Advice on Triathlon/Running Clothes?

cavewoman15

My first triathlon is Saturday - YAY! I'm not the normal sized female triathlete (size 12/14), and the suits at the local stores were SO tight and made me feel like all my parts were in jail, so I have constructed my own two-piece kit with a pair of tri shorts (Pear Izumi brand) and a nice wicking shirt (Skirt Sports Girl brand). I've tried it and it works well for all the legs of the tri except that the shirt rides up when I run.

Do any runners or triathletes have suggestions for how to keep my shirt from riding up when I run? It fits tight, so something that will hold the band to my shorts should help. I was thinking some double-sided tape, but I can't imagine that will hold though the swim portion. I see now why people buy those sexy one-piece tri suits.. maybe for the next one!

Thanks!

hoyalawya2003

I have never done a tri, I am in more for responses as I am thinking of working up to one next year. But, have you considered safety pins? They seem to solve a multitude of wardrobe malfunctions, and wouldn't be affected by the swim.

BrianSharpe

Is the top long enough to tuck into your shorts?

3dogsrunning

I have never done a tri, I am in more for responses as I am thinking of working up to one next year. But, have you considered safety pins? They seem to solve a multitude of wardrobe malfunctions, and wouldn't be affected by the swim.

This could work, but just make sure you take them out right after (I left a bib pinned on a sweaty shirt and it left rust stains :sad: I loved that shirt).

Personally, I would find/wear a shirt that didn't cause me any issues. I want my clothes to not cause me any issues. After my first tri, I found spots I had chafed I didn't expect at all. I'd be worried that something like pins would cause me grief as well
For my first race I was overweight and didn't have any fancy triathlon clothes. I wore one of my regular running tanks (you want something light weight that will dry easily), a sports bra and a pair of running tights.
.

Just my thoughts. Good luck and have fun.

cavewoman15

thanks! i had not considered safety pins (though it seems so obvious now that you say it haha!). i wonder how safe they are (haha) moving around so much, but i'm sure one here or there wouldn't hurt. a good idea! thanks!

i considered tucking, but i think i'm too self-conscious for that. not a great look

BerryH

When you pin your number on, pin it through your sports bra. I'm a similar size with the same sort of tri kit which rides up a bit - I get grateful for the air circulating round my middle by the end of the run :laugh:

glreim21

I think you might be my twin:) I have a Tri Sunday and am also size 12-14 so I totally get the tight fitting, top ridding up look. Just tuck it in so it won't ride up. Who cares what it looks like, you are competing in a triathlon, no one is going to look at you and think, 'geeez, she shouldn't have tucked that top in.' Best of luck to you!

scraver2003

I've only done one so far. I wore my swim suit for swimming, then for biking, I threw my shorts on over my suit. Then for the run, I had my number already pinned to a t-shirt I put over my suit. (I know... I shouldn't run in cotton - whatever). I DID go for a run in my suit ahead of time to be sure the girls were supported enough... I LOVED doing the triathlon. It drives me NUTS when I have a shirt on that keeps riding up. I wouldn't wear something that rode up for a triathlon - but that is just because I am so picky about comfort. Pins might work (TEST IT OUT BEFORE THE RACE) just be careful not to tear your shirt/shorts with the pins.

cavewoman15

thanks all for the advice! i'm thinking i may just switch the top back to a cotton-wicking old navy top i have had for a long time. it won't dry as fast, but i bet it will be dry by the time i'm done with the bike. it also isn't as flattering as my skirt sports girl top, but at least i know it doesn't ride up!

thanks!!

cavewoman15

oh.. in addition to looking bad, i don't think ticking will work well b/c my tri shorts are pretty low-waisted.. so i'm afraid it would come out anyway!

ka97

My first couple of years I threw on a regular running shirt (moisture wicking not cotton) when I got off the bike in T2. It only took a second and worked just fine. Plus, it's not like I'm trying to win the race, so what's a few extra seconds in T2. I was much more comfortable running that way.
I totally understand on the tri clothes - I'm a size 6 now but I have size large tri shorts and an xl tri top.

Good luck with your race!!!

ccather

I'm bigger than you and I sucked it up and wore a one piece tri suit. Best. Thing. Ever. Sure, wearing that much spandex was a bit much for the complex I have about my body. But the minute I put it on...man, I felt like I could take on THE WORLD! Know what else? If folks do not like seeing a big girl kickin' it on the tri course, that's THEIR problem not mine!

Seriously, though, I found for the logistics of a triathlon a one piece suit is the way to go. Everything stayed where I put it and there was no chafing. My tri club ordered suits and most of the girls opted for the one piece as well. You're a triathlete. We come in different shapes and sizes. Get out there and rock a tri suit!!

I did a biathlon a few months before I got my tri suit and did it in my plain running spandex shorts with a sleeveless performance top (no bathing suit...I *need* my sports bra to run!!!) It worked okay. I used a race belt for my number which also helped to keep my shirt from riding up. I still had to fiddle with my shirt during that whole race. I would have been far happier in my tri suit.

