What is a triathlon and why would I want do one?
A triathlon is a race where you swim, then bike, then run. Nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment from completing your first triathlon. There is also a lot more variety than doing any of the sports individually.
What are the distances you race in?
The club will usually do Olympic and sprint distances. An Olympic triathlon consists of a 1500 yd swim, 25 mile bike, and 6.2 mile (10k) run. Sprint distances are typically about half, with 300-800 yd swims, 10-15 mile bikes, and 3.1 mile (5k) runs.
There are also the Ironman, which is the ultimate triathlon. It consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike, and a 26.2 mile run (a marathon). Some of the members have individually competed in Ironman 70.3s (half of the distances above) or full Ironmans, but training is primarily for the shorter distances.
What do I gain from joining the MU Triathlon Club?
We provide an environment for beginners and experienced athletes alike to train and race together. We participate in the Midwest Collegiate Triathlon Conference against other collegiate schools in our region.
What do I gain from joining the MU Triathlon Club?
We provide an environment for beginners and experienced athletes alike to train and race together. We participate in the Midwest Collegiate Triathlon Conference against other collegiate schools in our region.
How much does it cost to join? Are there tryouts?
There are no tryouts and it's free to join; one can just come to practice. If one wants to race, it's $100 for the first semester and $50 for the second semester. This allows us to subsidize race costs.
I have no experience and/or am out of shape. Can I still join?
Absolutely! One of the main goals is to expose people to the sport. The more experienced members are more than willing to help in any of the individual sports or with triathlon as a whole! There are workouts for people of all different levels, whether that is someone who is just getting comfortable in the water or someone who swam their whole life.
What kind of equipment do I need? What if I don't have a bike?
The basic gear is something to swim in, a bike, a helmet, and running shoes. However, the sky's the limit in what else you can get. We have sponsor discounts that can help with some equipment purchases as well as equipment available for the club.
If you're worried about investing in a bike, don't worry. A majority of the races we do are indoors and don't require a bike. A lot of the members have extra bikes that can be borrowed in the meantime. Once you're fully committed, start looking for a bike.
