If a picture is a worth thousand words, then what’s a moving picture worth?  Click on this video below to watch a few minutes of genuine, former TTNE athletes talking about their motivations for and benefits from training for a triathlon. Be sure to pause the video on the column on the right before pressing play below.

I want to thank you for all the knowledge and encouragement you gave me in the 2 clinics I took this summer.  It made such a difference as I prepared for this upcoming triathlon.  Here’s what I’ve been doing for the past 2 mornings instead of my normal bricks.  At 6:30 I take a shower in my tri-shorts and sports bra, walk outside the house where I had my bucket set up, dried myself (my dog is definitely confused) and dressed in 3 [top] layers because I know I’ll be cold when it’s in the 50s.  Then I ride a bit, peel layers and run a bit.  I would never have thought to do this, if I hadn’t taken your clinics.  I learned to get mentally prepared as well as physically.  Thanks so much !!! – Janet

I have really enjoyed this program and feel I have benefited greatly from it. The structure and workout schedule has helped me stay to a course without slacking off or over doing it, as I probably would have on my own. One week to go and I am still injury free and feel physically in shape to take on my first TRI   ever. Biking was not one of my top ten before, but this fall I will be   shopping for a good road bike (after I get two kids settled in college).    I have been listening to all that you advise and plan to apply as much of it as I can. Your records show you are the experts.  Thank you for running this program. As women, moms, I think we often stumble when it comes to perceived indulgences for ourselves.  But the time and money spent on this was well worth it to me.  - Mary

I just wanted to thank you both very much for your support and helping me accomplish a long time goal….my first triathlon.  As you are aware I was thrown for a loop a week and half prior to the race with my first open water swim.  I don’t know if it was because the water was dark, full of weeds, or I was unexpectedly reminded of how I almost drowned as a teenager in open water….I don’t know why & why didn’t matter I just needed to fix it & fix it fast.  I was able to swim a mile in the pool comfortably, so this was a huge surprise and discouragement to me.

I found a swamp (ok, they call it a pond, but its more of a swamp) and forced myself to swim in it everyday leading up to the tri.  I figured if I could swim in that, I could swim in anything! I also did visualizations.  I felt confident and calm before the start.  I sailed, that’s right, sailed through the water.  I couldn’t believe it when it was over (and no side stroke or back stroke needed).  It was a piece of cake for me! – Char

Thank you for offering the clinics and training this summer.  You’re such an awesome athlete and inspiration.  You could have spent your time training for yourself, whittling off minutes here and there so that you could medal, but you shared your time with us.  You’re awe-inspiring.  I am so grateful.  - Janet

I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. You really are a wonderful coach. You are not only inspiring but willing to go that extra mile. Your efforts and of course your constant words of encouragement help to keep me going on what has been a more challenging (but rewarding) journey than what I initially predicted.
Thanks again!!- Tammy

I first want to thank you so very much for the training program!  It has been great to train with you both with all of your coaching and tri experience/expertise. I really felt very well prepared and knew what to expect for the first race, I was still extremely nervous and tired due to lack of sleep, but well prepared!  It has also been a joy to meet and work with all of the workout leaders.  They have been very attentive and were there to answer all of my questions and concerns as I trained for my first race.  It has been a wonderful eight week journey! - Tonya

What a great workout tonight was!  Thanks!  I really feel so proud of me, and strong!  I could do it!   What a treat to come in to the house and tell my kids what i did today – they were totally impressed!  This is really working!  thanks to you both for bringing me along! - Lucy

What an amazing experience… I think I am hooked!  I loved achieving this personal physical goal but even more important I enjoyed spending time training with a group of wonderful women! – Aileen

After a long a 2 page letter about what an incredible experience this athlete had, she ended her letter by writing this…

I have sometimes regretted that I have not spent my summer as committed to other projects that have been put aside while I have been training.  I suppose what the training has brought me, beyond a certain level of fitness, is the knowledge that if I can compete in a triathlon, what else might I be able to do?  How else might I be able to improve?  What more might I have to give to others?

This is all by way of saying that I appreciate from the bottom of my heart the work that you are doing, and I will always remember with great fondness my “triathlon summer.”  There will be other triathlons but I imagine never so eventful or emotional as this journey has been for me.  Thank you so much, again.

From start to finish, the entire experience was nothing short of spectacular.  Thank you once again for all of it.   You, and all of the workout leaders, are so inspirational in your personal fitness and goal setting, your unending enthusiasm and support, and your joy of mentoring others.  Congrats to you on your race and on your enormously positive role in all of our triathlon experiences.

