How You Can Benefit From Joining A Triathlon Club

Triathlon is a pretty big sport now, with increasing numbers of triathletes participating in events all around the globe. With increasing levels of participation, you are hopefully never going to be too far from a triathlon club in your local area.

I started out with Cambridge Triathlon Club when I was 15 and they recently made me an honorary member a handful of years back. At the time it was my sister and I who were 6 years younger than anyone else. Now there are 80 kids under 16! I had tried a few junior triathlons and I absolutely loved them. I loved combining two of my favourite sports at the time (swim and run) and at the time I was just on my mountain bike. However I didn’t know a way I could race more often.

The members of Cambridge Tri took me under my wing and between them taught me how to ride my bike during the long Saturday club rides and Wednesday turbos, gave me opportunities to train with them in the pool and for their grass running sessions and generally taught me all I needed to know about triathlon. My contacts there also suggested that I went to the Loughborough University World Class Start Programme Trials which was the main turning point in my triathlon career.

"Triathlon clubs are a great place to meet like-minded nice people that shortly you’ll probably be able to call friends."

Triathlon clubs are a great place to meet like-minded nice people that shortly you’ll probably be able to call friends. Each club will organise various sessions during the week that you can join where you have the opportunity to learn everything you need to know about the sport.

Triathlon can be a lonely sport, some people like that about it but for most it’s beneficial to have a group of people to link up with, learn from and pushing each others limits. In my experience it’s much easier and effective to train as part of a group.  

Another benefit is you’re never alone on race day. Usually you’ll have at least a few other club members present at the race, whether supporting you or competing themselves. They’ll act as the perfect pick me up to keep you going. You’ll probably be wearing the club kit so fellow club members will see you coming and cheer you on or introduce themselves to you around the race. At races like club relays where a large number of your club will be present you’ll love the feeling of being part of a team and be involved in the post race celebrations.

"Joining a club will give you discounts into races and other various sponsorship discounts."

Finally think of the club’s resources. Joining a club will give you discounts into races and other various sponsorship discounts. Often clubs will host seminars, clinics and camps so you have the opportunity to ask questions and learn. So being part of a triathlon club will always prove beneficial.

Picture credit - Lilyana Vynogradova / Shutterstock.com