USA Triathlon Is Here to Answer Your Questions About Its Recruitment Program

Hey, I'm excited to answer questions about how we recruit and support runners into our sport. Fire away with questions!

Barb - I'll go first and start with a basic question about getting into the program. I'm also curious exactly what benefits athletes get once in the program, but first runners have to get into it.

Are you constantly recruiting for the program? Or is it something that happens at certain times of the school year?

Also on timing, my basic understanding is you have time cutoffs that you are looking for in runners and then those runners undergo a swim test to see how good of a swimmer they are, and then you evaluate them from there and then bring them into the program. Should people contact you now, or try and improve their swimming first and make sure their swimming is close to the swim test standards before contacting you?

I've watched Gwen the past year, awesome to be sure. Would have loved to have had this program available when I was competing, as I was a HS runner and swimmer, swam competitively in college (ran my last year also), then ran from college on till about age 36 in CA. Now back in the pool as a masters athlete. I think the program is a good one, I'm sure there are many more potential "Gwens" out there.

How much does it cost the athlete to participate outside of Triathlon entry fees?

What are the benefits to progressing in the program?

Do I HAVE to get an Ironman tattoo on my calf if I enter the program?

Do men have to wear speedos, wife-beaters, a visor and goucher glasses during the run?

Yes I bet, you did exceptionally well despite not having the program however. Can't complain about your progress from swimming to tri's, that's for sure................interestingly I did a video shoot with Dave Scott in 1984 (he was in his heyday at the time), he was trying to get me interested in triathlons, given my then current track times and collegiate swimming background but I was really into the track scene at that time and couldn't risk it. The shorter triathlons were just getting going at that time as well, may have been an option but c'est la vie. Ended the season with a stress fx. before it really began, in March. of 84. As I was 32 at the time, I was effectively done.

BarbLindquist wrote:

I wish the program was around when I was getting out of college as well! It took me 2 years to find the sport post-NCAA swimming. I turned elite at 26, then made our Olympic Team at the age of 35, 16 years after I was at Olympic Trials in swimming. It drives me in this program having the desire to shorten that time for an athlete to get to the peak of the sport at the front end. I wish it hadn't had taken me so long to get into the sport. I agree, there are more Gwens out there, and there are some guys, too!

How competitive is it to earn a spot in the resident programs? Would a person need to be at/below the running standard and the swimming standard? Or is it a case by case thing? For example if an athlete shows great potential but is very slightly off the standards, would they have a shot at the resident program because of their potential and just recent development?

Thanks for the introduction and questions, Weldon! I'll take them one at a time.

Benefits for athletes in the program depend at what stage of assessment the athlete is in and then what potential we see in the athlete. For starters, I'm here as an informational resource with a library of 30+ documents which help demystify this somewhat confusing sport. I can share resources on gear selection, technique, training, how to do transitions, etc... I also offer help for the swim in the assessment process, which I'll expound on in the next reply.

Once we are very fired up about an athlete, this is where assistance is increased. Every athlete's situation is different. For those at home, we can offer a loaner USAT sponsor bike, pro bono triathlon coaching, local swim lessons, clinics around races and an OTC summer camp. For those best 3-5 athletes a year who can move, we have a resident program based in Scottsdale (and Chula Vista CA and Europe). In this 1-2 year program, the athlete is training like a full-time professional (even though some do not have their elite racing license yet) so in order to do that, USAT takes care of the vast majority of expenses including housing, food stipend, coaching, gear, travel expenses. Again, each athlete's situation is different and this program tailors to that individuality. It is a change from a group NCAA running program in that respect.

I wish the program was around when I was getting out of college as well! It took me 2 years to find the sport post-NCAA swimming. I turned elite at 26, then made our Olympic Team at the age of 35, 16 years after I was at Olympic Trials in swimming. It drives me in this program having the desire to shorten that time for an athlete to get to the peak of the sport at the front end. I wish it hadn't had taken me so long to get into the sport. I agree, there are more Gwens out there, and there are some guys, too!

The biggest deterrent to entry into the sport is the cost of gear from the get go, especially the bike, which is why we like to help the most promising of recruits with this part. You can buy a solid entry level bike for $1500 (hey, I have a handout on this if you want to email me!). As you can imagine, this complicated sport is best negotiated with a coach. Again, that is something we can help with for those who meet our standards. Beyond gear, you can race local triathlons without spending more than entry fees. Once you get more competitive in the sport, just like running, you need to travel to races. I just answered a question on the benefits of resources we can offer, so look further in the thread. Thanks!

