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For Your Calendar |
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Sat, May 2: Your First Tri Clinic
Presented by the Minnesota Triathlon Club and hosted by the YWCA of Minneapolis-Midtown, this is a comprehensive clinic that covers all the things you need and want to know for your first triathlon. The clinic is Sat, May 2, 10:00-11:30am, YWCA-Midtown.
Sun, May 31: Run With the YWCA at the Minneapolis Marathon!
Join us at the Minneapolis Marathon (distances include a half marathon and 5K. I'm going to do the 5K! -Paul). When you register, be sure to check Team YES YWCA Endurance Sports to help the YWCA receive a group discount. Tell us you are coming and find our tent at the race!
Sun, May 31: Price Increase
Register before May 31 to avoid a price increase!
Tues/Wed/Thur on-going
YWCA Member Runs are open to Women's Triathlon participants! Free! Runs are offered at Midtown (Tues and Thur, 6:00am) and Uptown (Wed, 6:00pm).
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Resource Tips |
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We are often asked about good books to read. If you are new to endurance sports training and/or triathlon, take a look at Triathlon 101 by John Mora or The Woman Triathlete by Christina Gandolfo. Both are great intros to the sport.
If you have a fairly advanced understanding of training theory and are more competitive, go with Joe Friel's The Triathlon Training Bible. For websites, check out www.beginnertriathlete.com for starters and www.slowtwitch.com if you are pretty serious and want a larger collection of technical articles.
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Quotes & Comments |
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"I had lots of fun! I can't thank you enough for putting on this women's event and giving me the resources I needed to compete. The support of everyone involved was fantastic. Bravo!"
- 2008 participant
"Just wanted to say THANKS to all the YWCA staff and volunteers for putting on such a great triathlon event!! The total experience, from training to finishing, was awesome. One of my favorite things about the experience was the words of encouragement I would get from women 10, 15 years older than me as they whizzed by me . . . I was so inspired that I too started encouraging other women when I passed them. Thanks again, I can't wait until next year!"
-Sarah (2008 Participant)
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Race Over 3/4 Full!!
If you have friends or family that are planning to race, tell them to register now! We don't want them to be left out! The race cap is 500.
Gear West WOMEN-ONLY Flat Tire Clinics
Led by Gear West Bike & Triathlon's Hannah Sullivan, learn how to fix a flat tire! Our first clinic filled quickly, but we are in the process of scheduling more! If interested, send your name, phone and email to Paul at pjohnson@ywcampls.org.
Here is a coupon for a deal on one of the very best triathlon transition tricks - elastic laces. If you can't see the coupon but see a link, copy the link into your browser.
YWCA Total Immersion Sale
Through May 15, everyone may get a 15% discount on Total Immersion swim instruction packages (six 30-minute lessons). When it comes to swimming, a little technique can make all the difference for confidence, speed and comfort in the water! For more info, go to Total Immersion.
Tri Race Skills Class Registration Open!
We are already taking registrations for last summer's popular Tri class. It covers open water swimming, bike skills, transitions and race day/practice. It is especially helpful for novices and first-timers or anyone who wants to learn tricks of the tri to better prepare for race day. More info including class dates/times and how to register can be found here.
FAQ of the Month
There is a new FAQ page on the website that answers many of the questions that came up last year. Please send us any questions you have as there are probably others interested in the answers!
Q: Can there be more than two buddies in the Buddy Wave?
A: Yes! Be sure that all buddies list the other buddies when they register. Or, email the buddy list to triathlon@ywcampls.org before August 1 (sooner rather than later is appreciated).
Q: Is the bike course hilly?
A: It is a terrific and beautiful course that does include a number of rolling hills. The bike course is challenging (and empowering!). From one of Minnesota's top female triathletes, "this is not a watered-down course for women." However, it is completely manageable. We suggest you spend time training on hills and getting comfortable shifting gears. If you aren't certain about your biking skills, consider the YWCA's Triathlon Race Skills class and Course Preview Workshop (see the Training page).
Training: What about the bike?
Here are four kinds of bikes that you might see at our triathlon:
- Triathlon/Time Trial bikes. Built for aerodynamics and top speed. Before getting one of these bikes, you probably want to know that you are ready to make a commitment to the sport. Or money is no obstacle. You might find some good closeout or intro tri bikes in the $1-1.5K range or spend as much as $5-8K or more for top of the line!
- Road bikes. Usually classified as performance (racing or dedicated training) or touring (casual rides, tours). Many triathletes start on a road bike and stay on a road bike (maybe add clip-on aero bars). There are lots of good options in the $800-1200 range for a first bike. More for a high performance road bike.
- Hybrids. Kind of a cross between a mountain bike and a touring bike. Might be called a "city bike" and will be more upright than a road bike.
- Mountain bikes. Built to go off-road on trails, these bikes are tougher and heavier. If you are going to use a mountain bike for a triathlon, at least switch the wide knobby tires for smoother and narrower tires (sometimes called slicks) to gain a lot of speed and save energy.
You can do a triathlon on almost any kind of bike. If you are new to the sport, you may choose to ride the bike you have. If you opt to borrow one from a friend, try to borrow it for most of the season so you have plenty of time to get used to it by actually training on it. Or use the race as an opportunity (or excuse) to upgrade your bike! There is no question that you will be much faster on a tri or road bike (less total effort on the bike means more energy for the run!).
You might also consider taking your bike to a bike shop that is experienced in bike fitting to be sure it will fit you correctly and be safe and comfortable. (Gear West Bike & Triathlon fits triathletes every day). Or even just to be sure your bike is tuned up and ready to go. Happy riding!
2009 Event Partners
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