So I won my first triathlon this weekend. It was a small sprint distance race, my second road triathlon ever, and what I considered a big test for myself and the goal (possibly a dream) I have had in the back of my mind for the last year. Since my first tri at the end of last summer I have been nursing the belief that I might have what it takes to be a professional triathlete. With that in mind I have slowly transitioned from being a straight runner to triathlete, culminating in about 4 months of dedicated bike and swimming training starting in January. I have improved from 1:07 minutes (800 swim, 14 mile bike, 5k run), to just under an hour for a similar distance (12.5 mile bike, but 5K technical trail run) on about 30 miles running, 4500 yds swimming and 85 miles biking a week. I hope to go under 2:00 for an Olympic distance tri by the end of the summer. I know that I have a ways to go even if I accomplish that goal. I also know that I have a lot of training under my belt (9 years of competative running) at this point and my upside might not be that great. I am wondering if anyone who has made it, or almost made it as a pro (I consider making it earning enough money to break even at the end of a season), might be able to tell me what it takes, and if I might realisticly have it. I hoping for an honest (even if its harse) opinion, and some advice.
No way to answer with that info. How old are you? Did you run XC NCAA div-1? What did you avg for the short bike course (mph)? Most local clubs have “elite” level competition first, then “pro” once you get established, find a sponsor (at a minimum your local tri club), etc. Certainly isn’t hard “turning” pro. Also, at Olympic (and sprint) distances, the swim is very important - less so at the 1/2 and IM distances. Swimming takes MUCH more work since it is all about technique. At the 1/2 and IM distances, the race if often about the run …
i agree about more info. What can you swim for a timed 400 long course meters? Or 100? Not that that will be an indication of potential, I’m sure you do, but just what level you’re at now. Also, to have an idea at what distance you might excel. You can be tricked by smaller races, I suggest entering some larger races, not just ones you think you can win or place well at. Do a race like St. Anthony’s, City of Los Angeles, Age Group Nationals, and that should help a lot in figuring out where you are.
Give more info, including 5k and 10k times. I’m sure you have talent and can still improve, but I wouldn’t expect to be able to earn money this year (or next). Going sub two hours won’t get you money to make a living (trust me), but doing well at big races, and beating bigger named athletes will help a lot.
Good luck.
sorry to tell, very few make any money racing pro triathlon. Don’t quit school or your day job.
And, winning a local sprint tri is not any indication of your potential. I know half-dozen dudes around here that have won sprint races. They would get EMBARRASED at the elite level.
Honestly, being a “pro” triathlete is, in itself, a fairly juvenile goal (you said harsh, right!). Seriously, I know several guys who want to be a “pro”, and it’s really about their vanity - nothing more. They aren’t going pro because of any particular reason, it just sounds big time and they want to impress everyone.
What do you REALLY want from this sport? As an earlier poster said, even the MOP pros barely scrape buy, and in many cases they are using equipment that isn’t the best for them (I know one guy who has a bike he hates, but it was free and his sponsor pays an entry on occasion). Being a pro is not all it’s cracked up to be. Do you really want to do a race because a sponsor wants you to, or would you rather do it because it fits your goals and philosophy?
So again, what do you want from this sport? If you simply want to be the best you can be, find a job that lets you train and pays enough so you can get equipment and get to races. Live a spartan lifestyle. Save your bucks, train hard, race hard and see where it takes you. Don’t worry about which race class you’re in, worry about getting in the best shape possible. If you start entering races and finishing high, the rest takes care of itself. Personally, I would rather forgo the “pro” title, use the equipment I want, race the races I want, and do what I can to race at my potential. Ask yourself honestly why you want to be a pro before you spend too much time fretting over it.
You could make it as a pro, but first you need to start training seriously in order to see if you can handle it.
I have to say I am taking a different approach with my answer to your question than the others. If you are young enough and you know that this is what is in your heart (a strong desire and love for the sport) I say go for it. Better to go after a dream than to live with regrets. Also, while it is true that few make good money in this sport, I think it is possible for some of the pro’s to make even more money. I may get shut down for saying this but the public is what will indirectly drive how much money you make. You need to either inspire or entertain people enough that they want to see you out there. Greg Welch was (and is) a great example of this. He had true character - very very funny and he was undoubtedly a company’s dream spokesperson. I believe to make money at this sport you need to be more than a great athlete.
Perhaps put the topic of potential on the back burner - you likely have what it takes. Ask Gordo ( http://www.coachgordo.com/forum2/upload/index.php ) what is possible simply by being consistent in training and having perseverance.
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I’ll agree with Adrian. First, get fast, train a lot, get good race results. Then access your potential, where you could improve training, your love for the sport, and your race division. Good luck to you, it’ll be a great ride! Keep us updated!
-Colin
Thanks for the opinions so far. To answer some questions:
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I’m 24.
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I ran NCAA Div. 1 Track and XC, PR’s range from 4:27 for the mile to 31:27 for 10K track. Best PR is probaly 14:52 for 5K on the track. Currently can do mid 15’s for 5K. Making no real effort to improve on that right now.
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I averaged 22 mph for 12.5 miles on a hilly course in Northern California in my last race. I regularly do a 10mile TT on flat roads near my house at 23-24 mph.
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I am new to swimming. In the pool (25yd) w/ no wetsuit I can do a mile(1760yd) in about 25 min or a 800yd in 11:30, hundreds from the wall in 1:10.
