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So You Want To Try a Tri?

I’ve been kinda sorta considering a triathlon in the not-so-distant future. But they sound expensive, and so I haven’t been sure if I’ve wanted to buy all kinds of equipment for something I might not be that into. After writing a guest post for Katy about Tumblr, I asked the fabulous triathlete if she could write a post for me on doing a triathlon on a budget.

Katy Widrick blogs about healthy living, social media and her two adorable dogs at http://katywidrick.com and on Twitter at @kwidrick. She is the founder of #Fitblog chats on Twitter and has completed several triathlons, including an Olympic distance event. She wants everyone in America – especially the women – to give triathlon a tri. Errr, try.

 
How to Do Your First Triathlon for Under $10
 

Wha-WHA? Did she say under $10?
 
I know. Between the entry fees, the custom bike, the gear and the travel expenses, a lot of people thing triathlon is out of reach. As an experienced triathlete, I can tell you that if you’re willing to put in just a little work (and maybe just a bit of begging), you can get involved in my favorite sport for pennies.

 
The Fees:
 
OK, let’s tackle the first barrier to entry – the fees! Depending on the size and location of your preferred triathlon, it can be more than $100 to take part. So, here are four things to consider:
 

  • Race for Free Programs
    • Lucas (my husband) and I have each earned Race for Free credits by volunteering at other events, run by the same organization. Three hours of helping pass out water and direct people through transition at an event last fall is paying for me to get into a triathlon this spring for free. Most organizations have volunteer or credit programs, so just contact the race director and see if you can work something out!
  • Charity/Fundraising
    • Often, organizations and events will team up to let people get into events for free, in exchange for fundraising. Team in Training, Athletes for Hope and Element Events all support athletes, giving them training and fundraising tools. Plus, if you’re new to triathlon, it’s an excellent way to find training partners.
  • Trade
    • This one takes a little creative pitching, but I believe in you! If you offer to have someone live-tweet the event for the race director, or promise a series of blog posts in support of the event, on its blog, you may be able to wheedle your way in.
  • Sponsorship
    • Reach out to your network, and see if a brand or organization is willing to sponsor your entry in exchange for wearing their shirt during the run, or a temporary tattoo featuring their logo.

 
The Bike:

If I had a dollar for every time someone told they were intimidated by triathlon because of the big expensive bikes, well…I’d have enough to buy a lot of big, expensive bikes. I have seen everything from mountain bikes to recumbent bikes in events, and I’m not too proud to admit that I was once passed by a woman whose bike featured glitter tassels on the handlebars.

If you fall in love with triathlon, you may want to consider saving up for a proper road or triathlon bike. But until then, use any bike you have, or consider borrowing one from a friend or neighbor (just be sure it is the proper size so you are not in danger on the course).


The Gear:

When I do triathlon, I wear a ratty one-piece swimsuit with padded bike shorts and no overshirt. I don’t have a triathlon kit or a cycling jersey. I just wear gear that will make it easy to transition and that I don’t mind getting muddy or smelly. Believe me. Unless you are trying to qualify for Kona, you can wear an old t-shirt and even a sports bra and workout tights as your bathing suit.

Stick an old towel in a plastic shopping bag, along with an old pair of goggles and you’re good to go. No special race bag needed.



The Training:

Free free FREE! Run outside. Bike outside. Find a local lake or community pool and swim for free. Find workout partner through blogs or online triathlon communities. Don’t shell out extra money for cyclometers or Garmins or aerobars or triathlon shoes until you decide whether you even like the sport.

The Travel:

Here’s where the $10 comes in. You’ll probably need to drive to your event, paying a few tolls and perhaps even a parking fee. Then, there’s the gas money. I can’t get you out of that (unless you live close enough to the venue to ride to the starting line).

Bottom line – don’t let money be the reason you opt out of triathlon. There is no feeling like crossing the finishing line after swimming, biking and running, and the medal and photos you’ll get afterward are priceless.

