Outlaws Q&A

Q: Who are the New Mexico Outlaws?

A: The New Mexico Outlaws Triathlon Racing Team began as a small group of friends in 2004, expanded to become co-ed in 2005 and registered with USA Triathlon in 2007. Our team currently consists of more than 40 men and women ranging in age from 17 to 71. We are athletes of a variety of performance and experience levels from seasoned competitors to those who are new to the sport. We have athletes with experience not only in triathlon from the sprint to Ironman distances but also in duathlon, Xterra triathlon, criterium, cyclocross, individual and team time-trial, ultracycling, and running events from 5K to ultramarathon distances of 50K to 100 miles. We are involved in these sports as athletes, advocates, mentors, and friends. Our goal as a team is to encourage, support, and push each other to reach personal goals as well as to bring new people in to the sport.

Q: Who can join the Outlaws?

A: Our team is open to anyone with a positive attitude who is interested in training and racing with others who are involved in the multisport lifestyle.

Q: Seriously, can anyone really join the Outlaws? Don't you have to be an experienced triathlete or a fast triathlete?

A: No, you do not have to be experienced and you do not have to be fast. We have athletes with wide differences in speed and experience and everyone is equally welcome and equally an Outlaw.

Q: Ok, let's take this joining thing one step further. Do you even need to be a triathlete to join the Outlaws?

A: No. In fact it would be great if we had some more single or double sport athletes so we could have some organized relay teams. Also, if you run and cycle there is Duathlon, if you swim and run there is Aquathon and if you cycle and swim there is Aquabike.

Q: Do you need to live in the Albuquerque area to be an Outlaw?

A: No. Most Outlaws do live in and around Albuquerque but we have members all over New Mexico and accept members from anywhere in the world though we have yet to actually have a member from a country other than the United States. We do have members in Texas and Arizona.

Q: Are the Outlaws the only triathlon team in New Mexico?

A: No, there are other teams. The largest and most active teams in the state include the TriAtomics in Los Alamos, Tri Club New Mexico in Albuquerque, The University of New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque and the Socorro Striders and Riders in Socorro. There is also a small team in Roswell called the Tie-dye-tri-guys and one in Silver City called the Quicksilver Tri Team. If you do live in Los Alamos, Socorro, Roswell or Silver City the Outlaws encourage you to check out these teams as a first option. We believe that there is nothing more important than a strong and vibrant triathlon community and the only way to maintain that is to have strong and growing teams throughout the state.

Q: Do the Outlaws train together?

A: Yes. We often have group rides on Saturday mornings and group runs on Sunday mornings. The rides and runs are always scheduled by e-mail and if you would like to join us just send an e-mail as ask when the next workout is scheduled. During the summer months we also will schedule group open water swims up at Cochiti Lake. Our group workouts are often mixed gender and ability though we also have women's training groups and training groups focused on specific events, usually for the iron and half iron distances.

Q: You have iron and half-iron distance training groups; can you tell me more about that?

A: Sure, one of the things that I like most about being an Outlaw is the fact that every year we try and organize a couple major events to set our sights on. Past events have included Buffalo Springs Lake Triathlon, Soma Half Iron, Deuces Wild Triathlon Festival, Ironman Arizona, Ironman Louisville and Ironman Coeur d'Alene. We will typically get a small group of people who will select a major team event and then when the time comes we train together and support each other in both the preparation and the race. Having done this a few times myself and having done some major events alone I can say that doing it with a group of teammates is the best. There is nothing like sharing the journey with friends.