At some point, you’ve probably seen a triathlon and thought: I wonder if I could do that.
Maybe you watched someone cross a finish line — exhausted, soaking wet, grinning — and felt something. Not envy exactly. More like possibility. And then the voice kicked in. I’m not a swimmer. I don’t own a road bike. I haven’t run in years. That’s for other people.
This post is for that voice.
Because after nearly 30 years of coaching, I’ve watched hundreds of people cross finish lines they never thought they’d reach. And almost every single one of them had that same voice telling them it wasn’t for them.
The Race
The 4th Annual Copper Town Triathlon takes place July 18-19 in Bruce Mines, Ontario — 45 minutes from Sault Ste. Marie on the north shore of Lake Huron. And it has three beginner-friendly entry points:
Try-A-Tri — 300m swim, 8km bike, 2.5km run. Designed specifically for first-timers.
Sprint Duathlon — 5km run, 24km bike, 2.5km run. No open water swim required.
Copper Dash — A standalone 5km trail and road run on the evening of July 18th at 5pm. If you just want a finish line this summer, this is your entry point.
Any one of these is achievable for someone who’s reasonably active and willing to put in five weeks of structured preparation. Which brings us to the program.
5 Weeks to Tri at Catalyst Fitness
We’re launching 5 Weeks to Tri on June 17th — a coached, structured program built specifically for people preparing for Copper Town. REGISTER HERE
Here’s what’s included.
Weekly Strength and Endurance Workouts at Catalyst
This is the piece most people skip when they train for a triathlon on their own — and it’s the piece that makes the biggest difference. Strength work improves run efficiency, bike power, and swim stability, and dramatically reduces injury risk when you’re ramping up three disciplines simultaneously.
Sessions are available to fit your schedule:
- Wednesdays: 6:15am, 12pm, or 6pm
- Saturdays: 9am
You pick the time. A coach guides you through it.
A Complete Weekly Training Plan
You’ll receive a structured weekly guide covering your running, biking, and swimming sessions outside of the gym. No guessing. No scrolling through generic plans online. A clear, progressive program built around where you actually are right now — from week one through race week.
Ride the Course — July 18th at 3pm
This is one of the best parts of the program. The day before the main race, we’ll ride the actual bike course in Bruce Mines with a veteran rider who has raced it before. You’ll learn where the hills are, where to push, and where to recover. You’ll arrive at race morning with the course already in your head. That eliminates a massive chunk of first-race anxiety — and makes the difference between surviving the bike and actually enjoying it.
Who This Is For
This program is not for elite athletes. It’s for the person who has been thinking about doing a triathlon but doesn’t know where to start. The person who’s been active enough to walk or jog, but has never done anything like this before. The person who is a little intimidated.
The fear that you’re not a “real athlete” is the most common thing I encounter. And it’s the thing I most want to challenge here.
You don’t have to earn the right to race. You don’t have to be fast. You don’t have to look like a triathlete. You just have to show up, put in five weeks, and go. I have never, in 30 years of coaching, seen anyone cross a finish line feeling humiliated. What I’ve seen — consistently, almost without exception — is people looking like they just won the Olympics. Because to them, they did.
Program Details
Start date: June 17th, 2025
Investment: $179 + HST
Spaces: Strictly limited
We’re keeping this group small on purpose. The coaching quality and individual support only work if we don’t pack the room.
How to Join
REGISTER HERE, or email ryan@catalystgym.com to secure your spot and get any questions answered. Do it before the program fills — June 17th is close.
Register for the race at coppertowntri.com. Do this sooner rather than later — committing to a race date makes the training real in a way that nothing else does.
Packet pickup for registered athletes is available at Catalyst Fitness (88 White Oak Drive East) on Thursday July 16th, 4-6pm.
We’ll see you at the finish line.
🎧 Listen now and make your next workout count.
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