Triathlon

slay0r
slay0r Posts: 669 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
Ok I have been extremely silly and decided to sign up for a triathlon next week.

I've lost 9 stone in a year and I've been pushing myself progressively and now I've taken rather a leap to this.

Recently I've been riding 20 miles a day round trip to work, it takes me just over an hour to do this, on top of a lot of exercise with the new woman if you know what I mean!

I've also done a 60 mile bike ride from manchester to blackpool for charity and an urbanathlon a couple of weeks ago.

The one I'm doing is a 750 metre swim, 38k bike ride and a 7.8k run. I'm told the cycling and the running routes are quite hilly so I'm not looking forward to that too much!

Is there any tips anyone has and anything I'll need. And also am I crazy having not trained too well?! All I want to do is finish it!

Replies

  • briantod
    briantod Posts: 1
    Slay0r,
    I myself have signed up for my first triathlon next month. Sounds like you have been Inadvertently been training by participating in the other events. The only thing that I see that you haven't trained for is the swimming. I myself use to swim a lot when I was younger and I have tried to get back on the saddle in the last few months. I will tell you that muscles I haven't used in a long time reminded me to take it slow. So if I have any advice it is to take it slow on the swim and I think you will be fine. If your goal is to just finish keep that in your mind as you are going along. I have participated in a few half marathons over the past year and sometimes you can get caught up in the atmosphere and push yourself too much too fast. One last thing is that over the course of your triathlon you will burn somewhere around 2000-3000 calories. So make sure you eat a good meal 2 hours prior to the race and replenish with a good meal after. Have fun and good luck.
  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
    Thank you for that Brian, that's very helpful. I will keep it in mind not to completely go for it on the swim, I used to be a very strong swimmer which is why I've not done much on the swimming side, I think I can do 30 lengths without too much bother. You had to give a time so I put in 21 mins which isn't too bad I guess? That's just less than a minute to do a 25 metre length, should be easy enough.

    It's the running that worries me after getting off the bike, does anyone use gels or anything to keep thier energy levels up? I definitely need to attach a water bottle holder to my bike this weekend so I can keep my fluid levels high throughout my cycle. I'm more worried I'll push too hard on the cycling and not be able to complete the 7.8k run at the end through mountain trails!
  • ArlVAMom
    ArlVAMom Posts: 42 Member
    I am doing a tri in 5 weeks - my first. 300 yard swim, 11 mile bike and 5k run.
    I would definitely get back in the pool and just make sure you are up to speed. Our muscles forget so quickly! I know a lot of very fit athletes who tried their first tri and they all said the swim was harder than they thought. I have never swum competitively in my life, and I am estimating I can do 300 yards(almost the same as a meter) in 7 minutes.

    I am definitely using gels! Just give yourself a trial run to make sure your stomach can handle them. I am training for a hilly course as well so I've done a few practice runs where I've ridden about 5 miles, then had a gel then tackled the hilly part of the course - and I definitely got through it better (ie not feeling like I am going to die!)

    You may also want to try a few back to back bike-runs to get used to the jelly legs feeling that I am told takes place. You don't have to do the full length of speed of the tri - just do a decent bike ride, then jump of the bike and do a short run.

    Check out beginnertriathlete.com - tons of information there. One of the things I'm told is the issues with transition. You've only got a week but you need to think about your gear. Is it an open water swim? Do you need a wetsuit? If it's a pool then you will just need your swimming clothes. Then you transition to the bike area - where you will strip off your wetsuit and probably just throw on a shirt, a helmet and your shoes. (Do you use clip shoes? or will you be in your running shoes?) I am told they are very strict that the helmet MUST be on as you leave the transition area - no waiting till you are out on the course to buckle. Then after the bike, back to the transition area. Helmet off, (for me, running hat on), change shoes if needed and go. I am going to put elastic laces in my running shoes so I can slip them on really quick. Need to practice putting socks on quickly as well. Ha. I have one of those shammy towels that lets you dry off really quickly.

    If it is an open water swim and you have not done an open water swim before, you may want to give that a try as I am told it is very different and can be stressful even for experienced swimmers.

    The way I see it I can always take a break and walk for 30 seconds or a minute during the run if I have to, at least I don't have to worry about drowning at that point!

    I am super excited for my tri, good luck with yours!
  • millionsofpeaches
    millionsofpeaches Posts: 372
    Good luck! When I did my first trialthlon I trained for about 3 months before my first one... So GOOD LUCK! Take your time... Especially with the swim, you can make up for it on your bike/run.
  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
    I'm going to do a trial run for the jelly legs this weekend! I'll have to master the art of taking a gel without falling off my bike as well!

    This ones in a pool, I'm doing this in preparation for doing the full on triathlon with the 10k run and the 1500 metre swim. Has anyone ever done one of these? Is it best to get a tri suit so I can just go from the pool straight to the bike? I'm not very quick at changing so if I had swimming gear then biking clothes I'll be ages, especially with towelling down! I've seen some on ebay for £30 which is apparently quite cheap! Plus will help my rear end on the bike ride with the padding!!!

    Going to use running shoes, got a VERY old school racing bike from the 80's so it's just normal peddles for me but it's light and quick so I'm happy with that.

    What the hell is a running hat?!
  • ArlVAMom
    ArlVAMom Posts: 42 Member
    Running hat - just a very lightweight mesh cap, like a ball cap, very useful for keeping the sun and sweat off your face.
    I have a pair of tri shorts and so far I like swimming, running, and biking in them. You could just get the shorts and then throw on a shirt for the bike/run. The tri suits look useful too!
  • slay0r
    slay0r Posts: 669 Member
    Ahhh that's pretty cool. I always get sweat in my eyes, getting used to it now!

    Did a practice yesterday, did a 20 mile bike ride and then a 6 mile run in 1 hour 45 which probably is pretty slow but for someone that was 21 stone last year it's pretty awesome for me!

    I'm deciding on the tri suit..I think it will be a good idea. I might try the tri shorts you talked about though because then I can wear my shirt that won't bother me rather than the tighter tri suit for the run. The running is my weakness so I need everything I can get on that! I got some new running shoes on Friday, they're excellent and I can run and run in them without the sore feet/shins I normally get. Only problem is my knees but I think that's just my body not being used to it and the road running.
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