Are You Afraid of Triathlons?

To answer the above question, I am. I could manage a normal race of some kind if I trained. But the multi-facet aspect of a triathlon is frightening.  Swimming, biking and then running. So many variables and questions come up.

Do you have to wear your swimsuit while you are biking and running? Where do you put your shoes? Surely you aren’t expected to swim in your shoes. Will someone be watching your bike before and after your ride? Do they count the transition time it takes you to switch from swimming to biking and then running? What if I get a flat tire? What if I drown?

An upcoming class at the will help answer those questions and more and help you train to undertake the feat of a triathlon.

Starting Aug. 28, coaches and triathletes Julia Higgins and Carol Housaman will be conducting a four week training program to help beginners prepare for their first triathlon, culminating in the opportunity to participate in the Oct. 2 Giant Acorn Sprint Triathlon at Lake Anna. This will include a 5K run, 20K bike ride and 750-yard open water swim.

Before those numbers freak you out, the minimum requirements for taking the classes are simply the ability to swim 50 yards unaided (about the distance of one full lap in a pool), being comfortable in open water, and the motivation to train. These classes will help get you from there to the finish line.

Higgins and Housaman have completed multiple triathlon and Ironman (basically a super-triathlon) races. “They could train pros, they certainly have that capability,” said Bev McIntyre, a fitness specialist at SBDCRC who is organizing the triathlon classes.  “But they love the beginners.”

“Crossing that finish line is just the greatest feeling in the world,” said McIntyre. “And they’ll be there at the finish line cheering you on.”

McIntyre said the classes will take a very personal approach to each student, seeing where their strengths and weaknesses are and helping them improve and learn. This could be anything and everything from analyzing swim strokes, to talking about what to expect in a real open water situation with other swimmers, helping with running style or a good biking stance, getting a nutrition plan, figuring out a wet suit to rent, shoes to buy or what clothes to wear, and the list goes on. They will also include real-life practice of outdoor running, biking and open-water swimming.

The classes will consist of a three-hour session on each of four different Sunday mornings (7-10), starting Aug. 28 and skipping over Labor Day Weekend to finish up the week before the Oct. 2 race. The classes will be a combination of discussions and actual workouts. But you get more than just 12 hours of preparation—participants are also giving a weekly training plan for throughout the week and free access to the SBDCRC facilities during the duration of the classes (a $50 value in itself). Once your register, you will be told before the first class what to bring and expect from day one.

“Some people start out and can’t swim very well or have other issues, but then it’s like, ‘Look at you! Running, biking and swimming. And guess what, you finished!’” McIntyre said. She said the students in the class all help motivate each other and there’s a great sense of camaraderie. “You are all after the same goal: getting to the finish line.”

If at the end of this class you are still not quite satisfied with your skills, SBDCRC also offers a session of classes in the winter just focusing on triathlon swimming, starting up in November. Then there will be another beginners’ triathlon session next spring and then, for those who want to advance further, a more advanced series of classes to help you cut down your time.

“It makes such a difference to have someone cheer you on and help you be successful,” McIntyre said.

The cost is $120 for the four three-hour classes. For more information on the classes, contact Bev McIntyre at 703-590-7685 or bmcintyre@pwcparks.org.