No ‘someday’ goals

Editor’s Note: Local triathlete Susan Roberts is writing a six-part, weekly column about getting ready for the Crescent City Triathlon and Duathlon in August. This is the third story in the series.

“But, I’m not in shape this year.”

How many times have I heard that in the last few weeks?  Believe it or not, there is no “Someday.” There is a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. But there’s no “Someday.”

For first-timers, what are your goals for the Aug. 14th duathlon/triathlon?

To enjoy training and participating with friends?  Jump-starting yourself into a fitness routine?  Coming across the finish line for your first time? Visualize it.  If you are new to training and participating, remember that you can swim one lap and rest. You can run one determined length and walk a minute, etc. Give yourself reasonable goals.

If you’re experienced, your goals might be different, as you may focus on your speed/abilities.  Do you know your swim pace and your mph on the bike and pace on the run in order to come over the line at a specific time?  Do train for those goals.

Everyone needs to estimate their swim time for 10 laps.  For efficiency, racers are set off with others who have approximately the same anticipated speed.  You’ll write this estimated time on your application. 

You will be “chip-timed.” That means you’ll wear a chip on a velcro band on your ankle which will activate each time you go over a mat: leaving the pool, leaving the bike area, returning to the bike area, leaving for the run, and finishing. 

This will give you your time for each activity and each transition, along with your overall time and place. “Transition” times count in your overall time.  Transition 1 (T1) is between the swim and the bike while T2 is between the bike and the run; both will occur in the bike racking area.

If you are anticipating changing clothes, adding a bike top to your bathing suit, putting on sunscreen, eating a snack, etc., it’s important to think it through now.  And then practice it!

Practice getting on a bike in wet clothes; that might determine your outfit. Usually your enthusiasm lets you ignore the chill factor. Professionals and racing athletes will speed through transition, but don’t be intimidated.  Many, many amateurs take the time to visit, take pictures,  visit the head, laugh a little. That’s why triathlon/duathlon offers so many options for so many goals!

Have you sent in your application yet?  The fees go up Aug. 1. And if you wish to reserve the Saturday night pasta dinner at Pizza King, this is the time to do it.

Whatever your goal, you’ll relive the excitement and your accomplishment as you hang your finishing medal on the wall.

The triathlon community is here to support you, so come out Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. to the pool area to ask questions and to run or walk the course with us. Ask questions at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   More details can be found at www.crescentcitytriathlon.com.

Start Now! Always finish!

Susan Roberts, who could neither swim nor run six years ago, placed fifth in her age group last November at the 70.3-mile triathlon World Championships. She started at the Crescent City Triathlon and has since become an ISSA-certified personal trainer.