You are definitely no longer a newbie with close to 20 races behind you. I think that once you get comfortable at the race distances and know what you are doing (or at least you think you do) when you approach a race then you are no longer a newbie. I was racing sub 4:30 half IMs for a few years prior to doing my first full one and didn't do an IM until my 10th season of triathlons so I don't think that I was still a newbie in season number 9 :)

The other easy way to tell is when you can't fit all of your race t-shirts in the same drawer :)

by some accounts I will always be a newbie (or mini..or whatever..no plans for an IM in my future) but I have enough race shirts to fill a dresser never mind a drawer. Heck..dresser could be full and I'd still need a place on top for what's left.

"The other easy way to tell is when you can't fit all of your race t-shirts in the same drawer :) "

That's the reason I can't give this up. Races are where I get most of my clothing. :)

Here are my unqualified answers ... mostly based on the same questions (When am I not a newbie) in other sports/activities.

1. When you can answer most of your own training questions. (based on personal experience or experience helping others)

2. When you can make your own training plan. (based on personal experience or experience helping others)

Whether one podiums depends on their genetic makeup (all other things being equal). Whether one does an IM depends on preference.

Not being a "newbie" depends on experience ... more precisley "what one learns from their experience". There are folks that have lots of experiences, yet learn little from them. There are likely folks that have done numerous races, yet still ask "newbielike" questions and/or have no idea how to set up their own schedule or help someone else do so.

IMO, it's one of those things that [1] you just know or [2] you don't worry about it.

Personally, I'm certain I'm a newbie, and I don't really think about "when won't I be a newbie". Makes very little difference to me. Almost seems like one of those things that you can't label on yourself ... sort of like, "you're not a newbie when people stop viewing you as a newbie".

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-- Every morning brings opportunity;
Each evening offers judgement. --

Am I a newbie?

I've done 11 races: 8 ironman (2 kona), 3 halves.

You could get that sort of racing experience in a season couldn't you?

I started in 2001.

"ur full of shit"

I suggest you try critical reading. Do you need emoticons to help you?

It's all about performance. You're no longer a newbie when you start posting respectable times, or when you're training for tris and not just dropping in to do a sprint here and there.

The distance isn't important. If you've done 5 IMs this year but you're barely making the cutoff and your best OLY is 3:XX, you're going about it all wrong.

You're a triathlete as soon as you've run, biked and swam on the same day. After that, set a goal for your favorite local sprint series races (top 5 or 10 in AG or a specific time) then move up to Olys and set a goal there. I think you should be able to go 2:44 for an Oly before you even bother with a half, and 5:29 before you seriously think about IM. My personal standards were 2:29 and 5:15 before stepping up.

Some people get all righteous about the IM, but if you're finishing with a glow stick in your hand at 11:XX at night, you're just abusing your body. I'd rather pick up a first at a sprint or Oly than a finishers' medal at an IM.

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Cousin Elwood - Team Over-the-hill Racing
Brought to you by the good folks at Metamucil and Geritol...

The attempts above are too technical for me.

I think Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart said it best when he said, "I shall not today attempt further to define [what makes a triathlon newbie] ... [b]ut I know it when I see it ...."

He, of course, was talking about obscene material, but I think he meant newbies too.

I agree ... I know one when I see one. And I'm an expert, since I am one.

[reply]It's all about performance. You're no longer a newbie when you start posting respectable times, or when you're training for tris and not just dropping in to do a sprint here and there.

The distance isn't important. If you've done 5 IMs this year but you're barely making the cutoff and your best OLY is 3:XX, you're going about it all wrong.

You're a triathlete as soon as you've run, biked and swam on the same day. After that, set a goal for your favorite local sprint series races (top 5 or 10 in AG or a specific time) then move up to Olys and set a goal there. I think you should be able to go 2:44 for an Oly before you even bother with a half, and 5:29 before you seriously think about IM. My personal standards were 2:29 and 5:15 before stepping up.

Some people get all righteous about the IM, but if you're finishing with a glow stick in your hand at 11:XX at night, you're just abusing your body. I'd rather pick up a first at a sprint or Oly than a finishers' medal at an IM.[/reply]

Yeah, I like that approach. I want to get around 5:10 for a half, 2:30 Oly and close to the hour for the sprint series I do...that is a solid 12 mths of effort right there. When I can do that I might look at the long day.
As usual, good advice here.

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kiwipat

per ardua ad astra

According to those criteria I'm a tri will neverbe.

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Those who know do not speak, those who speak, do not know.

DAMN!!! With criteria posted I clearly have just abused the crap out of my body and will never be outside of the newbie status, why didn't someone tell me this (read into that as serious sarcasm)?

There is no set criteria Kiwipat when you are no longer a newbie, you will just know it. If I lived by the standards set by others I would still be killing myself trying to finish a sprint in xx. I devoted part of a season to just getting fast, and guess what..my genes dictate otherwise. Going long is what 'feels right' - FOR ME- I wouldn't expect it of others -but if someone suggests, I have no problem kicking in the door. Ask a 50 m sprinter to arrive at being a true runner by doing a marathon--that is a crock--so why do others think that doing the full all of a sudden makes you no longer a newbie? I know many that have done the full as their first ---and ONLY--triathlon, and they will be the first to tell you they are still a newbie. There is not a magical number that says you are no longer a newbie..you just know. Then you step outside and realize I want to try x just to get out of my comfort zone and bam you feel like a newbie all over again, only you take your past with you and x isn't so uncomfortable to chase anymore...its called living.

