Are you a bunch of superfit, unfriendly misfits?
No, no and no. We're a load of people who live in Sunderland and the surounding area and who enjoy keeping fit and healthy and socialising with like minded folk. New members have often commented on how friendly the club is and you really don't have to be a hardened racer to enjoy triathlon training. We certainly have some very good triathletes in the club but not at the expense of a friendly atmosphere. If you remain to be convinced, have a look at some of our members profiles!
What is a triathlon?
These days, Triathlons are a single event consisting of a swim, bike and run section in that order. The distances vary from 400m/20km/5km through to 3.8km/180km/40km although the majority of races are towards the shorter end of that scale. Since they're a single event, the time taken to change your kit between sections counts towards your overall triathlon time- a quick change (or "transition") is a useful skill to learn! Triathlons are not Pool, Darts and Skittles (in that order) as one member told his workmates... For more detail have a look at this article
How fit do you have to be?
As fit as you want to be, depending on the goals you set yourself. Completing a sprint distance triathlon (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) is within most people's grasp and it's a great target to work towards if you just want to get generally fitter. Triathlon training is also very varied so it's a great way to get fit if you normally get bored or injured easily. Have a look at our Training pages to find out more. To actually win a race, even at a local level, there's no denying you need to be very fit and train consistently. We can all dream, though!
Is it expensive?
It doesn't have to be. your first swimming session is completely free! After that, swimming currently costs £16 per year then £2.50 per session (or £16 per full month) which includes sessions with a coach. That's pretty good value compared to public swimming sessions and you don't have to do battle with kids and random swimmers either. You don't need a flash bike to start out with and lots of people do their first few races on a mountain bike, maybe with some smooth tyres fitted for speed. If you do get hooked (which is likely!) quality racing bikes start at about £450 and end up well into 4 figures but just remember what Lance Armstrong said: "it's not about the bike." A decent pair of running shoes is a sound investment and can help prevent injuries later on. Shoes tend to cost £50 upwards but getting the correct fit is more important than looks or price- try one of the specialist running shops in the region for advice. As for clothing, again you don't need anything special for your first few races. You can put some shorts and a t-shirt over your swimming kit and you're away. You can't get completely changed, though because of the "no nudity" rule during races!
What if I can't swim?
We can teach you. We have several experienced, friendly, swim coaches in the club and they can take you right through the process of learning and improving your front crawl swimming- even that awkward breathing and swimming at the same time problem! You can meet the coaches on our coaching pages We know swimming can be the thing that puts off many prospective triathletes but come along and have a go- getting coaching works wonders. You can find out more on our swimming page
How can I find out more?
Have a look around the website, email Ian Walker or just come along to one of the coached swim sessions at Newcastle road swimming baths (Tuesday and Thursday 7.30 to 8.30). Remember, your first swimming session is free!