New perk! Get after it with local recommendations just for you. Discover nearby events, routes out your door, and hidden gems when you sign up for the Local Running Drop.
Few things in life are as exciting (or as utterly nerve-wracking) as starting college. How to ration your dining hall points, how to make friends, how to navigate the communal shower scene, and where to find even a smidge of privacy are just a handful of the things you have to worry about, not to mention the demanding nature of your coursework. To overcome such challenges, many students find kinship in Greek life, while others join meditation circles and gardening clubs.
Then there are those brave, committed souls who seek fulfillment in something else entirely. They're ready to spend hours each week training. They wake up at the crack of dawn to jump in cold water. They stay up late at night browsing Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for the best deals on used bikes. We're talking, of course, about the students who join collegiate triathlon clubs.
Students can join triathlon clubs at various points throughout their academic careers, whether they are budding freshmen or seniors looking to eke out just a little more fun from their college years. Even graduate students are welcome. We asked several of the top collegiate coaches in the country, along with USA Triathlon's chief development officer, for their thoughts on what makes the sport so fulfilling for young triathletes, as well as their top tips regarding how students can make the most of their time on the team. Collectively, this group has dozens of years of experience working with college students in triathlon. Here's what they said.
Panel:
Bloom: You can't study all the time. So use training as a way to socialize with others and release stress from your academics. Staying organized and disciplined is key.
Hansen: Although academics and triathlon life can co-exist, the academic focus comes first. As coaches, we emphasize that in both our training plans and in our conversations with athletes. It's important for students to know that their role as a student-athlete is supported, not compromised, by their commitment to the sport and the team. The sport should enhance their college experience, not diminish it.
Yount: Many [students] will find bikes online that are nice enough to ride, while others will work locally to find those willing to donate items/bikes to the club. Our age-group Team USA athletes also help where they can. We speak about the community of triathlon, and this is one area where that shows up tenfold.
Hansen: Triathlon can be expensive, but clubs work hard to lower cost barriers. Many teams fundraise to help cover travel costs, and some universities provide financial support through their club sports or recreation departments. Teams also often accept donations from the community -- bikes, wetsuits, gear -- which go directly to athletes, usually as part of an equipment loan program. A few clubs even host their own races as fundraisers, and we're encouraging more teams to explore this creative way of supporting their athletes.
Larson: We also have partnerships with local race companies to provide discount codes for race entry fees, and the team budget usually covers one race per season that includes travel accommodations.
Yount: What we find in club tri often is that students will do this as an undergrad and continue to do the sport at another school as graduate students. We have seen a proliferation of NCAA athletes who use their eligibility in a single sport, who make their way into triathlon as an option to keep their competitive desires flowing.
There are few things more exciting to watch than how college kids of different ages and backgrounds come together to form a team; a team that creates social energy for the students and presents them with time management training, leadership development, and other skills that are translatable in the real world. It is almost like our sport is a microcosm of what we do in our professions.
Bloom: Graduate students can show undergrads how they incorporate triathlon into their careers and lifestyles, giving the younger students role models to follow -- and guidance on academic matters and careers.
Hansen: Most triathletes come from a single-sport background, and not always ones connected to triathlon. Bringing those experiences together creates a stronger, more diverse team culture. Every athlete can find someone to connect with and learn from, which makes the team experience especially meaningful.
Yount: Kids love wearing the team kits; they love the social gatherings and having folks to train with; they look forward to being part of the team that goes to the conference championship and our annual spring national club championship...
We have had the triathlon mixed relay event at the collegiate level for over a decade. If there is any race that people do that they say bonds them with others, and our sport, mixed relay, is that. It is the one time where you are accountable to others, but in such a way that you thrive on that pressure - you give more than you would otherwise give in effort for the sake of the team. You give hugs, handshakes, and high fives at the finish line with your teammates regardless of finish. You create new bonds that you might have for a lifetime.
[Teammates not racing] are sprinting to points on the course where they can cheer on their team(s). They make signs for them that they shake as a reminder of who they represent. They have funny themed costumes and mascots that they bring with them to wear with the idea of THEIR team driving the fandom. Nothing matches this event. Nothing matches what college kids do to just have fun with this event. As an announcer of the races for over two decades, I laugh more at this race than all our other nationals combined. It is truly the 'banner'/'poster' for why collegiate triathlon is so unique and fun, and why we are seeing such growth at this level!
Harper: Most of our competitions are team competitions with team scores so that adds to the team camaraderie.
Hansen: Training daily with teammates builds deep bonds, and the support athletes give one another during races is invaluable.
