How to join?
- In order to become a CU Triathlon Team member, you must be a member of the CU community. This includes faculty, staff, undergrad and grad students. (*Note: in order to represent CU in a USAT triathlon race, you must be a full-time student.) In order to join the CU Triathlon Team Roster, you must first pay the team dues ($105) and sign the CU Club Sports Waiver form. This grants you access to professional coaching, the team website, team email list, and makes you eligible for our team events. The Club Sports waiver forms can be found in the CU Rec Center. These forms must be fully filled out and turned into the Club Sports Office before you can attend team workouts.
What is the CU Triathlon team all about?
- We are a student led club sports team at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Our mission is to introduce college students to the sport of triathlon. We are part of the Mountain Collegiate Triathlon Conference and compete against the other schools in our Region (CSU, NAU, UofA, U of Wyoming, NMSU, and USAFA, to name a few). Our ultimate goal (in a competitive sense) is to win Nationals each year, but whether you are looking to be on the Nationals team or just looking to get in shape, this is the right place for you.
When and Where does the team meet for practices?
| Monday | 6:30 pm Dryland 7pm swim (in Clare small pool) |
| Tuesday | 1pm Swim (in Clare small pool)3:30 pm Bike/run (meet in front of Rec Center main entrance) |
| Wednesday | 12:30pm swim (in Clare small pool) 2pm bike – no coach – casual ride – 1-3 hours (in front of Rec Center main entrance) |
| Thursday | 6:30 am Dryland 7am swim (in Clare small pool)3:30p run (in front of Rec Center main entrance) |
| Friday | Optional swim (no coach present, in regular Rec Center pool) |
| Saturday | 10:00am long bike (meet at CMS-Colorado Multisport) |
| Sunday | 9:30am long run (in front of Sewell Roundabout) |
How much does it cost to join?
- $110/year. With this money, the club pays for coaching and subsidizes races. Coaching is open to all members at no additional cost.
Where do you swim?
- Our Monday & Thursday coached swims are held in the main Rec Center pool,but Tuesday & Wednesday coached swims are held in the little pool room off of the main Rec center pool called Clare Small Pool. Just ask the lifeguards if you cannot find us.
Where do you ride?
- All our weekday rides start in front of the CU Rec Center. On Saturdays, our rides start in front of our triathlon sponsor shop Colorado Multisport (2480 Canyon Boulevard.) Most of our rides go north, out on highway 36 to various routes. Helmets are mandatory for team rides (and recommended for all rides, team or non-team!)
Where do you run?
- All our weekday runs begin in front of the Rec center main entrance. On Sundays we meet in front of Sewall hall by the turnaround.
Are there tryouts?
- Nope. All are welcome.
I have never done a triathlon…can I still join?
- Definitely. One of the main goals of this club is to expose people to the sport of triathlon. Veteran members are more than willing to help out the newer ones. One thing you’ll find about triathlon is that most people are friendly and excited to share their love of the sport.
Okay…so I have never swam, biked, or run before either…can I still join?
- Certainly! We have members of all different ability levels and coaches that are more than willing to help you start with the basics in all three aspects of triathlon.
I’m not in shape. Will there be people that I can train with?
- Yes. Triathlon is a great way to get in shape. We have people of all abilities onthe team and workouts for all levels. It is very likely that you will find one or more people who are the same speed as you in all three aspects of triathlon.
I don’t have a bike…can I still join?
- Yes. Most members start out with no biking experience (and no bike!). Try out the sport for a while. Our bike sponsor is Specialized Bikes through Colorado MultiSport. We get a discount so it’s where we recommend getting a bike. Or if used is more your thing there is always Craigslist.
I have been doing (and winning) triathlons for a while now; will there be people that I can train with?
- Absolutely! The Colorado Triathlon Team is one of the best collegiate triathlon clubs in the Nation and the titles keep on coming year after year!
Where are Nationals?
- The 2013 USAT Collegiate Nationals location has not yet been announced.
What are the distances you compete in at Nationals?
- Our collegiate competition races are Olympic distance. Swim: 1500 yards Bike:40 K (roughly 24.9 miles) Run: 10 k (6.2 miles).
Are there shorter distances for a triathlon than Olympic distance?
- Yes, many races also have a Sprint distance. The lengths are about half the Olympic distance. Swim: 500 to 750 yards Bike: 12 to 15 miles Run: 5 k (3.1miles).
What is this Ironman I have been hearing about? Do you guys ever do those?
- The Ironman is the ultimate triathlon. It consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-milebike ride, and a 26.2-mile run (a marathon). There are a few older members who have competed in this distance, but as a team we don’t train for this (or the Half Iron) distance.
Triathlon has a lot of equipment. How much should I expect to pay to get started in the sport?
- A reasonable estimate is anywhere from $600-$1000. The bike is the biggest initial expense. You’ll also need a helmet, running shoes, and swim gear.
Why would I want to do a triathlon?
- They sound painful and rough. Nothing beats the feeling you get when you cross a finish line of a triathlon. It is truly an awesome experience. Plus you get the benefits of not burning yourself out on cycling, running, or swimming if you are doing one sport.
I have some extra money lying around. Can I give it to the club?
- Of course, we always need money and we will be very gracious if you want to donate it to us. There is a link on our homepage where you can donate online.
Is there any way that I can get more information?
- Yes, contact our President Tess Amer (tess.amer@colorado.edu) or our Vice President Bryn Morales (bryn.morales@colorado.edu) with any questions you have.