The Team Training New England Advantage

(1)  We’re #274!
Your coaches, Janice Cohen and Lynne Tapper, are  just like you.  We have families. We have busy lives. We are NOT elite athletes who finish first in every race we enter, do Iron Mandistance triathlons or otherwise can’t relate to what you are thinking and feeling.  Both of us can still clearly remember doing our first triathlons, how nervous we were and everything we did wrong.  That experience helps us help you.

(2)  We’re not experts.  Oh, wait, we are!
Both of us are certified USA Triathlon Level 1 coaches and have been since 2007.  Janice is a yoga instructor and Lynne is certified to teach the use of heart-rate monitors in training.  And, in case you are worried, we are both CPR and First Aid certified.

(3)  What time is it?  It’s “you” time!
Finding free time to exercise, for some people, is like finding the holy grail.  Exercise could be taking a brisk walk, a brief interval workout at the track, even doing some core exercises on the floor at home.  Something!  We’ll help you start the process of scheduling time in your day for you, helping you put put yourself near the TOP of your TO-DO list.   Because when you choose to do that, you’ll have more energy to get through every day, week, month and year.

(4) We put the “tri” in team
One of the key advantages of our training program is that we do it as a group.  Not everyone runs, bikes or swims at the same pace, but we’re sure that you’ll find someone who’s pretty close to your pace.  Plus, we have a crew of Workout Leaders who have trained with us in the past who are there to answer questions, ride along with you on a tough hill and generally offer encouragement and keep a safe eye on everyone.  Why train alone when you can train with a team?

(5) Triathlons for all
Team Training New England is a triathlon training group FOR ALL, women and men!  We train people who “never in a million years” thought they would or could do a triathlon.  We train our athletes to do a sprint distance triathlon in an encouraging, safe, fun group setting.  We believe that triathlons should be a viable exercise option for pretty much everyone and not seen as an elitist or intimidating sport.

(6) History is on our side
Team Training New England started turning “I don’t know” into “I did it!” in 2005, taking a team of 20 women to the Danskin Women’s Triathlon in Webster, Massachusetts.  We have trained people of pretty much every age, size, level of fitness and ability.  Every year we fall in love with our team all over again at the inspirational stories, the great friendships and the caterpillars who turn into butterflies as they train with us and cross the finish line.  We know what we’re doing and we love what we do.

What is Team Training New England?
Team Training New England is a triathlon training group FOR ALL, women and men!  We train people who “never in a million years” thought they would or could do a triathlon.  We train our athletes to do a sprint distance triathlon in an encouraging, safe, fun group setting.

Why should I train with Team Training New England versus another training program or private coach?
Not only is Team Training New England  comprised of USA Triathlon certified coaches, we have numerous Workout Leaders at all of our group sessions.  These Workout Leaders are usually past participants who were so moved by the experience that they volunteer their time by providing feedback, encouragement and safety.  No one is ever alone at any given time.

Who are the Team Training New England coaches?
We are  just like you.  We have families. We have busy lives. We are NOT elite athletes. We DO, however, put ourselves near the TOP of our TO-DO lists. Because we do that, we have more energy to get through every day, week, month and year.

What is a sprint distance triathlon?
A sprint distance triathlon consists of a 1/2 mile swim in open water (usually), 10-12 mile bike ride, and 5k (3.1 miles) run.  We strongly believe this is a manageable, achievable distance that anyone who WANTS to accomplish it, CAN!

What are the other triathlon distances?
Just for your own edification, we will answer this question.  The other common triathlon distances are:
Olympic Distance Triathlon: .9 mile swim, 20k (~25 miles) bike, 10k (6.2 miles) run
Half Ironman Distance Triathlon: 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run (1/2 marathon)
Ironman Distance Triathlon: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run (marathon)

When does the 2012 training begin?
Our kick off meeting is on Wednesday, April 11th.  Location: TBD  This will not be a workout, but a chance to get everyone together to meet each other and go over the multi-week program in detail.

Starting the week of April 16th, we  meet every Wednesday (6:30-8:00 p.m.) and Saturday (7:00-9:00 a.m.) until race weekend. 

What are the 2012 team races?
Our team goal race is the Amica 19.7 Ocean Beach on Sunday, July 15th.
It consists of a .5 mile ocean swim, 16.1 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile flat run that ends on the boardwalk.

