Triathlon - Affordable Triathlons

Hey I'm looking to do my first triathlon this year, was thinking about making it an ironman, but am deterred by the cost. I live in SLC Utah, and looked into the St. George ironman, but it's $600!!! No way I'm going to spend that much. Do you guys know of other triathlons in the western U.S. that a college kid could afford, preferably a full, but at least half if it is considerably cheaper? Thanks for the input.

dude, if it is truly your first tri and you choose an Ironman you will be toast....you can do a local racea for about $50-$75 bucks....

Vineman. In Sonoma county, California, if you are dead set on doing a full. Less than half the price, beautiful wine country scenery, decent swim, and all around a great tri. Done it twice.

However, I recommend starting with an olympic distance first to see if you want to commit to the training needed for a full or not.

Max, do a self-supported half ironman first, it'll cost you the price of the pool entry or not even that if you use a local lake.

Base yourself out of your or a friend's garage near your swim. That will be your 'transition area'. Work out a route for the bike and run that takes you past your base a few times so you can stock up on fluids/food etc. Have a few friends lined up for support and someone with an amp and microphone to shout 'Max - You Are A Self-Supported Half Ironman!!' as you finish the run.

Should be a fun afternoon.

There is no need to throw money at the sport unless you want the whole Mike Reilly thing.

If you are set on doing any triathlon, try with the collegiate races at a local university or go to trimapper.com. Here is a map listing of Utah http://www.trimapper.com/tris_na/index.htm?state=ut

Most Full distance races are close to this much money... if they are less, you are still spending much more to travel and stay there. Good luck! Maybe you could find a local Olympic or Half distance race that is much less money.

I concur. Doing a Ironman Distance race (140.6) for your first triathlon is pretty much "initiation via circumcision"...ouch! Try your hand in a sprint or olympic distance and learn about transitions, etc. You still have time to do that this year and take on IM distance in 2012.

We have events called "Try a Tri"
Some participants have done a few before, and have the gear
but there are people wearing a swim suit and cotton shorts instead of lycra.
Entrants also ride whatever bike they have available so we see mountain bikes as well as road bikes. Occasionally there is a bike that spent 20 years in the garage gathering dust...

These events are relatively inexpensive and the total distance is short.

In my mind they are an excellent way to begin.

I'm just going to agree with everyone here - doing an Ironman for your first triathlon is Not Wise.

I have a friend who has qualified for the Boston Marathon - and he's not sure he can finish an Olympic distance triathlon (we're both doing Chicago in August). Running a marathon is fine for him - but an Ironman is a marathon after a 2.5 mile swim (not sure how your swimming skills are) and over 100 miles on a bike.

If you want to see what an Ironman can do to you, check this out:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTn1v5TGK_w

I'm not saying you should do a Sprint your first time (though, truthfully, I am doing a Sprint) but an Ironman could cause long-term damage to your body that could put you back in your training. It's not just getting out there and doing it - you have to worry about the nutrition behind it and prepping your body. I would just hate for you to hurt yourself and to not be able to be as active as you like.

Oh my gosh, that almost makes you sick watching that. I just finished my first tri(a sprint) this weekend. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was painful and very tiring. But I did enjoy it and I plan on doing the same one again next year.

Someday in my lifetime, I may eventually work up to an Olympic distance. But I don't think I'll ever have the guts or determination to do a Half or Full Ironman. Those people are nuts! :)
Mike

But I did enjoy it and I plan on doing the same one again next year.

If I don't die this year, I totally plan on doing Chicago again next year and just trying to get my time down. The slowest Sprint finish last year was 4 hours. I think I can beat that. To be honest, though, as long as I cross the finish line, I'll consider it a win!

If I don't die this year, I totally plan on doing Chicago again next year and just trying to get my time down. The slowest Sprint finish last year was 4 hours. I think I can beat that. To be honest, though, as long as I cross the finish line, I'll consider it a win!

Cool, yeah, I totally agree with you about finishing. I'm not sure the slowest one at our tri, probably around 2:30. Mine was 2:01. The winner did 1:01. But I think our distances were a bit different than normal: 500m/17mi/3.1mi.
Mike

Cool, yeah, I totally agree with you about finishing. I'm not sure the slowest one at our tri, probably around 2:30. Mine was 2:01. The winner did 1:01. But I think our distances were a bit different than normal: 500m/17mi/3.1mi.


The Sprint in the Chicago Tri is 800m (open water), 13mi, 3.1m. They also have a few thousand people doing it, though, so you're more likely to have some really slow people. I think it's one of the largest triathlons in the US!