IronGirl Registration in Maryland Now Open

[HillSlugger]

You're way ahead of where I was when I signed up for IronGirl. I had just started running but didn't yet know how poorly I swam. Even with a 10 month training period I was barely able to swim 1000m straight in the pool when the IronGirl came.

My first triathlon was down in Richmond and included a pool swim. If you are looking for something like that closer to home, take a look at the sprint triathlon in Hagerstown. I just did their duathlon and the course was good and the organization was also good.

[sfa]

You're way ahead of where I was when I signed up for IronGirl. I had just started running but didn't yet know how poorly I swam. Even with a 10 month training period I was barely able to swim 1000m straight in the pool when the IronGirl came.

My first triathlon was down in Richmond and included a pool swim. If you are looking for something like that closer to home, take a look at the sprint triathlon in Hagerstown. I just did their duathlon and the course was good and the organization was also good.

Thanks for the advice! That Hagerstown triathlon sounds like a good one--I'll have to look into that. I'm not good or even remotely competitive at any of the events, and swimming is my worst. I hadn't attempted anything more than just splashing around in a pool since about 1989 until this August, when I discovered that I couldn't really swim so much as I could not-drown my way across the pool. I've improved enough since then (it was less about lack of fitness and more about just learning to coordinate my arms and legs and breathing) that I can make it through 1000 meters, but it involves stopping every 25 meters since I haven't figured out a flip turn yet. I need to just suck it up and try it--I'm embarassed to attempt it with people watching, but those lifeguards just won't go away!

[HillSlugger]

You don't need to do a flip turn! Just hit the wall with your hand, turn around, and push off. Try a web search on "open turns".

[Possegal]

hmmmm, my sister and two friends of ours are looking to try our first tri next year, maybe the hagerstown one is the way to go. i seem to be the only one OK with open water, so starting in a pool would make a lot of folks happy. i'll have to bookmark and see where we stand next year. the irongirl one looks very cool, but also likely the same weekend as the philly livestrong, if history repeats itself. so that would be out.

thanks for the info!

[juliemcd]

I'll have to check out the one in Hagerstown also--that looks like a good one.
It'll be my first tri also--I'm nervous about the swimming too. I've been hitting the pool for the past few weeks for 45 min lap sessions, but I guess I'll need to step that up.
Does anyone know of a good book or Website with a training program? I don't want to pay for one, I'd rather just find one in a book or something.
Also, I heard this weekend the the DC Triathlon Club is really good for beginners. Annual membership is $35, and supposed they've really revamped their programs in recent years to have more offerings for beginners.

[HillSlugger]

I'll have to check out the one in Hagerstown also--that looks like a good one.
It'll be my first tri also--I'm nervous about the swimming too. I've been hitting the pool for the past few weeks for 45 min lap sessions, but I guess I'll need to step that up.
Does anyone know of a good book or Website with a training program? I don't want to pay for one, I'd rather just find one in a book or something.
Also, I heard this weekend the the DC Triathlon Club is really good for beginners. Annual membership is $35, and supposed they've really revamped their programs in recent years to have more offerings for beginners.

BeginnerTriathlete.com is a great place to log your workouts and ask triathlon specific questions. They have training plans, some free without a membership, with many more available with a membership. I'm on there as MDHillSlug and there are a few other TE women there as well. Remember that there's a triathlon section on TE as well; a great place for info and questions.

[HillSlugger]

I just registered as part of a relay team. I will be swimming, 7Rider (Regina) will be biking, and her friend Margot will be running. The race is likely to sell out today!

DivingBiker (Janice) spurned our invite to be our swimmer and signed up to race on her own.

This should be a blast!