1. How do I join the team?
Visit our website at
www.uwtriathlon.com.
Click on the link that says "Join Here". Fill out,
print out, and turn the waiver and the questionnaire forms in
to any officer at any meeting or scheduled practice. Dues are $50 per year. This money
can be given to any officer at any meeting or practice.
2. Am I qualified to be on the team?
3. What if I can't swim?
4. What if I
am very experienced?
Any level is welcome to join. If you have never done a
triathlon or
don't know how to swim
or bike, the team will be able to meet your
needs. If you are an experienced Ironman Finisher, the team
also
provides training partners
and great sponsorships. All levels are
welcome. Faculty, all students, and all UW staff are
encouraged to join.
5. What is a triathlon?
A triathlon is a race in which the following events take place
consecutively in this order:
swim, bike, run. The distances of a triathlon
vary, from a super-sprint which can be completed in under an
hour to Ironman which can
take over 12 hours. Some team members choose to
participate in other types of races which are not on our
schedule including but not limited to duathlons (bike and run
only), running races, and cycling races.
6. Do I have to compete?
The team has a schedule of races that we compete in together,
but you do
not have to race.
We highly encourage racing, especially
with the team because of the discounted race fees, travel, and
board.
7. What if I do not have a bike?
Any bike can be used to train or race in triathlons.
Traditionally beginners use mountain bikes and invest in a
road bike or triathlon-specific bike after they are confident
in their interest in the sport. It's okay to not have a
bike! We offer indoor spinning practice on stationeries
throughout the winter. As of Fall 2009, there have even
been indoor triathlons where you won't even use a bike, the
races are time stationary, seeing how far you can travel in a
given amount of time. Opportunities to
learn about bikes and purchase them are available through the
team. We have a classifieds page on our message board
where you can buy bikes much more safely than ebay. You can also buy a bike at the January Bike Swap
at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison where great bike deals
are found. Also, we will be able to give
great advice on what to buy while we are there.
8. How does racing work?
If you are interested in racing in a race on the team's
schedule, follow
these steps. Register
for the race online as an individual. Inform
the team's race coordinator (Summer
Ohlendorf -
ohlendorf@wisc.edu) that you have done so. The
coordinator will
find rides and rooms
for the racers. Often the race coordinator
will inform the team of a deadline in which to tell him or her
of race
entries.
9
How does sponsorship work?
Every year the officers put together proposals that are sent
to
companies in which we are
interested to be our sponsors. If the sponsors
accept us, we work out a deal with the representatives.
During the
school year, the
sponsorship coordinator puts together a schedule
of deadlines for the discounted equipment to be ordered by the team.
Unfortunately, delivery of items is usually slow, so plan your
purchases far in advance. Some local Madison shops also
have a list of team members who get a discount if they ask.
10. How do I get a uniform?
At the beginning of the school year, orders for uniforms are
taken. The
designs and pieces
are decided by the apparel coordinator. If
you think you will want a uniform AT ALL, order in the fall.
Spring
orders do not arrive until
August, much past the prime time of the
racing season. This year, we have plenty of extra uniforms. If you would like to purchase one whether or not you are on the team, email
Meredith at
mbenesh@wisc.edu for details and pricing.
11. Do I have to go to
practices?
No. Nor do we encourage you to attend all of them. That is
an easy way
to lead to
overtraining. Attend the practices that fit your
schedule to join others in working out.
12. What if none of the practices fit my schedule?
Contact the vice president (Alex Dean -
agdean@wisc.edu) so that you can lead a practice at
a time you
are available. He
puts together the schedule around the beginning of the
semesters. If you can't
make a practice, it is likely that someone else can't either.
13. Do you offer scholarships?
No. Despite having the word 'team' plastered all over
our website, we are actually only a club sport and do not offer any
scholarships. But that means everyone can join, YAY!
14. When are practices?
Practice times and locations are on the link on the home page
entitled
"Workout Schedule".
15. What if I need
an extra push to join your team?
You can talk to our spiritual leader who
specializes in pumping people up for triathlons. Nick Rhoads, our current spiritual leader, can be contacted through uwtriathlon@gmail.com with subject headings like "Dear Spiritual Leader" or "Dear Nick Rhoads."
16. Can I have apparel sent to me that I ordered?
Apparel/equipment
ordered needs to have $15 extra paid to have it shipped to
you.
17. I want to order a uniform or a bike jersey, but I am an
alumni or not on the team. Can I do this?
Yes, Email Meredith, the apparel coordinator (mbenesh@wisc.edu
)
for info and prices. Our apparel orders are typically
sent in December and unfortunately we do not usually have
extra funds to order extra shirts, etc to sell afterwards.
Yes, we have wetsuits, bike travel cases, and trainers to
rent free for team members, just talk to a team officer!