Optional on the speedo, your choice :) Most male triathletes wear a one piece "legsuit" which has legs that go down mid-thigh. Females opt for either the traditional speedo cut (I assume you would not be complaining about that) or the similar legsuit. These suits are tight like a swimsuit but breath well. And they give maximum opportunities to display sponsor logos.

Don't tell me you have been running BEHIND someone with one of those Ironman tattoos on their calf?!? This is actually a really good question for clarification. The Olympic movement's triathlon is an Olympic distance (1500m swim, 40k bike, 10k run) and it is draft-legal on the bike. This means you ride in packs on the bike (a la tour de France). For Ironman races, it is illegal to ride in packs and these are called non-drafting races. The draft-legal format makes our recruiting runners the primary focus, as the swim gets you in the game (ie a front or second pack), the bike keeps you in the game, and the run WINS the game!

Thanks for the introduction and questions, Weldon! I'll take them one at a time.

Benefits for athletes in the program depend at what stage of assessment the athlete is in and then what potential we see in the athlete. For starters, I'm here as an informational resource with a library of 30+ documents which help demystify this somewhat confusing sport. I can share resources on gear selection, technique, training, how to do transitions, etc... I also offer help for the swim in the assessment process, which I'll expound on in the next reply.

Once we are very fired up about an athlete, this is where assistance is increased. Every athlete's situation is different. For those at home, we can offer a loaner USAT sponsor bike, pro bono triathlon coaching, local swim lessons, clinics around races and an OTC summer camp. For those best 3-5 athletes a year who can move, we have a resident program based in Scottsdale (and Chula Vista CA and Europe). In this 1-2 year program, the athlete is training like a full-time professional (even though some do not have their elite racing license yet) so in order to do that, USAT takes care of the vast majority of expenses including housing, food stipend, coaching, gear, travel expenses. Again, each athlete's situation is different and this program tailors to that individuality. It is a change from a group NCAA running program in that respect.

Read more:

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=6898949#ixzz3tldTsfxo

I didn't notce an actual statement saying "limited too" or "must be currently enrolled". I've been out of my collegiate program & continuing to train with the same intensity for about 1.5 years. Would you accept an application from me?

I wish the program was around when I was getting out of college as well! It took me 2 years to find the sport post-NCAA swimming. I turned elite at 26, then made our Olympic Team at the age of 35, 16 years after I was at Olympic Trials in swimming. It drives me in this program having the desire to shorten that time for an athlete to get to the peak of the sport at the front end. I wish it hadn't had taken me so long to get into the sport. I agree, there are more Gwens out there, and there are some guys, too!

this is LR wrote:

Do I HAVE to get an Ironman tattoo on my calf if I enter the program?

Barb Lindquist wrote:

Don't tell me you have been running BEHIND someone with one of those Ironman tattoos on their calf?!?

Zing!

This program really illuminates the problem with the draft legal races and all of triathlon as well. The swim has always been too short and the bike too long in relation to the run - allow drafting and it only compounded the problem. The Olympic Triathlon is looking more and more like a soaking wet 10k.

That being said it has been awesome watching Gwen rise through the ranks and see a real runner gobble up all those swimmer/bikers.

Kudos to USA Tri to reach out to the running world and hopefully there is a program that is scouring the age group swimmers as well - before they get too floppy.

It is case by case. Doing this job I've come to realize many collegiate runners were not in programs that matched their training needs, and thus, injuries and unreached potential happened. The standards are not black and white, but if you are a 15:10 5k runner, I'd need a pretty convincing story to make up the 60" to our A standard. So if slightly off, definitely contact me. I will be honest with an assessment so as not to waste either of our time.

Define collegiate... wrote:

I didn't notce an actual statement saying "limited too" or "must be currently enrolled". I've been out of my collegiate program & continuing to train with the same intensity for about 1.5 years. Would you accept an application from me?

I asked Barb myself offline this question. It's open to post-collegians as well. She pointed out Renée Tomlin who won a World Cup event this year ran for NY/NJ Track Club for after college (Georgetown) before switching over.

The link we had up on the homepage last week had some info on her:

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