I am not looking to make a living at sport, just to accomplish something significant, and race among the best. I have a good career that I am not planning on leaving anytime soon regardless of what happens. I guess I just aspire to be sucessful in all aspects of my life - professional, academically and athletically. A good part of this is for my ego - yes I want to “showoff”, but who doesn’t want to accomplish sometime others can look up to - however if I was after recognition I wouldn’t have pick endurance sports. Thank you for the realistic and forthcoming answers so far. Any more advice would be appreciated.
Craig
maybe I can convince Olaf Sabatschus to post here…you’ll get an idea of what a top pro triathlete makes…and will likely consider twice the pro option
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Nice run times. You certainly won’t have to worry there. 23-24 mph on a flat course for 12.5 will make a lot of people question whether you can generate the watts needed to cycle with the big guys. If my math is right, that would put you in at about 31 minutes for a 20K TT - I’m a 40 something, sub-10 hour IM guy who can go about 5:00-5:15 on a flat IM course, and can probably go mid 27’s/low 28’s for 20K right now, and obviously by my times I’m in no danger of taking anybody’s pro sponsorship. Clearly, you’ll have to see where your cycling is 6 months from now before you’ll know whether you have it.
I came from a running background as well, with times similar to yours (faster for the mile, a bit slower for 5K). My cycling did not improve much until I hit the weight room and started doing monster squat sets. My skinny runner legs just couldn’t generate the wattage until I built some muscle mass. My cycling improved a ton, my pure running dropped a bit, but my triathlon running stayed about the same. You’ll really need to assess your limiters in cycling. Pick up some of Chris Carmichael’s books - he is pretty good when it comes to defining your limiters on the bike - mine was power.
“makes” is right. I never ran those numbers 10+ years ago when I wanted to be a Pro cyclist (and I think I had a fair chance). I am happy today that my dreams were dashed and I was hurt. Much better off for me in the end. I had a guy named Lance I would have had to race against.
Well, I can tell you that a 1:54:13 non drafting olympic distance PB isn’t fast enough. I never cracked the top 5 at a decent size real pro race but did get some 7 & 9th place finishes.
SAC is right, you need to see if you can handle the volume, it’s not a year long process. Think three-four years out to see the results of the work that needs to be done. You 10k PR is slower than that of several of the top ITU guys.
ITU racing requires you to swim low to mid 17’s to get the back of the lead pack. There is some research done on ITU racing. The avg pace for the first 300m is 1:03 per 100m. the avg pace for the 1200m left is about 1:12.
Maybe the front is out under the minute for the first 100 meters? That’s what I call bad pacing, then it would be “easy” to catch up, if you just paces 1.09.! What are the best guys able to do on 1500 SCM? I know that Rasmus Henning could swim 16.20, but now he’s like 17.00 or some
but what happens is people get shelled on the first 300ms and things seperate. Leaving the second group. Or if it is a small group, to try to bridge up only to be left in the middle means you start the bike having to wait for the second group. One person will rarely bridge successfully (to me that means making it into the lead group and still being fresh enough to run well) to the lead pack. Try and fail = fried for the run. Safety in numbers in this case.
Also if I’m a strong swimmer and I know your hanging on my feet, i’m going to start zig zagging to lose you or I’m going to swim you into someone, or I’m going to sprint to drop you, or i’m going under the bouy at the turn.
Swimming 1:09 sounds smart but once tatics start into play who knows what will happen, hence the desire to be in the lead group.
As for 1500 scm times, I don’t know. I’d be more interested in 1500m LC times to eliminate flip turns. I personally have crappy turns and lose a 1/4 of a body length per turn. Hence why my LCM and SCY times were almost identical when I swam.
Okay… I get it, but do you know any LCM times for some of the ITU guys?
I would say that I’m a strong swimmer 4.24 for 400 SCM and 17.18 for 1500 SCM, but still I think I need like 30-50 seconds more on the 1500 SCM.!
I’ll ask my ITU friends. Send me a PM in a few days and I’ll send you their times as I get them.
I’m not sure that you ever answered the question of what type of races you want to do. Obviously, you have only shorter stuff under your belt. But are you thinking elite olympic-distance racing, or elite 1/2IM-IM racing? That could make a world of distance in where you want to focus your upcoming training.
Nice run times. I never understand how people can run that fast (says the guy with a 42 minute 10K best).
-Colin
Schmidt,
Swimming in the front pack in ITU races is not only about steady pace, it’s also about swimming well in the feet and being able to handle changes of pace. From the start until the first buoy the pace is really hard, and then in the middle of the swim there are again a lot of pace surges, and not only associated with the buoy. But you can bet that everyone swims the buoys REALLY hard.
Also you can be a fast swimmer on the pool and not good on open water. That can be learned and comes with experience as well. But I can tell you that I coached two guys that are much slower than you in a 1500 LCM, and one exited the swim on several ITU races with the front pack, and another one was second out of the water at Junior Worlds.
I think you are spot on about lacking the power nessasary for really fast cycling. Right now I can average better than 20mph for 50 miles on rolling hills, but haven’t been able to consistantly crack 24mph for my 10mile flat TT. I just lack the strength to push bigger gears. I also spin a high rpm (around 95) relative to the people I have been riding with. This rpm is about the same as my 180 step per min stride rate when runing. Besides the leg press (which I started about three weeks ago w/ 3 X 15 reps a day), what else should I be doing to help increase power. I intend to target Olympic distance races for the next year or so and would like to hit between 1:02-1:04 on the bike.
PS I checked out Chris Carmicheals book The Ultimate Ride, and will read it soon.