm guessing the 1/2 IM will fill up quickly since there's only 2 in the series and one is at the beginning of the year. I'm also guessing the Olympic distances will fill up relatively fast because there's only 3 of those (and I want to do all three Oly distance ones). Throw me some advice, Por Favor!
[edited] I just re-read my heading...I know physically HOW to register for the races...I just wanted to know how YOU register for your races.
Come on Jose, don't you ever read a triathlon magazine from time to time?
I usually sign up for my A races as soon as possible. This way I know when I am doing them, what the distances are and everything. Its important to have everything prepared for your main races. So maybe pick out your 2 most important races for the season (maybe your home town, the biggest one, the longest one, whatever reason) and sign up for those.
My B races I sign up for about 3-4 weeks in advance depending on how my training is going. If I feel I can do it, I sign up. Gives you a little more flexibility, as you usually know whether you are going to be busy around then.
My C races are usually the week of. If I have time, and feel like it would be fun to go and race as part of my training for my A races then I do it. If not, its no big deal.
If you really want to do the HIM and are commited to doing the training, then sign up. Don't wait to see what condition you are in, train so you will be in the condition you want to be in. Its good motivation.
Good Luck.
Brian
[QUOTE=Blitz]Come on Jose, don't you ever read a triathlon magazine from time to time?[/QUOTE]
Nope...never have! Hey, I've been training for about 9 months...but I still haven't run my first race. I'm an eternal newbie!
I sign up as early as possible. Most races are in place by January. I have two races scheduled already for the upcoming season. I found that scheduling them early makes it a commitment as opposed to a tentative thing. Also it works better with timing it with the training plan.
If possible, I would find some people from a local tri club and ask them how fast your target races have sold out in previous years. Races tend to fill at least that fast in subsequent years. Not all races sell out, and the locals will definitely know which will and which won't. I also like Brian's strategy, above. Get into your A races now, then save yourself some cash flow by waiting on all the other races--this also helps limit your losses in case you get injured while training and can't do a particular race.
Here's one way to do it:
1) Find out what you want to accomplish, train for it;
2) set A race(s) that will be your goal;
3) set B races to test yourself if your goals are working
4) Set C races to test new things.
Oh ya sign up asap before they fill up.
BBB
I sign up for my A races early. I usually just do smaller events so my A races are the only ones that fill up quickly. For the rest of them, its either the day before price increase if I'm on top of things or a few days before the race if I'm not.
Also, since this will be your first season, you'll probably want to register right away for the first race you plan to do--regardless of whether it is an "A" race. You'll have enough other things to think about leading up to that first one that you shouldn't also be worrying about getting in.
I sign up asap for my A races also. The NCTS races will often have wait lists, I'm not sure if every race has one though. They do tend to fill up quickly unfortunately. There are also some other races in the area not listed on the set-up website, esp in VA.