I couldn't get under a 6 hr half if I tried..and I have tried, yet I have no problem going long -yes I still feel like a newbie with every race I step up to the plate, because that day(s/weeks) will be full of new experiences I have never felt before, which makes it a term called growth as an athlete. I have to say I still feel like a newbie because I am just on a new playing field..and yes as MarkyMark pointed out I am a promiscuous - crap how do you spell that word -poster. I still post over at TNO--but not as much as I used to, heck I don't post anywhere as much as I used to, think I am just burnt out for a bit.

For 'newbies' sake think I might line up to do my first 5k race this year --for this year the 5k is my X. So see..I am still a newbie--full circle :-)

I think this is a pretty interesting thread. I'm 38 and did first triathlon (OD) IN Oct. 2002. I consider my self a young (in experience ,triathlete ).My races have included :

- (8) Olympic distance. , 2.30-3.00.

- 1.8 / 55 / 12 race (1) ,4.00.

- (1) HIM ,6.30.

- (1) IM ,12.55.

I see myself as middle of the pack in experience for OD and introductory level in HIM/IM. Reason being , there is simply such an abundance of talent and experience in the longer-distance races.

Kiwipat , personally I would not consider your experience to be that of a newbie. I'm sure you are very well versed in the race distances that you have participated. I would believe though that as stated, in NZ you don't have the OD'S and longer races available (excl. IMNZ of course) to add onto the resume.

I know on this board there are participants who have been racing since the early 80's , are coaches , race winner's , bike shop owner's , bike manufacturer's and professional triathletes.

So based on the company we are in at the moment, in my opinion , we are junior / elementary level.

IT ALL DEPENDS UPON THE COMPANY YOU ARE IN !

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"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - Les Brown
"Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment" - Jim Rohn

when triathlon has cost you a relationship or marriage, then you are training and spending out of newbie status. good luck getting there, its a hoot!

>>It's all about performance. You're no longer a newbie when you start posting respectable times, or when you're training for tris and not just dropping in to do a sprint here and there.

The distance isn't important. If you've done 5 IMs this year but you're barely making the cutoff and your best OLY is 3:XX, you're going about it all wrong. <<

Damn Cousin! By your standards, nearly 18 years in the sport, and I'm still a newbie!

One goal this year it to break 3:00 at San Jose. And my 15:21 IM PR hopefully will be lowered in 9 days, but if not, like gordo said, "Know that no matter what happens at IMNZ, I'll be having fun and the entire experience has already been a success for me."

clm

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clm
Nashville, TN
https://twitter.com/ironclm | http://ironclm.typepad.com

IMHO you are well past the newbie stage.

i notice a few lofty perches posted so far. i feel more comfortable with the idea that when you feel you are no longer new is when you declare yourself over the threshold. we all really only have one level to reach and that is the one we set for ourselves. wear your stripes with pride.

the minute you let someone else set your pace is the moment you are no longer in control.

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Train hard...race well.
www.jimmishler.com
"Jim, I happen to agree with you" DougStern

"Damn Cousin! By your standards, nearly 18 years in the sport, and I'm still a newbie!"

Yeah, maybe that sounded a little arrogant, so permit me to revise and extend... The preceding post was my opinion. MY standards are only for me. You get to set yours.

My point is that I see too many people beating themselves up trying to do an IM that they're not ready for (physically) because they think that's what triathlon is all about. I firmly believe the sport is supposed to be fun and it is a lot more fun when you do a race that doesn't leave you unable to walk for three weeks.

For some people an IM is a fun day, but for a great many more it's too much and they find their enjoyment in an Oly or a sprint. There's just too much value put on that "IM Finisher" jacket or medal when a sprint is a triathlon just as much as an IM. It bothers me when people feel guilty about "only" doing sprint or Oly distances. For me personally (not binding on anyone else) I'd rather spend the next two years getting to 2:10 Oly than to finish 5 IMs 53rd out of 65 in my AG.

I still haven't done an IM race (I do an IM equivalent at least once a year) because I'm not interested in struggling across the finish line an hour or two after I've run out of gas. I've been fighting with my Achilles tendon and it won't let me do the amount of running that I would need to feel like I could actually RUN the 26.2. If I can't finish running, and high in my AG, then I think I'm better served doing halves, Olys and sprints. I know that for a lot of folks it's about finishing. I know I can get to the finish line, I just want to arrive in style... before dark!

Besides, I like to race often, and IM takes too big a bite out of an old man's year. So my racing year is comprised of several 5 & 10K runs, 2 or three half marathons, 4 or 5 Olys, 2 or 3 halves, 4 or 5 swim meets, the occasional sprint tri and - if my current running progress holds (fingers crossed) - I'll be at IMAZ next spring and perhaps IMNV next November. I can't see doing an IM in mid season, because then I'd have to skip or lightweight on too many races. Heck, I won my AG at AVAC last year and raced a 5K the next day. Try THAT after your next IM!!

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Cousin Elwood - Team Over-the-hill Racing
Brought to you by the good folks at Metamucil and Geritol...

Yeah, you have described me, really. I don't want to do the big one until I am better at all those other distances, my body comp is under control, and I can hit 10 sessions a week, regularly, for 9/10 mths of the year.

Fun times!!

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kiwipat

per ardua ad astra

1. When you can pee in your wetsuit, and don't think twice about it.

2. When you can farmer blow on the bike, and not get snot all over you.

3. When you get road rash scars on your road rash scars.

4. When you can manage a cyclocross dismount, and not break anything.

5. When you can pack a transition bag without forgetting anything.

6. When your USAT number is a quicker recall then your social security number.

7. When your boss totally understands that you have to take off early to see your massage therapist because, "You have a long run this weekend."

8. When you are more comfortable running without socks then with socks.