Training for a triathlon can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first triathlon. You can set a goal to finish the triathlon and not finish last. You may be wondering who could make fun of you or joke around at the time. You may wonder if everyone will pass you by and be much faster than you. Intimidation and fear can be overwhelming and prevent some people from competing.
Triathlon training is a great way to achieve fitness goals, such as losing weight or improving cardiovascular health. Learning to swim, bike, and run as efficiently as possible takes a great deal of research and time. Many people entering the world of triathlon can become obsessed with the sport. Many people who enter the sport feel that the benefits will be purely physical in nature, but then discover the incredible community that surrounds the world of triathlon.
The traithlon community is a very supportive group of people. The community continually supports each other in increasing ways to achieve individual goals. Many times triathlon training can get lonely, but on race day there is such camaraderie among the participants that it becomes contagious. Community support is another reason triathlon racing is the fastest growing sport in America.
The triathlon community also extends to triathlon clubs. In many cities and towns in the United States there is a local triathlon club. These clubs bring together people who enjoy participating in triathlon and want to train together. These clubs offer additional training and mutual encouragement. It is not uncommon to see many of these clubs competing in the same event while all wearing the same jerseys. These clubs can help someone not feel so isolated in such an individual sport.
On race day, the race organizers assemble a group of volunteers to help deliver water, prepare for the start, provide security, and make sure all runners are well cared for. Not all breeds are the same in this matter, as some breeds are more successful in soliciting volunteers than others, but for the most part there are always enough volunteers. These volunteers become a lifesaver in the field for the runners, as they will often cheer them on while giving them water or directing them to the right path. Volunteers are a great source of encouragement on a difficult course on a difficult day.
In any race there will be winners and losers. There will be those who are lightning fast and those who are not. In each race, however, most runners who finish early often become spectators for the other runners. They will cheer them on as they try to finish. Many of these runners will wait until the last person finishes. The community really tries to surround each competitor with a sense of joy when they finish.
Completing a triathlon, regardless of the distance, is a great achievement. Everyone who completes one should be proud of what they have done. The triathlon community tries to support each runner unlike any other type of endurance race. If you are contemplating competing in a triathlon, feel free to step into this incredible world where there is so much support.