One final benefit to a one piece suit....you don't shuck your bike shorts off when you shed your wetsuit! (oh, now, there's a show NO ONE wanted to see! LOL!)

ccather

Oh! And good luck on your race! Don't forget to enjoy yourself!

brookielaw

I'm going to echo the person before me and recommend a one piece. I am superplus sized for a triathlete- finally down to a 14/16. I bought mine when I wore 18/20 but am ordering a smaller size before my first race (16 days away!). Aerotech Designs is one of the few brands I have seen that has actual plus sizes. I had the same issue with the shirt riding up on my first tri kit. Nobody needs to see my gut like that. The one piece suit = great solution.

Speaking of my gut, I bought a tri skirt to cover it on the run and with it I am almost over the likely embarassment of being the fattest one out there.

Good luck! Have fun!

cavewoman15

thanks girls! if i enjoy this sprint race, i plan to sign up for an olympic in august. for that i will probably buy a one piece!

3dogsrunning

thanks girls! if i enjoy this sprint race, i plan to sign up for an olympic in august. for that i will probably buy a one piece!

:laugh: If. :laugh:

By next week you are going to have a whole shopping list of stuff you want for your next race. It's kind of addicting.


Have fun.

cavewoman15

haha, i bet you are right! i have already bought three last minute items this week - a race belt, a new headband (for helping to soak up all the water in my wet hair), and a new bike seat.

now that i changed my top, i'm worried that it won't dry if i wear it in the pool. i can try to tonight, but i'm curious.. has anyone ever seen a woman just wear a sports bra and try shorts for the swim? i could then throw on my shirt at T1 and it wouldn't be quite as wet. but i don't want to break any try etiquette

3dogsrunning

haha, i bet you are right! i have already bought three last minute items this week - a race belt, a new headband (for helping to soak up all the water in my wet hair), and a new bike seat.

now that i changed my top, i'm worried that it won't dry if i wear it in the pool. i can try to tonight, but i'm curious.. has anyone ever seen a woman just wear a sports bra and try shorts for the swim? i could then throw on my shirt at T1 and it wouldn't be quite as wet. but i don't want to break any try etiquette

It's not a no-no that I am aware of but pretty much every race I have done requires a wetsuit. That's basically what I wear under my wetsuit. I have seen a handful of people without a wetsuit, and one lady was wearing a two piece swimsuit. I also remember at the Mont Tremblant Ironman seeing a bunch of women in a bra and tri shorts running through transition after the swim, but can't remember if they also wore a wetsuit.
I'm going to go with ok, but maybe check the rules. I know our local tri doesn't allow you to run or cycle in a bra top, but no rules against swimming in one.

Daisy471

I have seen triathletes swim in 2 piece suits or bra/shorts combo, but definitely check the rules of your race. In the tris I have done we swam in small lakes where the water was warm enough that a wetsuit was optional. I own one (for kayaking) but have never used it in a tri. For mine, I wore a fitted tank & sports bra (can't run w/o it) and tri shorts. I was pretty self-conscious about the fitted tank so I had a tech shirt to pull on in T1. It would have been better to wait until T2 to put it on, but I wanted to cover my belly as soon as possible.

I agree with another poster - they are addictive! I haven't done one in a few years but might do 1 or 2 this summer, depending on timing.

cavewoman15

thanks again all! i know i'm being a spaz, but it's really important to be comfortable.. wouldn't want to be fighting for an hour and a half!

i also realized that i registered as an age grouper and not an athena. silly me! trying to remedy that, but probably too late for this one. maybe the august race!

scorpio516

When I race duathlons, I usually do it all in a bike jersey. Long enough to be good on the bike. Wicking good to run in.

ccather

How did your race go! We need a report!

cavewoman15

thanks again to all who helped! when i showed up to the race, some folks were running around in swim suits, including two pieces and/or sports bra type make-shift outfits, so i decided to do the swim in the sports bra and then throw on a wicking top at T1. worked great! i do see the benefit of a one piece though.. though i had practiced in my tri shorts in the pool a couple times, by the end of the swim, they were starting to come down when i pushed off the wall, exposing a bit more of my backside when i got out of the pool than is probably appropriate. i think i will suck it up and get a one piece for next time, unless i can find two pieces that fit a little better. thanks for all your help!

the race was AWESOME! much harder than i expected. i had over-trained all the distances, but i wasn't ready for the elements. the hoopla of people passing me in the pool left me winded during T1. the bike was an out-and-back on a country road, which meant i had to battle several unexpected elements: my allergies (pollen ALL over the trees and people mowing their yards on a sunny saturday afternoon), wind, and hills. i didn't know there would be hills! i caught my breath after 10 minutes or so and then the second half of the bike i came alive, passing people left and right. then came the run, which was ROUGH. several more hills, and i really, really wanted to walk the last mile but managed to push through and finish the race without walking. it was AWESOME! i actually won the athena class (granted, there were only two of us, but still!).

i'm thinking about signing up for the chicago olympic distance in august. i would increase my running training to 3x a week to make sure i can cover the distance, but i imagine i might have to walk a little to finish the 10k. and i'll definitely need to practice some open water swims, as i have basically no experience with that.

thanks to everyone for your support, insight, and encouragement!!

lealorali

That's great! You are the champion! I liked your summary and found it helpful; I am doing my first tri in June!!

ka97

Congratulations!!!

If you are thinking of doing an Oly, be sure to:
-practice bricks. Lots of bricks.
-be sure to work out your nutrition in your training. You are most likely going to have to refuel during the race. Use your training to figure out what, when, and how.
-do more bricks :bigsmile: