Tri, tri again

It’s the middle of January, and while we’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt, we’re betting most of you have already dropped your resolutions by the wayside. We can just imagine all those gym owners laughing themselves silly on their way to the bank with that fat stack of cash you doled out for a lengthy membership.

While we might not be able to get your deposits back, we can point you to some area organizations that will nearly guarantee you make a resolution that sticks. If you think the triathlon season is a long way’s away, know that it’s never too early to start training, especially since many programs are now recruiting. Whether it’s working individually on your strokes or pushing yourself to the limits and completing an Ironman, we found the guys who will help you break through “the wall” on your way to a personal best for 2007.

If we are to believe the folks at Team in Training (www.teamintraining.org)—and considering they’ve been in the game more than 18 years, why shouldn’t we?—their program of instruction can turn any couch potato into an endurance athlete. As a fund-raising arm of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, TNT (their acronym, not ours) is the world’s largest endurance sports–training program, with 66 branches nationwide, and has raised about $700 million for research by helping folks finish marathons and triathlons worldwide, including Chicago’s own Accenture Triathlon, scheduled this year on August 26.

Short of tying your shoes, TNT takes care of every need you could possibly encounter, including travel, shipping your equipment, and accommodations, but it also offers clinics on what to wear, what to eat and how to train, while weekly e-mail updates offer tips on getting the most out of your workout. You’ll also receive a three-month Bally’s membership to help you train.

There’s an initial $50 fee for processing paperwork and other administrative tasks, but after that it’s up to you to nail your fund-raising goal to cover the rest of the costs, which typically start at around $2,000 for a tri. (Megan Connolly, a TNT campaign manager, tells us about 75 percent of the money raised goes toward the society, while the remaining 25 percent covers your expenses.) While that number might seem daunting, know that TNT assigns a fund-raising mentor to help you nail your target. It’ll even pair you with a patient to put a name and face to your worthy cause.

Well-Fit (www.wellfitinc.com) owner Sharone Aharon was at the top of the endurance game from 1998 to 2002, receiving sponsorships to do what he loves most: compete in triathlons. Since retiring from the circuit, he’s focused on helping others experience the thrill of accomplishment through his program of swimming, running and biking techniques. His cadre of experienced coaches, many of whom have polished off their fair share of tris, can help you perfect your technique on a specific portion of a tri (with prices hovering around $200 for an eight-week session), or you can sign up for the 12-week group class, which promises to have you revved up by the time the gun goes off for the Accenture Triathlon. Aharon’s also designed a program specifically for the ladies ramping up for the Naperville or Danskin triathlons, with an emphasis on preventing injury and fine-tuning technique.

The triathlon bug also found a way to bite Rosalyn Popham, who had to complete her first triathlon solo after a couple of training buddies ditched her on race day. That was nearly 20 years ago, and since then, she’s been helping athletes knock off anything from a sprint tri to the full Ironman through her job at TriMonster (www.trimonster.net). She’ll nearly hold your hand as you go through classes on transitions, diet and the rules of the race.

Even though Popham had to go at it alone for her first time, she’s realized the best way to battle through the snooze button is to make sure you have a training partner waiting for you at the pool or treadmill. Working out of a Loop Fitness Formula Club, TriMonster will tailor your plan to ensure you’re training at a pace that suits your ability.

“A lot of people think, I have to do the professional-style stroke,” Popham says. “Well, you can doggy-paddle the whole water portion. If you have to walk during the ‘run,’ walk, just so long as you finish.”

Watch TOC’s Sports & Rec listings for more info on training classes and triathlon races in the coming weeks.