Sprint Triathlon - Not prepared - Help

BigDougie1211
BigDougie1211 Posts: 3,531 Member
edited December 2 in Fitness and Exercise
This is what we know so far.

1. A sprint Triathlon is a 750m swim, a 20k cycle and a 5k run.
2. I've signed up to do a sprint triathlon.
3. I haven't been training for it.
4. I can do the swim, cycle and run ( slowly ) - that's not a problem.
5. I may struggle to carry them out one after the other.

The kicker - I have 16 days - Can I do anything to be even remotely prepared in such a condensed time scale?

And...GO.
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Replies

  • BigDougie1211
    BigDougie1211 Posts: 3,531 Member
    Cheers for that.
    I'm massively under prepared because I'm stepping in for a work colleague who's broken their leg and it's a charity thing.
    I suppose the fact that it's landed on me out of the blue could actually work in my favour. No time to over think or start worrying about times etc...
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    BrianSharpe wrote: »
    You're screwed....... :D

    Pace yourself. None of the individual events are that arduous. As it's your first tri your only goal is to finish in a vertical position and with a smile on your face for the finish line photo. Relax and have fun.

    ^^ This is the bottom line, lol. No overthinking is needed.

    As @BrianSharpe said, pacing is the key. Without much time to practice, if you overcook the swim and bike segments, you could be in for a LONG 5k slog. With that in mind and assuming you're reasonably fit, I'd say just have fun with it....and remember to smile for the photographer as you cross the finish line! Good luck.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    At least do one brick workout before the race, so you know what it feels like. I did my first duathalon this year. I could've survived without doing a brick workout, but it was nice to know what it feels like to do them back to back to back. Go slow, and have fun!
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    16 days tho......




    You gonna die
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Meh. I did my first tri overweight and pretty out of shape. I had just learned to swim properly in January. I survived. I can remember hitting the turn around on the bike and realizing I am going to finish. I knew I could finish the bike and I'd walk the run if I had to.
    I was doing about one bike, one run and one swim a week if that. And I don't even think I could run a whole 5k straight at that point.
    I finished. DFL (dead ********* last) - to be fair it was a very very small race. Less than 70 people.
    It won't be pretty but you can probably do it.

    If you couldn't swim if be worried. That was my biggest concern.

    My advice - if it's open water swim get yourself in the open water a couple times before hand. And do a brick like others suggested.

    Good luck.
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    train the transitions - get out of the pool and onto the bike, ride your bike then get off and run. This can be more difficult than you think, train these.

    Go slow in the swim and on the bike so that you are able to run.

    Good luck, vaya con dios. Have fun. If you are already a distance runner, and can swim well, you may be fine.
  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    I don't feel like a failure after reading this discussion. Thanks OP. :laugh:

    Each single item isn't bad but together, you're gonna die.
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    "you're screwed"
    "you're gonna die"

    Well OP, at least you know we didn't sugar coat it, did we? ;)

    Looking forward to reading your post race report. Go get 'em.

  • glevinso
    glevinso Posts: 1,895 Member
    Open water or pool swim? If open water is it a lake, river or ocean? Can you swim in open water?

    Mainly my concern with first timers is the swimming (open water) aspect. Almost anyone can bike a little and run a little, but the swim is the place people run into trouble.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Open water or pool swim? If open water is it a lake, river or ocean? Can you swim in open water?

    Mainly my concern with first timers is the swimming (open water) aspect. Almost anyone can bike a little and run a little, abut the swim is the place people run into trouble.

    I agree.
    In Joe Friel's Your First Triathlon he recommends a pool swim for your first. I don't agree that is necessary. Where I am, there aren't any so everyone I know has started open water. But I do think it is absolutely imperative you get in the open water first.
  • sheermomentum
    sheermomentum Posts: 827 Member
    Is it allowed to share the segments as part of a relay team?
  • hannahsadler_tn
    hannahsadler_tn Posts: 77 Member
    Just do the damn thing and take the next couple of days off to recover. LOL Good luck!
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Open water or pool swim? If open water is it a lake, river or ocean? Can you swim in open water?

