Couch potato to triathlon training team!

Hi! I've been toying with the idea of doing a sprint Tri in August. I'm giving myself this month to decide for certain. I not only suck at swimming, I don't even know how! I just started swim classes on Thursday(eek!) I already bike/spin on a regular basis and I'm starting C25K training again after rehabbing some IT band/piriformis issues from last year. Im trying to work on what nutrtion needs to look like for this endeavor too. I'd love the virtual training team!

I just decided a couple of weeks ago to train for a triathlon on 10/13/13. I start a C25K program in two weeks. And I'm joining the Y for its cycling class. I live very near a trail so I'll be doing long rides on weekends as I build up strength and endurance in class. I have a 12-week goal of running 3 miles 3 x week and cycling 10 miles 3 x week. After that I'm getting a swimming coach. I too am a very poor (beginner-beginner) swimmer. I WILL register for the triathlon at the 12-week point WHEN I reach my goals.

In short, yes, let's have a virtual team. Will you be setting up a separate board for it? How shall we proceed? There may be a way for me to do this by myself, but I don't want to go that route. I have found a friend who will train for the same event, but having a virtual community would be wonderful.

Adriane

Hi everyone,
I'm really new MFP and the boards. I'm your typical middle aged house wife who has put family before self and I'm now trying to break the cycle. I am trying to decide if I have enough guts to register for an express triathlon ( 300m swim, 8.3 mile bike, 3.1 mile run). It's not until June, but I have basically been inactive for the past 10 years. I found a training schedule for beginners and it looks doable. I think I will train for two weeks and see how my times are. I'm not looking to come in first place, but I would like to finish without tossing my cookies. Any input would be appreciated.

Hi -
I have also agreed to my first Try-a-Tri, in August this summer. Mine is a 375 m swim, 10 k bike, and 2.5 k run. I am 44 years old, 5'2", and 220 lbs :sad: I have a training partner which I'm sure will help my motivation. I'd love to add you as a friend so we can encourage each other? I'm also interested in the training schedule for beginners you found: I've been reading a couple books from my local library, but they make it sound so technical!

Also - it occurred to me that after training for two weeks, why not focus more on how you feel and less on what your times are? After all, your goal is to finish without tossing your cookies, so perhaps times aren't the most important factor?

Hello,

I too am in training for a triathlon. Recently completed a marathon and decided the next goal will be a triathlon. Running is in the bag, biking is also ok as I do a lot of spinning and biking at the gym. Swimming is my weak point as I havent done any serious swimming since high school.

Will add you so we can share tips training tips.

Hi everyone,
I need to buy a bike, but they are expensive and there are so many types out there. Does anyone know of a comfortable bike to ride if you are overweight. I would hate to spend $1000 on something that I will not use because it's uncomfortable.
Thanks

I would recommend finding your local bike shop that can set you up with a proper fitting. As far as I know(I just got into cycling last year) there is no specific bike for someone who is overweight. Getting set up with a bike that fits properly is the first step and from there you can look into getting a different saddle that may be more comfortable. Shopping around and getting a proper fit is very important. As you said, spending $1,000+ on something you won't use is not something you want to have happen!
I definitely recommend getting a bike though, so find that bike shop, get that fit, and let us know how it goes!

Really would like to do the local Sprint Triathlon here in my home town in September, but have got to find some motivation to keep me going on a daily basis... I tend to do 2-3 workouts a week, but need to be more consistent. Would like to find some others that are motivated. Add me to your friends list or if there is a group we can join, just point the way! I'm sure I can do the 12 mile bike ride and 5k run, but the swimming pool doesn't open around here until June... that will still give me 3 months of training and I'll need every bit of it. Still trying to drop another 60 lbs or so.

Thanks everyone. I'm borrowing a bike to start out training. I will take it to the bike shop and have them fit me. This way I will know if I want to the same type of a different one. I'm looking forward to training. I'm starting my 8 week training today. I'm hoping by following it, I will be able to finish an express tri in June. It's a little shorter than a sprint, so it will be a good start.

Rodamort- I never thought about being unable to train year round. I live in california, so there is always a pool open. I feel for you.

