NYU Triathlon Club

Scott Willett, Coach

Triathlon is a sport that combines swimming, cycling, and running. If you stay in shape, or want to get in shape, doing any of these, you can get in better shape and have more fun by combining them. Cross training releives the boredom of doing one thing all the time, it makes you stronger, and it prevents repetitive stress injuries.

Any member of the NYU community is welcome to join the NYU Triathlon club. We work out together and participate in local triathlon events.

Frequently asked questions:

What is a typical triathlon event?
First you swim a little, usually in open water such as a lake, then you bike a little, then you run a little. Distances vary from sprint (short) to ironman (rediculously long).
Do I have to own a bike to join the club?
No. In the fall and winter, the club uses stationary bikes at the Coles gym. You will need a bike if you want to race in the spring?
Do I have to race triathlons to join the club?
No. Some club members never ride a bike outdoors.
Do I have to be a gifted athlete in great shape to join?
No. People join at all fitness levels. You do have to want to improve your fitness. A minimum fitness level might be running three miles (18 laps on the roof of Coles gym) in 30 minutes. If in doubt feel free to contact us.
Do I have to be a good swimmer?
No. The Coach Scott Willett will make you a better swimmer. Triathlon swimming has its own technique, so almost everyone has to start over, even former swim racers.
Who can join?
Any member of the Coles gym can join. This means NYU students, and also faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. Contact the Coles membership office for more details.
How do I join?
There are organizational meetings at the start of fall and spring semester. Look for announcements at the NYU gyms or contact us or Coach Scott Willett.
I am not in the NYU community. What can I do?
There is no New York City club for coached triathlon workouts. A couple of running clubs have large multi-sport (triathlon) participlation. The New York Flyers is a social running club. The many Flyer triathletes get together informally for swim and bike workouts and to travel to races. The Central Park Track Club has several members who are excellent triathletes. The Front Runners is a running club for lesbians, gay men, and supportive non-gay people of all athletic abilities. The New York Tritons club is their triathlon affiliate. Many pools have masters' swimming groups that include triathletes, particularly the beautiful 50 meter Asphalt Green pool. NYC triathletes meet and greet a events in the NYC area. Look for listings on MetroTri and in the free print publication MetroSports New York to be found at most gyms.

To learn more about the club, visit our unofficial site, or the NYU athletics site, or send email to triathlon.club@nyu.edu .

Some useful triathlon related links:

The New York Triathlon Club which organizes many triathlons and biathlons in the New York area, including some fun events in Central Park.

USA Triathlon is the national triathlon organization, with many more events and other triathlon information.

active.com has an even bigger database of events of all kinds and allows you to register online.

The New York Road Runners' Club organizes weekly races, mostly in Central Park. These range from three mile (5K) races to the New York Marathon. They also have information on running clinics, power yoga, and more.

The Hudson river is cleaner than you think. The Manhattan Island Foundation organizes Hudson river swims ranging from half a mile off lower Manhattan (easy) to 28 miles around the island (don't even think about it).

If you want to know what triathletes look like, you can work out with the NYU Triathlon Club, or you can check out the professionals, pictured in Triathlete Magazine. They have lots of useful information for beginners.

Last update: June 21, 2004.