FAQs
- Q: I wasn't able to attend the kickoff meeting, can I still be involved with the club? If so, how?
A: If you couldn't make the meeting last night, the best way to get started is to come to a practice.
- Q: I have a conflict and I can't make all 5 practices each week, can I still be a part of the club?
A: Yes! Most triathletes like to have a lot going on in their lives, and many of our members cannot make every practice. Members are free to come to as many or as few practices as they want.
- Q: What are the distances for an average triathlon?
A: Olympic or international distance is the 'standard' for most collegiate triathlons. This is a .9 mile (1.5k) swim, a 25 mile (40k) bike, and a 6.2 mile (10k) run. Many olympic races offer a sprint distance, which is roughly half the olympic distance. Many triathletes start with a sprint or an olympic and later go on to the half-iron or iron man distance.
- Q: Isn't Triathlon an individual sport?
A: Triathletes do have to rely on their own endurance and will power on race day, but there are many advantages to being a part of a team. There's a lot to triathlons besides swimming, biking and running, and training with experienced triathletes is a great way to learn about proper hydration and nutrition, transition techniques, open-water swimming and more. Also, Triathlon is not a NCAA sport, so being a tri-buck is an opportunity to represent ohio state at the highest level of collegiate triathlon competition.
- Q: I don't have a bike, but can I still join?
A: OSU Tri knows that you are on a student budget, so we have team equipment (including bikes) for our members.
- Q. Do I have to be a good (swimmer/bike/runner) to join the club and practice with TriBucks?
A. We have athletes of all types of abilities! There is a good chance to find someone that is at your physical ability.
- Q: I've never raced before and I've never really trained for one of these, when will I be ready to race?
A: Individual results may vary, but every year we have many members who start with little experience and feel quite comfortable completing our indoor tri winter quarter and their first olympic by the time triathlon race season gets going in the spring.
- Q: What kind of race opportunities will I have through the club?
A: The club organizes around 3 major races: our indoor tri in the winter, collegiate nationals in the spring, and our Scarlet and Gray triathlon in early summer. Scarlet and Gray has an olympic and
- Q: I haven't paid my dues yet, can I come to practice?
A: You can come to 5 practices to try the club out before paying dues.
- Q: What's the deal with club dues?
A: Dues are $60 and will be payable online. Expect an email this week for online dues-paying instructions. If you're unable to pay online for whatever reason, contact the president and we can work something out.
- Q: What comes with the paid membership?
A: Membership comes with a dry-fit club shirt, workouts, access to our weekly spinning classes, coaching, access to reserved training spaces, discounts to local shops of interest and more.
- Q: What level of ability must I have to join the Triathlon Club?
A: Individuals of all ability levels are encouraged to join our club.
No prior experience required in any of the three disciplines.
- Q: What if I am only interested in one or two of the three
disciplines (swimming, biking,, and running)?
A: That's ok. This is not only a triathlon club, but a multisport club.
Again we are inclusive of anyone that wishes to take part. Whether you
just wish to train, or compete as well, the opportunities are endless.
- Q: I'm glad you're inclusive but why should I join if I'm afraid
of the water and not interested in swimming? Or I don't own and can't
afford a bike?
A: You are welcome to take part in only the training sessions that
interest you. When it comes to competition, you may team with others
to compete as a relay or you may choose to enter multisport races
that cater to your strengths/interests: Duathlon (run-bike-run),
Aquathlon (run-swim-run). Again, the opportunities are endless.
- Q: It sure seems like you have a lot of training sessions on
your calendar. There is no way I could make them all. What kind of
attendance requirements does the club have?
A: In a sense, there are NO required practices. We're just trying to
create opportunities for you to get in a workout with a group. Our
intent is to publish a general training plan (3 ability levels for
each discipline) that each individual can self select from. It will
then be up to you to find the practices that work best for you - or
do them on your own (hopefully the former).
- Q: How do I find out more about the club?
A: Read this website. We intend to use this as the primary communication
tool and will post training programs to this site.
- Q: How will schedule changes and time sensitive communications be
distributed?
A: We have created a listserv as a method to contact club members via
email: osutriathlon@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Feel free to use this listserv as a method to reach out to your fellow
club members to organize alternative workouts. However, we ask that
everyone please be respectful not to abuse it. (You'll be emailing
over a hundred people.) If we all start receiving too many messages
then we are likely to delete them without viewing content. Also, please
be sure your content is suitable for distribution to all. If you wish
to be removed from the listserv or would like to use a different email
address, please contact: henkel.22@osu.edu
- Q: I do not currently have a bike but I'm interested in getting one.
What measurements do I need to get a proper bike and how do I determine
what make/model is best for me?
A: We are working with Bike Source (Dublin) to arrange for merchandise
discounts for team members. We are also looking to hold a weekend or
evening clinic on BIKE FIT and BASIC BIKE MAINTENANCE.
- Q: What type of running shoes do I need for a competition?
A: You really don't need anything special to race in or with. You
can compete in training shoes or racing flats. Most competitive
triathletes will wear lightweight racing flats with elastic laces
for faster transition times. See this link for some great insight on getting started
and gear requirements.
- Q: How long before our practice times take on regularity?
A: We have already had good turnout at a number of practices. It is really
up to each of you to be committed to make this work. Our intention is to
have a general training plan/guideline workouts posted on this site by
the third week of January. People can choose any of our practice times
(or partner club sessions) to try to accomplish what they are personally
capable of. Individuals can elect to complete the workouts on their own
if they wish or if they have really inflexible schedules. But doing so
defeats the purpose of the club.
- Q: Who can I get in contact with to work on my swimming, cycling,
and running form/technique?
A: Workout leaders are experienced in the area they are coaching and
are likely knowledgeable in other areas as well. Do not be bashful
about asking for help from our more experienced members. Although
they may not be able to help you in the middle of a workout due to
their own training needs, most will be happy to help you before
and/or after practice sessions. We also plan to hold clinics for each
of the three disciplines. Stay tuned to the listserv and this website
for more information on training/technique clinics.
- Q: Can a person ask for private coaching if their schedule doesn't
work well with their regular schedule or if they have specific goals/needs
they would like help with?
A: Most training leaders are happy to help with general questions. If
you wish to have a personalized training program built for you, or if
you would like in person, one on one coaching, contact Andy Schmitz
(schmitz.63@osu.edu) to be put in contact with a certified coach.
- What's a trainer?
Trainer: A trainer is a device that you can use to turn your road bike into a stationary bike. Generally it's a contraption with a metal roller that exudes pressure against the rear wheel to simulate effort as if you were riding on the road. The bike is generally locked in and stable. You may hear a more advanced setup called "rollers" where the bike sits on two rollers in the back and one on the front. This takes a bit more coordination as you must balance on the rollers - the bike is not locked in. If you stop by French Fieldhouse on Wed. or Thurs at 7pm, we generally have team members with either or both present. (Trainers are more common)
- What's a brick?
Brick: The term brick is used when combining multiple training elements together - to get used to racing these elements back to back. A bike-run brick is most common (you'll do your bike workout first and follow it immediately by a run workout... or you may go between, e.g., bike, run, bike, run, bike, run.)
- Is there somewhere a beginning swimmer can get professional instruction?
Clinics offered by Chris Hadden. Chris Hadden is the Head Coach/Owner
of the Central Ohio Premier Swim Club. He has coached every facet of the
sport from Learn to Swim to world record holders in five different states.
Visit his website to learn more about him: www.swimcops.com
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General:
For beginners:
OSU links:
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