We will also be doing the Litchfield Hills Olympic Triathlon on Sunday, June 24th
It consists of a .9 mile lake swim, 14.8 mile hilly bike ride and a 6.2 mile run.

What is the cost of the training?
The program offerings for 2012 are as follows:

Sprint Plus
Fee: $399 (does not include race fee)
13 weeks of total training = 10 week training program + 3 week build up
Training dates: April 18-Race day
Goal Race: Amica 19.7 Ocean Beach, July 15, 2012

Sprint
Fee: $299 (does not include race fee)
10 week training program
Training dates: May 9-Race day
Goal Race: Amica 19.7 Ocean Beach, July 15, 2012

Olympic
Fee: $399 (does not include race fee)
12 week training program, 10 weeks of group workouts
Training dates: April 18-Race day
Participants will receive a 12 week training program and access to 10 weeks of group training that will finish with race day on June 24th.
Goal Race: Litchfield Hills Olympic Triathlon, June 24, 2012

Drop-In Sessions
There will be 25 available drop-in sessions during the training program from April 18-July 11.
Fee: $25 per session, $100 for 5 sessions, $180 for 10 sessions

What if I cannot make every workout?
It is rare that one athlete makes it to every single workout.  Given our busy lives, you do the best you can.  If you purchase the Sprint Plus, Sprint or Olympic training programs, you will receive an online training program to follow. So, if you miss a workout, you’ll get to see what you missed and hopefully you can do it on your own.  Clearly there are things you will miss by not being with the group, but it’s not the end of the world.

Can I just sign up for one or more workout(s)?
Yes. We have Drop-In Sessions.  We have 25 different workouts that you can sign up for individually. Each session costs $25.  If you buy 5 or more workouts there is a discount.

Do I need to purchase a new bike?
No. We do not recommend that you purchase a new bike for this training program. If you have a hybrid bike or an older road bike, that will suffice.  We do, however, recommend that you make sure the bike fits you properly.  You should never be in pain while biking or after a bike ride.  If you plan on borrowing someone’s bike, make sure you bring it to a bike shop and get a proper bike fit.  If you need a recommendation on a bike shop near you, please contact us.

Do I need to know how to swim?
Yes. Our training program is not a “learn to swim” program.  You must be able to swim in a pool.  We will teach you how to swim in “open water.”  If you need some swim coaching recommendations, please contact us.

What if I don’t like to run?
Not a problem.  Many of our past participants have come into the program who dislike running. You can walk the run portion of the triathlon, it’s not a problem.  However, we do want to mention that many women who have trained with us end up running more than they thought they would and hate running a bit less than when they started.

If there are any questions we have not answered, please email us and we’ll answer you directly and as well as posting it here.

Saint Joseph College (women-only): Sunday, February 12, 2012
Event flyer: 2012 SJC Women’s Indoor Triathlon Flyer
Registration form: 2012 SJC Entry Form

Mandell JCC (women-only): Sunday, April 1, 2012
Event flyer: 2012 Mandell JCC Women’s Indoor Triathlon Flyer
Registration now open.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about TTNE’s Indoor Triathlon Events.
We hope we answer many of your questions and concerns below.

Why is there a lottery for the Saint Joseph College (SJC) Indoor Triathlon this year?
For the past five years, this event has sold out within days.  The advantage has always gone to those who are able to hand deliver their registration to the O’Connel Center at Saint Joseph College.  We have thought long and hard about a system that will level the playing field and allow those women from farther away to participate in this exciting and popular event.

How does the lottery work for the Saint Joseph College Indoor Triathlon event?
The registration form will be available for download on January 3, 2012 (see above). At this time, you can fill out the registration form, include payment and mail or hand-deliver to the O’Connell Center on the SJC campus in West Hartford.  All registration forms MUST be submitted in a sealed envelope. If you are hand delivering, please put SJC Indoor Triathlon on the front of the sealed envelope).  All forms must be postmarked by January 21. Lottery results will be emailed and posted here on January 25. The wave schedule and list will be announced (via email) on January 31. Your cash or checks will not be deposited unless you have been chosen.

Can we still pick a person or group to be in the same wave?
Yes. You can choose up to 5 women with whom you would like to share a wave.  This year, we are limiting the group to 6 women (including you!).  Your registration forms MUST be submitted together IN the same envelope. There are NO EXCEPTIONS!

Will there be a waiting list?
Yes. We will pick the waiting list at the same time as the first 96 lottery winners are chosen.  You can email dfiske@sjc.edu to find out what place you are on the waiting list.  If you are #1-12, you have a good chance of being in the event.

