Multisport on a Shoestring

Yeah, yeah.  I know.  Long time.  No post.  Don't worry.  I've got stuff coming down the pipe, and I'm hoping that today's post will be the first in a series to help out those of you who are just getting in to multisport racing, or are trying to train in race on a less-than-liberal budget.  You see, within the last couple of weeks, The Wife signed up to do her first duathalon.  Plus, not one, not two, not three but FOUR of my close friends have also signed up for their first races.  Some will be doing the YWCA Triathlon in August and one will be doing the IronGirl Du along with The Wife in September.  It's pretty exciting stuff.

Folks sign up for their first Tris and Dus for all sorts of reasons, but for the most part they fall into two categories: those with a bucket list, and those seeking a lifestyle change.  The bucket-listers see their first race as a new challenge, but may not have any long term plans after the race is finished.  Then, you have the lifestyle-changers.  Sure, their first race is a big deal, but they also have some other things lined up further off in the future.

Either way, getting set up to complete your first race could be a substantial investment.  Here are just a few expenses that you may have to look forward to:

Sprint Triathlon Race Fee: $50-$150
Bike: $250-$2000
Running Shoes: $50-$120
Cycling Gear (Helmet, Jersey, Shorts, Gloves): $100-$300
Gym Membership: $20-$50 per month

Gulp.

It's easier for the lifestyle-changers to justify the expense because they know they're likely to continue to use all their new gear.  It's a little bit different for the bucket-listers.  Understandably, it's harder to stomach the cost when it might be just a one-time deal.  Nobody wants to be looking at a $1500 bike sitting in their basement that hasn't been ridden in years.

My goal will be to help you spend your hard-earned cash effectively so that you can get the most bang for your buck.  I'll go over things like choosing what kind of bike to use, how to get set up with running shoes and how to fuel yourself without breaking the bank.

If you've been racing for a while now, I'm really not going to cover anything that you don't already know.  The 'Multisport on a Shoestring' series will be for my wife, my friends and any other newbies out there that just need a little nudge in the right direction.

Am I a pro triathlete or a coach?  No.  But, I do know how to eek every last ounce of value out of my dollar.

So, stay tuned and feel free to drop me a line if there's something that you'd like to see covered.

Toodles.