Message Forums

 I'm an 'Age Group Triathlete' (Group K - 55-60 years young). And it's a great reason to keep fit. Lots of clubs up & down the UK. For information go on one of the British Triathlon Federation Home Nation websites. Simply enter Triathlon followed by your home nation name into a search engine and you'll get into their website. I'm in Triathlon England.

 You don't have to be superfit, I'm told it helps, it's really about pacing yourself.  I have a long-term illness so many of you are probably fitter than me!. New Tri-ers are best advised to join a local club; details on 'Home Nation' website. And work up from there.

 Many Triathlons have a pre-race campsite, some fools don't!, and it's a great excuse for a social.

 We also have junior races for 8-14 year olds, most 14+ 'do' adult events.

 I'm also a Tri referee and enjoy officiating at junior events. They're the sport's future. Yet it's all about them enjoying themselves first and competing second.

 I was inspired by the Bolton Iron Man earlier this month. Must take a look at the website I'm a nearly 56yr old female and hadn't realised the tri's were graded in groups.

thanks

 I should have said in my first post. Regular events start at 'Sprint' standard this is a swim of 750mOW/400m pool, 20km bike ride & 5km run (Walking is allowed). There are a few shorter events. Notably the Women's Only Super Sprint at Rother Valley in early summer. 'Super sprints' are half to two-thirds sprint distances. Unfortunately they're very rare; except as club events.

 In pool based events it's usual to start the slowest swimmers first. Then progress in 'waves' up the speed ladder. It's a pity this can't be done in all races. It's lonely being the last finisher. Been there, 2006 Club relay*/2007 Wakefield.

 At the end of the 'Tri' season many enter the Duathlons held over the winter. This is Run/cycle/run format. I don't do duathlons as the run is my worst leg.

 *My first race-I was pulled in as a 'sub' when a guy went sick! (We had a vomiting bug going the rounds). And I was too shattered to do my own race!.

Do they have any swim/run events?  I don't have a bike at the moment, and am not sure I could get enough training on it even if I did.

Wouldn't mind doing one of the Great Swims next year (hard to get enough training in now as local pool still being refurbished).

 I'm due to be an assistant referee at the annual Club Relays at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre, off A52 South of Nottingham, on Saturday 22/08/09.

 Format is simple teams of four, all female, mixed (2 female/2male), all male. Swim 400m each in turn 1, 2, 3, 4, 'tagging' your next in line. No.4 swimmer tags No1 for the bike legs & when he completes his 3 5km laps = 15 km, he tags No. 1 to go out on his 5km run. There will be two races female & mixed plus Miscellaneous (Youth & odd mixed 3:1 M/F) morning and all male plus the odd female in the afternoon.

 Distances are short due to the need to get up to a couple of thousand athletes through the same 400m of lake and 5km of lakeside road. With up to 5 tagging areas and a lawn covered in club tents and commercial stalls.

Some of the guys at work are doing this 'sprint Tri' in Lichfield Nr Walsall

http://www.entrycentral.com/index.php?raceID=100243

Seems a tad expensive though at £35 per entry. Are they all as costly?

Great way to keep fit though.

Extra details here:  http://www.chaserace.co.uk/

 No, some are even more. Largely depends on the distance raced. Pricing depends upon a lot of factors. Venue cost, private medical cover (Paramedics & kit), cost of equipment (Transition fencing, bike racks, posts/bollards/cones, lane tape, signs both direction & 'Beware Cycle Race'), referees (I have an expenses claim in now) but generally we're cheap, staffing costs for both employees & volunteers, public liability insurance.

 Don't overlook the need to be either a BTF home nation member or pay £5 for day membership to race. Really it's a better investment to just get it for the year. Get knocked off your bike and the idiot who did it will have a VERY UNPLEASANT surprise when BTF's lawyers get their hooked talons in!.