A GF Runner’s Diet: Gluten-Free Carbo Loading

Hi, all. I’m Evan of Food Makes Fun Fuel, and besides being an avid runner, I’m also a gluten-free foodie.

But first, what is gluten? Gluten is the main protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. People with Celiac disease or gluten-intolerances can’t properly deal with this protein which can cause a number of nasty side effects.

Though I’ve never been formally diagnosed, I summed up the effects of gluten in my body after an indulgent weekend in a post aptly named How Gluten Makes Me Feel. Since then I haven’t looked back; I know I feel much better living and running without wheat.

But without this staple carbohydrate in my diet, I’ve had to look towards other places to get a good balance of carbs and nutrition. Things like pasta, bread, pizza, cookies, cakes—all runners’ favorites—are strictly off limits. A diagnosis like this might seem like the end of the world. And yet the world of gluten-free carbo loading can be so diverse and so tasty once you see what’s out there.

Potatoes:

August 12th 024

White potatoes get a bad rap. Any TV nutritionist or dieter will tell you they’re too much starch/not enough nutrients. The truth is potatoes can be just as nutritious in a diet as bread, pasta, or anything else starchy. An average potato has 3-4g of fiber (skin on!) and is a good source of potassium—a runner’s need-to-have nutrient. The carbohydrates in potatoes aren’t simple sugars, either, but rather complex carbs which means they’re more filling and satisfying.

Serve: Cut a potato into wedges, rub with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Bake the wedges for 60 minutes at 350 until crisp.

Quinoa:

Here’s the thing about quinoa: While it’s true that it has a high amount of protein for a plant-based food, it’s still primarily carbohydrates. And that balance of carbs and protein is great for replenishing and restoring ourselves after exercise or to prepare for it. Quinoa is technically a seed but has nutritional profiling much more like a whole grain and is often lumped into that category.

Serve: Heat 1 part quinoa to 2 parts water on the stove to boiling. Drop the heat and cover for 15 minutes until the quinoa has absorbed the liquid. Add cut vegetables, onion, vinegar, salt, and oil to taste.

Bananas:

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There’s a reason they pass out bananas at the end of every race(and not just because they’re cheap). Bananas are about an 80-10-10 mix of carbs-protein-fat. They’re also one of the best sources of potassium that we have. An average banana contains 400-500mg of potassium. And filled with 12.5g of resistant carbs, too, this is one starch that you should never fear to add to your diet.

Serve: Keep a bag of frozen bananas in your freezer. After a hot run, add 2 frozen bananas to a food processor and blend to make creamy. Fold in 2 tablespoons cocoa powder and serve.

Brown Rice & Byproducts:

trader joes gluten free rice tortillas

Before there was wheat and bread and pasta and all that is gluten, there was rice. Rice, another grain, is almost nutritionally identical to wheat except with a different form of protein. It’s been a staple in Eastern diets for thousands of years and is slowly proving itself to be available in a gluten-free market. You can find breads, tortillas, even cookies made with brown rice flour.

Serve: Boil rice with 1 part rice, 2 parts water over a stove. In a pan, toast a handful of fresh sesame seeds. After the rice has finished cooking, season with vinegar, sugar, and salt. Sprinkle on top ground nori and the toasted sesame seeds.

Bob’s Red Mill:

August 19th 003Recipe: The Best Vegan Brownies

I could never give up things like cookies, brownies, and pizza. Of course, that’s what goes out the window in everyone’s mind when they hear a “gluten-free diet”. The good thing is that doesn’t have to be the case. Plenty of companies now provide gluten-free mixes/flours to replicate any place gluten might be. My favorite company out of these is Bob’s Red Mill because they’re often made with whole grain ingredients and bean flour rather than white rice flour.

Serve: My favorite brownie recipe(vegan, too!) made with Bob’s Red Mill’s GF all-purpose baking mix.

I hope I’ve shown that giving up gluten doesn’t mean giving up anything that you love. You can still run hard and eat deliciously without it.