How to do Triathlon the Less Expensive Way

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Your sport is expensive!” – the typical line I will hear when I encourage friends to try triathlon. Well yes, it will dig ones pocket especially during the initial stage of completing ones gears but later on it will just be minimal and mainly maintenance stuff. Well, kinda… So let me enumerate ways on how we can diminish the expenses of triathlon…

1. Find a good coach – before I did triathlon, I just ran and ran ala Forrest Gump. It was a liberating experience indeed! But, I ended up with too many injuries which prevented me from enjoying the thrill of running. I spent more time for physical therapy (PT) sessions rather than running. Later on I was introduced to our coach who made sure I am injury free.

Do you know that it’s way more expensive to go to PT sessions than hire a very good coach?

2. Choose your race wisely – this year there are more races lined up to choose from, exciting isn’t it? But which ones should one spend some thousands of pesos for registration?

Early this year, we have decided with Coach Kaye which will be our races. These races are classified into two – the “A” races are the main ones that we are preparing for and our “practice” races that will help us build the strength, endurance and confidence for the A races.

So, for 2013 I should only race the following:

Subic NAGT (which I can’t because of my daughter’s prom the night before)
Tri United 1 – sprint
Subit ITU – standard
Tri United 2 – long distance
Cobra Ironman 70.3 (A race)
Some runs after August
October – marathon (A race)

Keep in mind, races are fun, but too much will drain your strength and your pocket! So, choose wisely!

3. Less expensive nutrition – how much does one spend on race nutrition? A power gel costs at least a hundred pesos, Gatorade and Pocari about Php 28.00 and up. How much is your purchase for every training and race? There goes the noisy cash register! So, why not try saging na saba, sweet potatoes, hopia and powdered Gatorade which are all cheaper! At the end your savings will buy you a couple of running shirts or these amount would even add up to the really expensive registration race fees.

Let me suggest a post training recovery snack recipe from my cousin

9 cups Chex or any cereal that looks like doggy food
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Put cereal in large bowl.

Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over Chex cereal, put into a large plastic bag with powdered sugar and shake well to coat.

Spread mixture evenly on wax paper and allow to cool.

This served a number of triathlete friends and I swear its really yummy!

The above ideas are a couple only of what I have in mind, let me know your suggestions please. Lets train cheaply and happily!

About pinayironmom

Pinay Ironmom is a typical mom who wakes up before 6 am to prepare my 3 children for school. After this, I make my husband coffee, similar to the Nescafe commercial on TV of a couple's typical morning. Work is normally a tour of Northern or Southern Luzon to inspect projects we are building, checking quality of designs or preparation of presentations to prospective clients. My schedule is flexible luckily, I can squeeze in hearty lunches with my favorite lunchmate and training early in the afternoon or right after business hours. Weekends are bike days on Saturdays at MOA or Daang Reyna and Sunday is my me time - my long run day. Oh warm ups and stretchings are trips to the grocery, cool down is hearing mass and giving thanks to God for a wonderful week. This is ME :)
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