What is the order of the triathlon?
Swim, Bike, Run

Read below to learn more about each leg of the triathlon.

Swim:
You will wear a swim suit or a tri-suit.  Approximately 18 lengths equals ¼ mile.  When you get out of the pool, you will NOT remove your swim suit.  You will dry off with a towel and put on a shirt, shorts, socks and sneakers and head to the biking section.

Some women swim with a workout bra under their swim suit or put it on over the swim suit after the swim, if necessary.  Some swim suits have a built in bras that work just as well. You can choose to wear biking shorts and then run in them as well.  We recommend only changing into shorts one time.  So decide which shorts (running, biking or a compression type short) you want to wear and stick with it.

Bike:
All of the bikes will have cages for sneakers as well as clips (for spd cycling shoes).  You do NOT need to bring a helmet or biking gloves.

Run:
Saint Joseph College: The run will take place on an indoor running track.  It is 14 laps to a mile.  You should be able to go right to the run from the bike, unless you need to change from your bike shoes to your running shoes.
Mandell JCC: The run will be outside. It is a well-marked 2 laps.  Two laps is 3 miles.  You will be timed. Depending on the weather, you might want to add another layer for warmth.
Farmington Valley and Indian Valley Family YMCA: The run will be 20 minutes on a treadmill.  The distance you run in the allotted time will be recorded.

Transition:
Each athlete will have a transition area to put all of your gear. Your area will be clearly marked with your individual race # (but it may be small).  You will keep all of your gear at this area.  Please do not leave anything in the locker room. We do not time you during the transition.  For the safety of the participants, we don’t want anyone rushing around on wet, slick floors.  However, we will encourage you to hurry up to the next event, safely, of course.

All areas will be clearly marked.

How Distances Are Tracked:
Swim: Volunteers will be tracking the number of swim lengths you swim in the allotted time. One end of the pool to the end is considered one length.  If you are in the middle of the pool when the time is up, we will give you that extra bit and count a full length for you.  We’re nice like that.
Bike: In some cases, the indoor bikes will have odometers.  A volunteer will track the distance you rode. If there are no odometers, we encourage you to follow the leaders guided ride and enjoy yourself.
Run: If you are running on a track, volunteers will count your laps.  If you’re running on a treadmill, a volunteer will track your distance run during the allotted time. If you are running a specific distance outside, you will be timed.

How is the winner determined?
While we really believe that this type of event should be considered a great “workout,” we know that many of the participants do want to know how they did in comparison to others.  As athletes, we can relate to that.

Not every indoor triathlon scores the same way.  Here is how any event run in collaboration with Team Training New England is calculated.
We determine which athlete swam the most lengths, biked the longest distance and ran the farthest (if on a treadmill or track) or ran the fastest time if the run distance is constant.  That person (or persons) will get 100 points.  The other participants will receive a % of 100 points.

For example, if a person swims 50 lengths in 20 minutes, he/she will get 100 points. If another person swims 40 laps, he/she will get 80 points.
The same calculation is done for the bike and run leg as well.

At the end, we add up the points each person receives for the swim, bike and run.  The total # of points a person could get is 300.  The person with the highest points is considered the “winner.”  When we post the results on our website, we only post race #s, no names.  All results are anonymous.

What do I bring for each leg?
Swim:
Swim suit. Goggles. Swim cap. Towel. Flip flops to wear on the pool deck.  You will be able to leave them by the side of the pool and grab them after your swim.
Bike: Biking shoes/running shoes. Shorts. Shirt
Run: Running bra (women only). Shorts. Shirt

Other stuff: Bring water bottle. Change of dry clothes. Towel for showering.  If you aren’t sure about something, bring it.

To save time, arrive at the facility with your swim suit on underneath your clothes or sweats. If you’re going to shower at the facility after your triathlon, don’t forget underwear (don’t laugh, it happens a lot).

2011 Indoor Triathlon Results:
September 25
2011 Fall Mandell JCC Indoor Triathlon Results
April 11
2011 Mandell JCC Indoor Triathlon Results
March 20
2011 Indian Valley Family YMCA Indoor Triathlon Results
March 6
2011 Farmington Valley YMCA Indoor Triathlon Results
February 13
2011 Saint Joseph College Indoor Triathlon Results

2010 Indoor Triathlon Results:
2010 Mandell JCC Indoor Triathlon Results
2010 Saint Joseph College Indoor Triathlon Results