Photo provided by Jeremy Hanson Royal Oak resident Jeremy Hanson, pictured here beginning the bike portion of a triathlon in Ann Arbor, said he prefers the sprint competitions because they allow him to race more often.

Before you jump in the water or on the bike, see a doctor

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

You like to swim, bike and run.

But swimming 2.4 miles, then biking 112 miles and finishing it off with a 26.2-mile run?

Well, perhaps that’s a little much if you’re just starting to explore the world of triathlons.

If something a little shorter is more your style, there are half triathlons and the even shorter Olympic-distance races. For those who really want get things done quickly, there is even a sprint triathlon, which is half-mile swim, 12.4 miles on the bike and a 3.1-mile run.

Take it from those athletes who just can’t get enough of what they consider the ultimate athletic test: By the time you cross the finish line, you’ll be a different person than when you started.

So even though icy sidewalks and frozen lakes are in our immediate future, that doesn’t mean training can wait until next spring.
           
A little help, please
Mike Mullane of Rochester, N.Y., began training for triathlons four years ago, during which time he and a friend, Ron Shea, started a Web site strictly for triathletes, www.beginnertriathlete.com. The site has become so popular that Mullane now runs it as a full-time job.

The 44-year-old said he began training as a way to get healthier. His best advice those thinking of taking up the sport is simple — just believe in yourself.

“Lots of folks look and say they can never do that,” he said. “But the fact is, they can. They just have to start where they are.

“Just take it one step at a time. A triathlon is an endurance race, and they need to apply that to training and not just race day. It’s just a matter of saying, ‘I can’t right now, but I will be able to.’”

Mullane and Shea’s Web site is just one of many that can give beginners some help getting started. A quick search of the Internet can give athletes a number of choices — some Web site memberships are free, while others will cost you for premium services.

Everything from coaching, choosing the best race, finding a local club and selecting proper equipment is only a click away.

Inspired to give it a try
Five years ago, Center Line resident David Peltan said his doctor told him that he needed to lose weight and that his blood pressure was too high. After seeing a pamphlet at the Warren Community Center about triathlons, Peltan decided to start training.

His first step was a trip to Center Line High’s track for a couple of laps.

“I was just so gassed after the first lap,” Peltan remembered. “I slowed down and began to walk and said, ‘something has to change.’”

The 63-year-old did change, and a year later, he was running three miles without stopping.

 “It feels good knowing you can do it,” he said. “You feel different when you train. You might be tired, but it’s a good tiredness.”

Peltan also inspired his nephew, Rodney Simon.

“I figured if an old guy could do it, a spry 26-year-old at the time could do it,” the Warren native said.

Since he began training three years ago, Simon has lost 40 pounds and gained some knowledge.

“There’s a better understanding for what it takes to be healthy,” he said.

The ultimate competition
While many triathletes take up the sport because of the health benefits, Jeremy Hanson of Royal Oak began because of the competition.

Hanson said he competes mostly in sprint races because he can fit more races in during the summer. He already had competed in seven races at press time and had another one scheduled for Sept. 20.

But to fit in that many races, Hanson, 32, doesn’t skimp on his training. At the beginning of the summer, he put in up to 15 hours per week training.

If he’s struggling with one aspect more than another, which usually happens early in the season, he’ll concentrate more on that discipline until he feels it’s up to par with the other two.

“I do this mostly for running, because that’s my weakest sport,” he said.

Though Hanson, who swam for Kalamazoo College years ago, said he has no problem with the open swim portion of the race, Mullane said open water usually proves to be the toughest for a beginner.

Simon agreed.

 “You can practice in a pool for years, but the first time in a lake is a totally different experience,” Simon said.

Tips from the pros
Mike Ricci, a USA Triathlon Level 3 certified coach, has been coaching triathletes and racing for 20 years.

He said for an athlete planning on giving the sport a try, hiring an accredited coach and joining a local triathlon club is the way to go.

“Get help on creating a realistic plan that will help you work toward some goals,” he said. “There are a lot of books to help beginner triathletes, but there are lots of shortcuts to cutting down your learning curve that an experienced triathlete or coach could show you.”

With the winter months just around the corner, Ricci said triathletes can still get, or stay, in shape.

“Triathletes are lucky in that we can ride our bikes on a stationary trainer in the winter,” he said. “We can also get into a spin class as well. … Using some cross training, such as snow shoeing, skiing, cross country skiing, mountain biking and skate skiing are good alternatives for winter training.”

Simon said proper training can be a lot of work, but in the end, it’s worth it.

 “Once you hit that time that you set for yourself or beat it, there’s not another feeling like it,” he said.

For those athletes who are ready to compete, there are still a number of triathlons of all distances scheduled in the area, including Belle Isle Oct. 11 and Michigan State University Oct. 12. For a complete list of events scheduled in Michigan, see www.trifind.com.

You can reach Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1062.