Spring Training with Full Throttle
March 3, 2022
What does it take to train for a triathlon? We caught up with the coaches and members of our Full Throttle triathlon training program in Chelsea to find out!
The Birth of a Team
After Scott Berlinger ran his first triathlon on a dare with zero training, he knew he was hooked. He told himself he would never run another triathlon…without properly training. As a former collegiate swimmer, Scott knew the best way to train would be to put together a team of athletes, to hold each other accountable. “What I realized is that training and racing alone is terrible,” said Scott. In 2003, the Full Throttle triathlon team was born! After training with Full Throttle since 2004, Ray Camano was brought on as a coach in 2016.
A Day In the Life
At 3:45AM, Scott wakes up at his home in Connecticut and lets out his two dogs, Rusty and Ryder. While driving into Chelsea Piers, he drinks his daily three espressos to prepare for coaching his two sessions of Full Throttle training (5:30AM + 8:00AM sessions). Coach Ray has a similar routine, waking up at 4:30AM, and enjoying a quick bite of keto granola with grass-fed milk and coffee before walking his dog, Vigo.
When asked for advice on how to wake up so early, Scott and Ray’s answer was simple: shut down early and have a set bedtime. “If you're a morning person you just know that morning is better than night,” explained Scott.
Workouts for the first Full Throttle session begin promptly at 5:30AM. If you’ve ever wondered what happens at the club before our doors officially open, this is it! The 5:30AM session is 75 minutes long, and starts with a group workout either in the pool, on the bike, or on the track or treadmills. After the first part of the workout, additional direction is given to the team, but it’s understood that some people need to get to work early or may have other commitments and have to leave. The second group meets at 8:00AM and has a slightly shorter 60 minute workout. All athletes are given “homework” from Ray and Scott to supplement their training program between the group workouts.
Why Triathlons, and Why Team Training?
“The idea of multi-sport intrigued me,” said Ray. Being a former high school and collegiate runner, Ray found that training with the Full Throttle team was the closest thing to that experience of training in high school in college. “Having that as an adult, it’s the best part of my day,” said Ray.
Scott attributes the success of the individual athletes to the team mentality holding them accountable. “If Ray’s having a bad day, I can pick him up. If I’m having a bad day, Ray can pick me up,” said Scott “It’s cheesy, but we are like a big family.”
Trial by Fire - A Different Kind of Race
Last Thursday morning, Full Throttle hosted their annual “Trial by Fire” relay race. At 6AM, runners lined up in the hallway adjacent to the pool, awaiting a high-five from their swimming counterparts. The relay is done in teams of two, with one swimmer and one runner, with a total of 1500 yards swam (60 laps) and 5 miles run (20 laps on the track).
“Everything that has happened in my life that has been special has been a dare. Everyone likes a challenge,” said Scott when asked why he decided to create the Trial by Fire race. “We [Scott and Full Throttle member Bill Kelly] wanted to create an indoor race in the north east that would be epic,” said Scott. Trial by Fire started as an individual race, but evolved to a relay-style race in 2017. Scott and Ray both agreed it’s a much nicer introduction to the world of racing for first timers.
In addition to the benefits of “real” race preparation, the relay is a way for the team to socialize and meet other members of the group. “We think of that relay as the event that bonds the team for racing for that year,” said Scott. Trial by Fire is a connection point for the 5:30AM and 8:00AM training crowds, who normally don’t see each other, other than traveling together for races, throughout the year. The two groups mingled in the cafe after their race, enjoying recapping their race and chatting all things triathlon training over bagels and coffee.
So, what experience do you need to start training for a triathlon?
“None,” said Scott, “Not only ‘none,’ but absolutely none.” “Why put it off? You’re going to learn so much not just from the coaches but from the people around you. Don’t hesitate - join the team! No prep needed,” said Ray. Ray and Scott both recommend training with a team or a personal trainer, especially for your first race to ensure proper form and prevent injuries. “When you train alone, you can start to build bad habits, come in raw and start with good form right out of the gate,” said Scott.
In Full Throttle, members are grouped with others at their same pace. As they improve, they can move into different groups. Athletes of all different ability levels and ages make up the team, so no matter your pace, you’ll fit right in. One of the more common things Ray and Scott hear is that people think they are “too old” to start training for a triathlon. “Our youngest athlete is 22 and oldest athlete is 75,” said Scott. Bottom line - no matter your age, ability or years of experience, Full Throttle (and triathlon training in general) is a great experience for anyone looking for a challenge.
Learn More about Full Throttle
Headquartered at Chelsea Piers in New York, our championship program places an emphasis on the efficiency, form and power of proper swimming, biking and running technique, while maintaining an aggressive and well-rounded training schedule throughout the season.