What is the Penn State Triathlon Club?
Penn State Triathlon is a USA Triathlon affiliated collegiate club and a representative of the Northeast Collegiate Triathlon Conference (NECTC). We compete in triathlons across the northeast against other university clubs. We are dedicated to providing experienced athletes with a competitive environment to train in while also welcoming new athletes into the world of triathlon. Our athletes come from a wide range of backgrounds, some with previous experience in swimming, biking, and/or running, and others with no previous experience at all.
What do members gain from being in the Club?
Club members gain access to a welcoming training environment that works on two levels. On one level, it allows people who are new to the sport to learn from more experienced members in a supportive fashion. On another level, it allows more experienced members to push and challenge themselves in a competitive environment. In addition, our members gain access to a team atmosphere that is unique to individual sports and can only be provided by a collegiate triathlon club.
What types of triathlons do Club members compete in?
Our team-sponsored races are sprint and Olympic distance races, which, generally speaking, take 1-3 hours to complete. These are the types of races most of our members compete in. However, we do have a few members who have made the jump to compete in both half Ironman races (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run) and Ironman races (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run).
When is the collegiate race season?
Our conference race season runs from the end of August until the end of September. We usually compete in 4-5 fall races. In addition, we compete at the Clermont Draft Legal Challenge in March and at the USAT Collegiate Club National Championships in April. For more information about our season, see our race schedule.
What equipment will I need?
You can certainly purchase a lot of triathlon equipment, but at a minimum you will need a swimsuit, goggles, bike, helmet, and running shoes. Club members can help you with any purchasing decisions. In addition, read “What is the Minimum Gear for Triathlon?” at Complete Tri. This excellent article will help you think in more detail about starting equipment.
What if I don't own a bike?
No problem! Our Club has a bike-lending program for both training and racing. We have bikes in various sizes, too, so we can accommodate a wide range of people.
How do I contact the Club?
It’s simple! Send us an email message via our contact form or message our Facebook page. Please feel free to reach out! We especially love to hear from alumni and prospective members.