Join in: Training partners near the Redondo Beach, CA area - Triathlon Week

duggar1 · 11-27-2005, 06:53 PM

An invitation for triathlon training partners:

There is a small group of us who have met through postings here, as well as on Active.com and other triathlon related message boards who get together informally for running, cycling and swimming workouts (and twice for ocean swimming), but it is somewhat infrequent.

I'm trying to get more people on our list so there are better chances of at least 2 or 3 people getting together at the same time. There are mostly women but some men in our group, all living around the Los Angeles area. Some are beginners and some have been doing tri's for 3 years. Several of us swim in the same Masters program.

We don't care how fast you are, we don't care how old you feel, we don't care if you only want to bike, but we do care about helping each other improve. And we all want to compete in triathlons. Some just want to finish, some dream of winning their age group.

I'm hoping to find people to train with at least once a week. But it's up to you and your busy schedule as to how often you make the effort to join us.

Email me at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and I'll put you on my email list for up coming training sessions.

Doug

Tri4mySis · 01-03-2006, 10:35 PM

Hi Doug,

I am in Costa Mesa, Ca and am training for my 1st sprint. I am very much a beginner and trying to build up a base in each discipline. I would love to know when you all are meeting and what you are doing and try to make some of the meetings.

Thanks!
Robin

duggar1 · 01-04-2006, 10:32 AM

Hi Robin,

Good to see you're gearing up for your first triathlon. At this time of year most of us are working on building up our base training, getting in those longer slower rides & runs. The group I train with is very informal, I never really know who will show up until I show up, and some have been pretty inactive the last few weeks. But most have expressed a commitment to get motivated again now that the holidays are over.

We are mostly new to the sport of triathlon and have a year or less experience. Some had their first triathlon(s) last season, like me, and others are looking forward to their first tri, like you. Only a couple have done more than a sprint tri. I'm not one of them.

Please email me at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and tell me what kind of training you have been doing. I realize you're a beginner, but how long ago did you start training, how much running, biking and/or swimming are you doing, if any? Have you decided which will be your first tri yet?

I'll be putting together my next group training email tomorrow and I'd like to add you to my list, so at least send me your email address ASAP.

If anyone else out there reading this thread would like to get on my email list for group training sessions and other triathlon training related info such as recommendations on training materials, articles, web sites and books, info on local Masters Swim programs, info on local triathlons (and aquathons), ocean swim practices, group bike rides, etc., just send me your email address.

Just to be clear, neither I nor any of our group are tri coaches, although we do share our accumulating knowledge with each other and discuss our training methods and ideas. This is not a club or anything you have to pay to be part of, just a very informal group of people who sometimes train together.

All are welcome to join the fun, no purchase required!

Doug
Redondo Beach, CA
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Robert G. · 01-05-2006, 10:28 PM

I will gladly set up a group for you here, so you can post and share your workouts between members - Just look for the group "Los Angeles Triathletes" under "group membership" in My Triweek

Hernan96 · 04-10-2006, 11:24 PM

Robin,

There is a group in OC that trains Wed, Sat and Sun. Its the Newport Coast Triathlon Club. It's been my first week and I am pleased with the workouts and the group is really nice.

Chris

duggar1 · 06-23-2006, 07:52 PM

Update: Still welcoming new training partners!

It's been just over half a year since I made the original post above looking for training partners. There have been quite a few people who have emailed me to join our little group of triathletes in the Los Angeles area. Out of that large group, almost a dozen have participated in our loosely organized training sessions. But we are still open to anyone else who wants to join in.

As this thing has evolved, we mostly have people from the South Bay and West LA areas who tend to train together one to three times per week. Additionally, we have others all around the metropolitan area including Orange County, the Inland Empire, etc. So if you live too far from the coastal zone to train with us, there are others looking for training partners who you may be able to link up with through our group. Think of this as a sort of training partner co-op. Besides, sooner or later you will want to do some ocean swimming with a group, and you can do that with us whenever you feel like it.

Let me give you an idea of what we are doing currently. Usually we do a group ride of 2 to 3 or more hours on Saturday or Sunday morning. There is almost always a group starting from Santa Monica and/or Redondo Beach. Also on the weekends, we try to make one day a swim/ride brick or a ride/run brick. The week before a sprint tri we will usually do a time trial on the actual course.

During the week we try to get in a group ride in the early evening for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or do some intervals, and on another day sometimes do an ocean swim practice.

Several of us have joined the same Master's Swim program held at the Mira Costa High School pool in Manhattan Beach on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 PM. Others swim at Santa Monica College.

Although we do run together sometimes, most of our group training is on the bike, in the water or a brick.

We have all levels of triathletes; from those still gearing up for their first sprint tri, to some who have a couple years experience. Our ages range from the early 20's to over 50, and about an equal number of men and women. Although we are not a formal enough group to be called a club, and no one goes around claiming to be a coach, we do learn a lot from each other's experience.

We have had people complete this year in the UCLA IronBruin Reverse Triathlon, the Redondo Beach Triathlon and even one who did the Brazil Ironman. We have people preparing for the Pendleton Tri (Olympic distance), the Los Angeles Tri (Olympic distance), the Carlsbad Tri (sprint), the Santa Barbara Tri (sprint), the Malibu Tri (sprint) and the Hermosa Beach Tri (sprint). We also have a couple people, including myself, who have done some of the Playa del Run Aquathons (1,000m swim & 5K run, no bike), and plan to do more of them.

The emphasis here is on having people to train with as a motivational tool. It's a lot easier to drag your butt out of bed on a weekend morning if you know your buddies are expecting you.

I normally send out a group email around mid-week with the various options for group training in different areas, plus an overview of how the training went the previous week. We also send out race reports about the triathlons and other events we participate in telling about our own personal experiences and adventures trying to get from start to finish line.

So if you want to join the fun, email me at [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], and I will add you to the group emails and hopefully you will find a new way to stay motivated and improve yourself.

Doug
Redondo Beach, CA
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]