Okay, so I started my triathlon training this week. Day one, biking, was great! Day two, running, lets just say I hit a bump in the road! It's amazing how much more it hurts to fall as an adult. Profile pic is my knee. I think I will take the rest of the week off and regroup. I am going to use the treadmill for running, until I get more comfortable. I don't want to give up, but it's tempting. How is everyone elses training coming?

duckey1 - my training was on hold this week. Totally messed up my back in yoga class (I'm embarrassed to type that). A trip to the chiro and some rest, and I'm back at it this week. My run Monday was good, took a break yesterday from swimming, but back to strength training and a run today. Sorry about your knee!

Bridgetmarie1 - I'm no expert by any means, but I would think some type of program - even if you make it up yourself - will help you to build endurance safely which is really what a tri is about, right?! My swim is in a pool, but I've been told nothing but practice will help with the open water swims o_O!

Hey there! I did my first super-sprint triathlon (half of a sprint) in Aug 2011 and my first two sprint distances last year (June and Aug). I have fallen in love with this sport. I am currently training for a sprint distance in June and my first olympic distance in August (Not sure what I was thinking!). I have yet to find other newbies to share the experience with. It's awesome to find this group! I am a "slow fat triathlete" and would like to lose weight and improve on my race time. I seem to have hit a plateau with my weight loss.

"Triathlon for the Every Woman" is a great book for triathletes, especially women.

Hey odylynn! "Slow, fat, triathlete" - I love that!!

Hey All!!! So glad I found this thread, it is just what I was looking for. I signed up to do a sprint triathlon in September. I wanted something to push me to work out consistently and to prove to myself I can be the athlete that I want to be (plus I hope it helps me shed the weight I am wanting to lose). After a a couple months of fairly consistent workouts in the gym (some weights, mostly elliptical cardio) I am hitting the streets and trails. I just started a C25k and riding my bike. The swimming I will worry about in July and August, I think. Excited for this new challenge and glad to see I am not the only crazy one out there!!!

I started the 16 week swim focused training plan from BeginnerTriathlete.com on Monday. Anyone else doing a "formalized" training plan? I can't say that what I'm doing is too formal because the free plan is only in minutes so I'm having to figure out what type of training to do in those minutes, but I'm going with it. Yesterday was the first two-a-day (not a brick) I've ever done - bike (24 min) and swim (12 min). I was wiped out last night and feeling it a bit today. Thank goodness today is a rest day!

My sprint tri Journey started last July, when I weighed in at 248..my highest weight ever! I just said I need to do something and training for something like a sprint tri seemed to me to be the logical choice. I was a hockey player right up through college and use to bike in the summers to keep my legs strong for hockey in the winter. Swimming was second nature to me as I grew up on the beach near Cape Cod. Running would be the challenge, so I tackled that first.
Initially I would only run for about 12-15 mins.. doing about 1.2 miles or so. It gradually got better....by September I was doing 3.1 miles in about 28-29 mins. I did my first 5k race at the end of September and did it in 27:55.
I bought a new road bike in late August ( a Fuji which I love) and started my biking again. By September I was doing brick workouts once a week... a 10 mile bike followed by a 2 mile run.
I started swimming in October at my gym. Slowly but surely improving my stroke and times there as well. I can swim 500 yards now in just under 10 mins
By the end of October I did my second 5k, and did it in 26:35.
I found the sprint tri I was going to do and it was in April, so I ramped up my training. I started doing 3 spinning classes a week and increased the number of Brick workouts to 3x a week as well. Usually a swim followed by a spin or run.
By the end of December my weight was down to 218. Training continued and April was here, all of my swim and run times had improved tremendously. On the day of my tri I weighed in at 214.
The tri was 450 yard swim, which I did in 9:10, followed by 10 mile bike which I did in 31 mins, followed by a 5k, and I ran that in 26 flat.
Its the 1st week of May and my weight is 211, and my next sprint is in 2 weeks....I'm hooked and feeling good!
Anybody can do it.!!!!!!! Just Tri!

Hi all - did we ever form a team? I messaged the folks on this thread. I'm also a new triathete - most biker by training. I'm looking for some more folk sto share experiences and tips with. Happy training!