First triathlon? No sweat.

Our beginner program has your back!

Zero to Sixty is our 12-week training program for beginners. Get coaching, structure, and mentorship to kick butt 💥 in your first race! Begins in January 2025.

What is Zero to Sixty (0-60)?

This 12-week program provides coaching, structured training, and mentorship to get you ready for your first Olympic-distance triathlon (1.5 km swim, 40 km bike, and 10 km run)!

You’ll make lasting friendships, learn proper technique + injury prevention, and become faster, stronger, and more confident. You’ll surprise yourself and everyone who knows you with what you’re capable of accomplishing.

If you already have prior triathlon experience, consider our 60-70.3 training program for a Half Ironman instead.

Key Dates, Info-session, Registration

0 to 60 runs from late January to April and targets the Alpha Win Napa Valley Spring triathlon.

There are only 25 spots. It sold out last year within 72 hours so it’s best to reserve your spot early.

Monday, Dec 16th, 2024 @ 7pm - We'‘ll be hosting an online info-session, where we’ll go over the program and answer any questions you may have! See the Clubsum event for the Zoom link.

Tuesday, Dec 17th, 2024 @ 7pm - We’ll open online registration. First come, first serve!

Will you really take me from zero to my first triathlon?

While this is a beginner program, we do expect you to have a baseline level of fitness with swimming (10 min), biking (30 min), and running (45 min). Each swim/bike/run should be continuous, but there’s no need to connect them yet. Don’t worry about speed either—the duration is what matters. 0-60 will help you greatly improve in all three disciplines, but the program does not teach you how to swim or ride a bike. Consistently completing your training is what will enable success.

Your training plan and select clinics are led by certified coaches. Experienced club members will lead many of the other workouts.

What does the program include?

  • 12-week training plan with Coach Megan Tobin

  • Weekly track and swim workouts with Coach JD

  • Weekly group bike rides with fellow 0-60 participants, led by seasoned club members

  • Beginner clinics like introduction to open water swimming (OWS), how to change a flat tire, and bike handling

  • Group sessions on nutrition, transition, pacing, and other topics

  • A no-pressure mini-triathlon to prep for race day!

  • A private Slack group to communicate with your cohort members and club mentors.

  • SF Tri Club swag

  • Discounts from our sponsors on gear, services, and races

  • Social events to get to know fellow members out of their spandex 😅

  • And most importantly, a wonderful community to support you and keep you accountable and on-track!

  • Not included: Entry fees for the target race. You need to sign up for your race directly with the race organizers. We usually get a discount code for 10 to 20% off.

How much does the program cost?

The program costs $300 for members, and $400 for non-members. For non-members, the program comes with a 1-year membership to the San Francisco Triathlon Club (worth $125) so you can continue working out with us even after the race! You'll continue to have access to coached track and swim workouts, member-led workouts, social events, discounts with our sponsors/races, training groups, and more!

What is your refund or cancellation policy?

We do not offer refunds. Once you’re in, there’s no turning back! If you have any questions feel free to email us at info@sftriclub.org.

When are workouts? Does it fit with my schedule?

The general schedule is:

  • Coached track on Tuesdays from 6:45 - 8pm @ Kezar Stadium

  • Coached swim practice on Fridays from 6:00 - 7:30pm @ Balboa Pool

  • Bike rides on Saturday mornings usually start at Golden Gate Park

  • Open water swims on Sunday mornings at Aquatic Park (starts in the second half of the program)

If you’re not able to attend a workout, no worries. Life gets busy, it's totally understandable. You'll have access to the training plan so you can still do the workout on your own time.

In addition, to these group workouts, there will be some workouts to do on your own time such as strength, stretching, pool laps, or a bike ride.

What equipment and gear will I need for the program?

You’'ll need a few things, but less than you might expect:

  • For running, you’ll need a good pair of running shoes.

  • For biking, you’ll need a bike (ideally a road bike but any bike will do, and Sports Basement offers rentals), a helmet, and padded shorts—your booty will thank you 😅. In addition, you’ll need a spare tube, tire levers, and a pump in case of a flat tire. REI or Sports Basement can help you locate all of these items.

  • For swimming, you’ll need a bathing suit, goggles, flip-flops, and a towel. A swim cap is highly recommended for protecting your hair from chlorine. Choose a bright color for it, as a highly visible swim cap is required in the second half of the program, when we’ll begin open water swimming. At that point, you will also need a wetsuit (Sports Basement offers rentals) and TriSlide/Body Glide.

Optional items: a hat, athletic sunglasses, smart watch (this $100 watch has all the necessary features), chest heart rate monitor, cycling gloves, cycling shoes + cleats, neoprene swim cap, and/or chamois cream.

You don’t need to purchase these all at once, and we’re happy to give you advice on what to buy/rent/skip. Members of our club often have extra items to give away or sell at a discount. We also have discounts from our sponsors, like 20% off at Sports Basement during our 2025 Season Kick-off (details coming soon).

What should my goal be for my first triathlon? Just finishing or something more?

If you’re a little competitive and want to go for a specific time or even podium, we’ll definitely support you!

That being said, finishing your first triathlon is a huge accomplishment in itself! And for most, this is an excellent goal, especially for your first race.

The most important thing is to set a goal that feels right for you and that you're excited about. We’re happy to help you figure out what's right for you.

I'm not sure if I'm ready for an Olympic-distance triathlon. Can I still join the program?

Absolutely! The program is designed to help you build up your skills and endurance gradually, so you can feel confident and prepared on race day.

If you're not sure if an Olympic-distance triathlon is right for you, Coach Megan can help you determine the best distance based on your current fitness level and goals.

Have more questions?

You can reach us at info@sftriclub.org and we’ll get back to you within a day or two.