As mentioned in my previous article Triathlon Tips, if your first race is in June, the latest you should start training is in February. That would make the winter season the perfect time of year to start looking for races, shopping for a coach or club, and acquiring the necessary equipment to start your training. So let's start planning!
When choosing your race, consider these factors:
The average temperature on race day. What temperature do you like to race at? If you have never raced before all you have to think about is if you don't like to be cold, you might want to stay away from a May race in Ottawa, unless it is an indoor triathlon like the Early Bird Triathlon hosted by Somersault. If you melt standing still in the heat, then choosing a race at the hottest time of the year might not be a good option (choose a spring or fall race)
Who's racing with you? It's always more fun to train and race with one or more of your friends. Standing at the starting line with a team can help to ease your nerves, and celebrating with fellow finishers is always sweeter than celebrating alone. All the more reason to join a Team like Team Triumph Triathlon Club.
Look at the course map. This is a two-part.
Part 1 - Is the course spectator friendly? Or are your friends and family going to see you just one time all day? Keep in mind your audience is there to see you, so find a venue that's a fun place for your supporters to enjoy the event.
Part 2 - Is the swim in a lake or the ocean? Depending on the size of the lake, the water can be calmer than in the ocean. Is the bike/run course technical/flat/hilly? If you are newer to cycling then you would want to stay away from a technical course (big downhills, lots of turns) and if hills are not your jam, then choose a course that is flatter. The same goes for running.
What is the water quality? - What are the water quality and visibility like? I would rather race in a clean clear lake than one where I can not see my hand/arm let alone my fellow competitors. The Meech LakeTriathlon swim is in beautiful Meech Lake in Gatineau Park. That is a great race to check out.
How many people raced at the event last year? Would you prefer to stand at the start line with more than a thousand other racers — or only three hundred? Some people get nervous if a race feels crowded while others like the hustle of the pack.
What have other people said about the race? There are Facebook groups for just about every race these days. You can find reviews of the race on there, or if you are part of a club maybe your teammates shared their race experience on your club page or forum. You can also look at Strava.
Got your priorities set? Good! Now you're ready to start looking for some races. I'd recommend racing at least once this summer with Somersault which is local to Ottawa, but if you are looking for something outside of Ottawa look to Multisport Canada or
You'll want to keep your horizons open. Ottawa/Gatineau is a great place to be a triathlete, but you may want to travel for your ideal competition.
Happy planning! See you at the races.
Julia Aimers
CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
CSEP High-Performance Specialist
Certified Triathlon, Cycling, Yoga and Swimming Coach
USA Cycling Level 2 Coach
Training Peaks Accredited Coach
I love the accountability and the structure of the Virtual 70.3 Half Ironman training program. I don't think I would have gotten this far without the program. The accountability is huge for me!
Deborah Jackman
My coach Kevin Willis is amazing. His swim practices have been a real game-changer for me. A great communicator regardless of your swim level. The whole club is supportive of everything you do. You don't need to be an Ironman to benefit from their programs. 5 stars all around!!! - Denise Pittuck
I just wanted to thank you and your team (Gabi! Brenda! Maggie! Dawn!) for making last weekend's event so amazing. I had tried to do a try-a-tri on my own last summer, and the experience was night and day.
Even though I didn't make every virtual session, I felt so prepared... I knew where to go for information, and I knew I had a team of people (coaches and our beginner tri group!) who were all there to support me.
It was interesting to watch Eric train on his own (without access to the TrainingPeaks workouts and without the weekly meetings to ask questions and learn more about proper form and race-day stuff). When we left on Sunday, he looked at me and was like "we're DEFINITELY doing the training with Julia if we decide to go for the olympic distance, right?".
So glad to have found this club and looking forward to many more triathlons in the near future!!! Tai Teleso
Julia is incredible, I once had a coach who told me to get good at biking and running as he couldn't do anything with my swim technique. Then I was introduced to Julia who is so patient and has an amazing ability to translate it all into a way I could understand. I knocked a minute per 100m off my open water swim times after only a handful of sessions with her. The team is also really welcoming, inclusive and most of all FUN!
Triumph is a warm and fun place for every level of triathlete. Whether you’re just getting started and learning all about triathlon or have been at it for decades, like some of us, you will find camaraderie and expertise in this group with Julia Aimers’ support and caring. She keeps up-to-date in so many areas of training, especially for women and including women’s issues whether it be nutrition or menopause. I highly recommend Team Triumph for swimming, biking, running or putting it all together in one package. There is no other place or group, I would rather be training with. So many of my close friends were met in this group.
A huge thank you to my Triathlon coach, Julia Cooper-Aimers. She took the time last week to drop off (from a distance because of COVID19 restrictions) some tri shorts I ordered along with a well-appreciated note to remind me that there will be ups and downs and that things will get better. She has gone above and beyond to support all of her athletes and our Team Triumph club, by providing almost daily strength, yoga, and spinning videos that have been uploaded to Youtube for anyone who needs a little motivation during these challenging times as well as many words of encouragement. I am grateful for her support and encouragement. ❤️
Anita Lacelle Taylor
Training with Team Triumph for 7 months (so far) made me faster and stronger while building nourishing connections with like-minded fitness nuts and shattering the expectations I had of myself. TT is a crew of inspiring people pursuing epic individual goals and encouraging each other along the way. Julia and her team have expert knowledge and provide a thoughtful evidence-based group program that works. I am privileged and thankful to have Team Triumph in my neighborhood and can't wait to get back to the pool!
Alex Bourne
I want to thank you for always putting our well-being at the forefront of your business model. You suspended face-to-face programs in a timely manner, leading the way in a fitness business world that took much too long to respond and put their members’ health and the community at risk. You « triumphed « in quickly acting to flatten the curve.
Your caring nature resulted in a series of innovative and fun virtual sessions and opened them to the community. I am missing the live interaction now that I am working for a few months but I appreciate that I can access the videos according to my schedule. Yin/yang session tonight, just what I needed.
Not to mention the check-ins, the home deliveries, the charitable events. Priceless.
Simone Rose-Oliver
