New Triathlete Program for 2011

Your first “Try to Tri!”-BATC New Triathletes Program 2011 

The daffodils are blooming, the grass it turning green and the fields are filled with, well they’re filled with mud, but spring is here.

At the BATC we want you to succeed and as the saying goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”  The New Triathlete Progam will help you reach that goal and realize, you can do it! 

Here's what it consists of: 

  • THE PLAN 
    • Training plan for a race – The training starts on March 28th and ends 12 weeks later on June 19th.  However, you can start any time in the first three weeks.
  • THE MENTOR
    • You will be matched up with a mentor from the club. This is someone with more triathlon experience who you can email and talk to when you have questions, and you WILL have questions.
  • THE RACES
    • That end date of the program will set you up nicely for one of four local sprint tris or any other one you choose.
      • June 12th is the date of the Tri it Triathlon in Delaware, a sprint race setup for new triathletes.
      • June 19th  is the St. Andrews sprint triathlon in Delaware
      • June 19th is also the South Carroll Sprint Tri on the 20th. The South Carroll swim club tri is a pool swim for those folks still a little unsure of their open water skills.
      • June 26th is the celebration sprint in Columbia.
  • THE STRATEGY
    • Your training plan will be a complete plan covering swim / bike / and run training with detailed instructions. 
      • You'll get a race execution guide that will leave no stone unturned and let you know what to expect and how to conduct yourself on race day.
      • Two controlled course bike rides in case you are getting back into the swing of biking. Controlled course means either on closed roads or in a state park.
      • The first target race will be the Cascade Lake Duathlon in May. Duathlons are run / bike / run events that are excellent stepping stones into the sport before you get involved in any open water swims.
      • Course preview ride of the Cascade Lake Duathlon and Celebration Sprint Triathlon Courses
      • Open Water Clinic with the rest of the club.
      • Volunteering at a local race before your goal race to see what it is like from the inside out. 
      • One of the weekend workouts on the training plan every week will be a hosted workout, at least two mentors or other volunteers will be there to help guide you along and offer whatever help they can.
  • THE REWARDS!
    • New Friends! Great Fun! Good Health!

Who is it for?

Anyone who thinks they may benefit is welcome to join, experienced triathlete or not. If you’ve never had a training program you might find this a good way of getting into that sort of training mode.

With the help of your mentor you will easily be able to modify the plan to get ready for an Olympic distance race.

Previous graduates of the program have gone on to longer distance races later that same year. For example if you are thinking of doing the Diamond in the Rough Tri in July or perhaps the Diamondman or Bethany Beach Tris in September, this can be a good stepping stone. If your sights are set a bit higher than a sprint tri we will do our best to match you with a mentor who has experience at the longer distances.

Program Requirements – Read this PART!
The New Triathlete Program is open to BATC members. BATC membership costs $30 and can be done online (http://bit.ly/hY4Qyc).

The New Triathlete Program costs $25, to register please email batcregistrar@gmail.com and you’ll get instructions.

All members of the New Triathlete Program are REQUIRED TO VOLUNTEER AT THE COLUMBIA TRIATHLON ON MAY 22nd

This is not flexible, if you can’t volunteer that day for whatever reason, please don’t sign up for the program.

All races depend on volunteers, we volunteer at races so that others can have the fun. By the same token some days when we race others are volunteering for us. We all do our part to keep the sport healthy and thriving.

When does it Start?

There will be get acquainted meetings on the following days, each get acquainted meeting will have some of the mentors there and other members from whom you can find out more about the program.

March 25th at 7 PM – We will have a meeting downstairs at the Falls Road Running Store (http://dev.missionmedia.net/fallsroad/comps/home.html). The store is extending a special price of 20% off anything in the store on Friday.

March 27th at 8:50 AM – A short, flattish run at the Willow Grove Entrance of Cromwell Valley Park (http://www.cromwellvalleypark.org/) followed by coffee and bagels at Einstein’s.

March 30th at 7 PM – We will have a meeting inside the Lutherville Bike Shop (http://www.luthervillebikeshop.com/lbsnew/).  

Even if you don’t come to the get acquainted meeting, you will be able to start any time in the first three weeks or so of the program.

Please tell your friends who may be interested and email me with any questions you might have.

Thank You