By Danny Robdrup

Triathlon Clubs/Teams: there’s a lot of them. You can be part of any triathlon club you want, for a price.

Why do some of us feel like we need to be part of something to even start participating in that thing?

There’s an African proverb that states: “if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” The sense of community seems to take over and allow us to get more done than if we tried to do it alone.

This must be the reason most of us want to belong to something, be it a family, a team or a club. But are they worth it? What is involved? How much more does it cost? Do you really get anything out of it?

If you look around for an international triathlon club, you’ll find a few. But how do you choose the right one?

Choosing the right one will depend on what you’re looking to give and get in return.

Levels of Participation

Look for a group you get to participate in. I am fortunate enough to be part of the Race Team within MX Endurance: an ambassador, a high-performance athlete, and I get to write about the sport I am involved in.

Not a lot is involved at the lower levels of membership at MX Endurance. But, you can be as involved as you wish to be. It just takes a registration form and then a confirmation to join in the group activities.

Community

Find one with a group of experts and a group connection. The benefits of a worldwide club are countless; here I’ll focus on the people. You have experience from people everywhere joined together on group chats, watching live races and offering input and comment. You get a group of experts to rely on, from psychologists to nutritionists as well as numerous coaches in all aspects of the sport. We also have team races, group rides on Zwift, monthly challenges for individuals and groups -- among other things.

Involved Leadership

Who is in charge? In MX Endurance, that’s Tim, the person we all see and connect with daily. Yes, DAILY. An operations manager should be in direct contact with the people they manage, often. This is the case with Tim.

One of the great things about Tim is he participates in the sport as well. He knows what it is like to go from unathletic to being a podium finisher and everything in between. Look for a group with a Tim.

Cost

The cost is varied, depending on how involved you want to be and what you want out of it. From a small monthly fee to a larger one with which you get coaching, it can be a big leap from “being part of it” to “I want coaching as well”. Find one with options for how invested into it you want to be financially.

Being part of a worldwide club should be a mutually beneficial relationship. MX Endurance ticks all my boxes.

Danny Robdrup is the head coach of Zephyrs Endurance Coaching, part of the MX Endurance Network.