Harper: First, we always have several members on our team who are studying at Berkeley for a year and want to be on the team. We have members from numerous European and South American countries who are not necessarily triathletes but want to be part of the team and part of the sport. We also have athletes travel abroad for a year, and still try to stay in decent shape even though [they are] not training to race...I never recommend that the student athletes take a break from working out, [but] I do think they should take a break from trying to stay in race shape.
Bloom: Taking advantage of opportunities to study abroad should take precedence over pursuing athletics for club athletes. You may never have such a great opportunity to widen your horizons and enjoy other cultures, so take advantage of this when you can -- training and competing in triathlons can wait until later. But if you have a chance to compete in a short race overseas that does not require heavy-duty training, do it to obtain a fantastic cultural experience.
Larson: Studying abroad is a huge part of UNC's undergrad program, so we often have students leave for a semester, and we also have students join our club pretty much every semester who are studying at UNC from abroad. This also adds to the diversity of our club and is a great opportunity to learn about other cultures and how they approach sports...If you want to be successful at a high level, then you continue to train in all three sports consistently [while abroad]. If triathlon is more of just one way [to] stay active, then studying abroad could be a great opportunity to explore other ways to be active that are not as accessible in the US.
Harper: When I first started coaching this team 13 years ago, I was amazed at how organized the trips were, with all travel and each meal meticulously planned out and organized. These are very bright students, and they are very well-organized. Advice - put a very active and organized member in charge of organizing trips. I personally take 10 or so athletes to Hawaii each year for a short training trip. I organize that trip, and it is a lot of work. Delegation can be important with a large team.
Bloom: Ship or transport your bikes in the safest way possible. Leave plenty of time, and bring the right tools and parts to make last-minute repairs and adjustments.
Larson: Plan in advance. Particularly for housing. Our club has had great success with Airbnb/VRBO rental homes. These are a great alternative to hotel rooms as it is usually more cost-effective for larger numbers of athletes, and having access to a living room/common area and to a kitchen allows for more interaction time, which leads to deeper team bonding.
Bloom: My philosophy is that training and racing for sprint- and Olympic-distance races is all that young people who have student obligations should attempt to do. Trying to squeeze in training for anything longer is difficult, and there is a definite risk of injury to younger bodies through overtraining. Mid-to-late 20s can be when 70.3 and Ironman races can start -- there will be plenty of years to compete after that.
Hansen: College is the perfect time to focus on sprint and Olympic-distance races. These are the distances used in collegiate club racing and are manageable from both a physical and emotional standpoint for college-age athletes. Longer races, like half or full Ironmans, will always be there later in life, but the opportunity to race and grow at shorter distances in a true team setting only happens once. Plus, building speed and endurance now makes the eventual jump to long-course racing much more rewarding and productive.
Larson: The prime years for developing speed are in your late teens/twenties. If you spend those years chasing further and further distances, you miss the opportunity to develop your speed. As far as how this plays out with the athletes that I work with... I'm OK with the collegiate folks competing in 70.3 and below. I, personally, recommend that they hold off on the full 140.6 until they are in their mid-20s or later. Females in particular do not reach their peak endurance potential until their 40s, so they have many, many years ahead to race long. Enjoy that speed while you can.
Yount: At our national championships, the spirit contest...might be the most coveted award for most of the [teams] that attend the event. They dress up in fun costumes, have chants, [and] create fun signs. Many will compete in our Fun Game Olympics, which [includes] things like an egg toss and Family (Team) Feud competitions. We also have a road to nationals video contest...When you have 1,000 kids that show up [at the award's ceremony] to engage in the fun, some crazy things happen.
Bloom: Add in entertaining group events that involve movement and exercise, but that don't risk injuries and don't require heavy-duty training. Games of ultimate [frisbee], volleyball, soccer, field hockey, softball, bowling -- as well as skating, dancing, and so forth -- are great ways to create team spirit.
Hansen: Athletes may remember their individual race results and the national championships, but what they cherish most, as they reflect back, is the fun stuff and the feeling of belonging to something bigger than themselves. That's the magic of collegiate club triathlon.
Larson: For our swim practices, I like to include drills and activities that athletes would not be able to do, or would feel awkward about doing, alone, such as partner pulls, relays, kickboard squat jumps, and kickboard wars. We usually end each semester with a few rounds of sharks and minnows with the lane lines taken out. The team has also done scavenger hunts during run practice and the Maple View challenge (in which they drink a pint of chocolate milk and then go ride seven miles as fast as they can). They do movie nights, trivia nights at the local bars (for those 21 and above), and a semiformal event at the end of each semester with a team dinner. I'm still waiting to figure out a way to get a Duke vs. UNC competition of some sort on game day during basketball season; I think that would be a blast.