    Mainly my concern with first timers is the swimming (open water) aspect. Almost anyone can bike a little and run a little, but the swim is the place people run into trouble.

    OP, this is the "money" question. Since you've piqued our collective interest, could you share a bit about the swim course, and also your swimming background?
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    glevinso wrote: »
    Open water or pool swim? If open water is it a lake, river or ocean? Can you swim in open water?

    Mainly my concern with first timers is the swimming (open water) aspect. Almost anyone can bike a little and run a little, but the swim is the place people run into trouble.

    Agreed.

    My first thought was open water swim. After that, practice your transitions a couple of times just so you know what to expect and are less apt to get flustered on race day.

    It's a sprint distance so if you can bike a little and run a little then you should be fine with those. But swimming along side 100 other people gets a little frantic. Be prepared.
  • scorpio516
    scorpio516 Posts: 955 Member
    Only advice I have: Don't do anything too fast.

    Over do it on anything before the run, and that run will be horrible.
    Over do it on the swim, the bike and the run will be torture.
  • kimrunsonplants
    kimrunsonplants Posts: 4 Member
    To potentially make it easier on your knee going from bike to run, keep the resistance low and cadence high (85-95 RPM) on the bike. That should also help reduce that jello-legs feeling going from bike to run as well. When you go from bike to run, you're going to feel as though you're moving really slowly because suddenly your lower body is weight bearing again. That feeling should pass after a while (I usually start to feel "normal" at around 2.5-3k into the run)

    Smile, take it all in, and have fun--that's what really counts!
  • BigDougie1211
    BigDougie1211 Posts: 3,531 Member
    Thanks Guys, much appreciated.
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    Looking forward to your race report.......
  • bketchum1981
    bketchum1981 Posts: 130 Member
    Djproulx wrote: »
    Looking forward to your race report.......

    Yes, I am too! I've always thought I wanted to do a tri sprint. But it's scary!!
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    you're so screwed. just get through this one and use the time as your baseline for the next one lol
  • ka97
    ka97 Posts: 1,984 Member
    My goal for my first tri was to make it to the end without drowning, crashing, crying, or walking. And that was after solid training. But if you go in with the expectation of just getting to the end, you can probably pull it off.

    Biggest concern would be knowing you can swim the distance. If you have a chance to do at least one open water swim to get a feel for it, that would be helpful. Be prepared for mass chaos at the start. You may want to let everyone else start out and wait 10-20 seconds so that you are not caught up in the chaos. Some races will offer "swim angels" (a volunteer who swims next to you) to anyone not comfortable in the water. If it's an option you might want to take it.

    Take it easy on the bike. Just make it to the transition with a little energy left in the tank.

    Walk the run if you need to. Just get to the finish. If you have a chance to do a bike/run (or walk) brick before the race it would be helpful to get an idea for what that transition will feel like. It's a very awkward feeling, sort of like jello legs. But the more you are able to practice it, the easier it gets.
  • BigDougie1211
    BigDougie1211 Posts: 3,531 Member
    Thanks very much all for the advice.
  • pdm3547
    pdm3547 Posts: 1,057 Member
    BigDougie1211 wrote: »
    @Djproulx @3dogsrunning @BrianSharpe @omma_to_3 @glevinso @hannahsadler_tn @socalrunner59 @robininfl @ka97 @kimrunsonplants @scorpio516 @bketchum1981

    I made it in one piece. I'm alive.
    Swim was 21:20
    Tran 1 was 2:09
    Cycle was 47:37
    Tran 2 was 1:23
    Run was 34:12

    It was very frustrating. The strap on my goggles snapped and I had to grab a spare pair at the turn around.
    The chain came off my bike 3 times on the cycle and I had to stop to pee in the bushes during the run.
    All in all, I was delighted that I finished it and I raised a bit for a very good charity, but I definitely could have got around quicker.

    Phenomenal. Well done!
    Are you inspired to do another?
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Congrats!
    I knew you could. I'm glad you posted an update, I was wondering.
  • Djproulx
    Djproulx Posts: 3,084 Member
    Congrats on finishing. Sounds like you had an eventful first race!
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    Well done! First time out, finishing is the goal, you did it!
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