For beginners, triathlon can be an intimidating sport.  Many people want to have a go at a triathlon, but don’t quite know where to start.  Well…this is where to start.  Each year XTC run a number of popular beginners courses designed for complete (or nearly complete) beginners. 

Ok...if you’ve done a couple of short races, you can still be a beginner.  The beginner’s triathlon course is called the Try-a-Tri course.  Not very clever, but there you go. And our beginners duathlon course is call just that.  A duathlon, by the way, is run/ride/run generally held over winter. 

The courses are run by experienced triathlon coaches with years of racing and coaching behind them.  BUT…we are not about training world champions here.  Most beginners have more modest expectations…to finish in one piece, improve their fitness and meet new people and have fun. I am pleased to report, that we generally achieve all of the above.   

So how does it work? The Try-a-Tri course involves 5 weeks of training, with one session of swimming, one of riding and one of running each week.  But of course it’s not just swim, bike, and run training in isolation.  The fun starts when we combine these together as the course progresses.  In addition we hold sessions at Elwood beach to teach the specific skills of open water swimming.   In the penultimate week of the course we hold our own, quite relaxed practice race over similar distances to that which you will complete in the official race.  Finally, the course concludes with all participants completing a race from one of the two local triathlon series’.  

But of course it’s not all just running laps or swimming up and down the black line.  All of the training is varied, structured and involves a combination of technique and fitness exercises.  And importantly, it’s more fun than serious.  You will be provided instruction on the ins and outs of triathlon gear, triathlon rules and etiquette, pacing strategy, nutrition, how and where to train and any other triathlon trivia you care to know!  

Finally, and perhaps most importantly – wether you like it or not – you will meet new people, lots of em.  Our courses have up to 20 people in them, 3 coaches plus we use helper from people in the club as well.  If you want to meet new people or make new friends, then this is a great way to do it.  

Ok, sounds good so far…but I have a couple of questions. 

1.  I’ll be too slow.  Nope – no such thing.  This is a course for complete beginners.  The slower the better.  No seriously, as long as you can ride a bike, run for a short while, say 5 or 10 minutes, and swim a continuous lap of a 50m pool freestyle then your good to go.  If you can’t, then you might need to do a little homework before the course.   

2.  It’ll be too hard.  Nope.  You may be surprised to learn that good triathlon training is more about slowly building endurance and technique rather than flat out “no pain no gain” efforts.  You are always in control of how hard you are training, and besides, you are the customer and the customer is always right!   

3.  How long is the race at the end?There is always a choice of two race distances, and they sometimes vary slightly, but are often…  Mini                200m swim, 10km ride and 2km run.Sprint             500m swim, 20km ride and 5km run. The course will certainly prepare you for both events.  During the course of the…course you will need to consider which of the race distances you would like to do.  If you are unsure which race you are capable of we can help you there too. 

4.  I don’t have a road bike.  Neither did I for my first races.  And old bike will do, so long as it’s safe and roadworthy.  If it hasn’t been out for a while it might benefit from a service before the course starts. 

5.  I might not be able to make all of the sessions.  Not many people make every session of the course, with work and other commitments which come up.  If you miss the occasional session, this is ok, and we can give you homework if need be.  Obviously to miss too many sessions makes it difficult to get the real benefit from the course. 

6.  The course seems quite cheap – does it include entry to the race?  Is there anything else to pay?  Yes, and no.  Yes it includes the race entry.  No, there is nothing else to pay. Zip.   

7.  I’m entered in the BRW, can I use the Try-a-Tri course to train for this race?  Knock yourself out.   

Ok, great I’m in.  When is the next course?  Our Beginners Duathlon course generally starts in early June, but depends on the race calender.  Similarly, there are two Try-a-Tri courses.  The exact dates are determined by the race calender, but are often starting in October for the before Christmas course and in mid Jan for the post Christmas course. 

To register your interest email info@xtremetriclub.org.au and we will email you as soon as the dates for the next course are fixed.