Triathlons?

[Mr Lefty]

Just wondering if anyone's attempted a triathlon of any length before?

I'm attempting my first on 2 April, but have NO idea how any of it works... I've never even seen a triathlon.:lol:

I'm just going to finish, don't care about time yet, as it'll be the first time I've swam in about 5 years and the first time riding a bike since I got my license at 16 (never ever ridden this far)... at least I know I can easily run the 5k :lol:

I'm doing a spint distance at 600m swim 16mi bike 5krun. I'm just riding a POS mountain bike as i'm not about to go buy a $1,000 (entry level) road or tri bike.

so... anyone?

[derf]

Once, harder than it looks, make sure your bike stands out and is easy to find, even seperatrd on racks they can be hard to find. Also wear a quick drying suit for after the swim. Also keep a set of new, clean, dry socks in a place you can get after the swim.

[Archren]

600m is a long way to swim.. it will really take it out of you. Good luck though. I've never done a triathlon, but my old boss was a huge PT nut and did them all the time. She's in Iraq right now, and I only have FB to keep in touch with her or I'd offer to ping her with any questions you may have. :lol:

[anthonyk]

I did a sprint tri a couple of years ago and found that open water swimming in a crowd is a totally different animal than swimming in the pool. I never managed to get into a rhythm and got tired really fast. I'd been swimming up to a mile in the pool at that point, but the 1/2 mile in the lake nearly killed me. :lol:

[Trip]

Swim will definitely be the worst part.

[Cutty72]

Um... good luck. Sounds like a lot of work, and not necessarily a lot of fun, but whatever turns your crank.

[Method]

Once, harder than it looks, make sure your bike stands out and is easy to find, even seperatrd on racks they can be hard to find. Also wear a quick drying suit for after the swim. Also keep a set of new, clean, dry socks in a place you can get after the swim.
Derf is 100% right about those socks. Also make sure that when staging your gear, roll your socks up outwards so that you can just roll them right on your feet. It's a PITA to put socks onto wet feet any other way and this should save you 30 sec or so on your time.

[derf]

Derf is 100% right about those socks. Also make sure that when staging your gear, roll your socks up outwards so that you can just roll them right on your feet. It's a PITA to put socks onto wet feet any other way and this should save you 30 sec or so on your time.

I kept a small washcloth tucked into the socks and used it to dry my feet off real quick, the few seconds was totally worth it when at teh end of the race other folks were complaining that they could feel blisters and other foot pains and mine were just slightly damp from sweat

[Mr Lefty]

I'll be running in the Vibram Five Fingers without socks... so that shouldn't be an issue.

I know the swim is going to suck, but I'll be fine. the hard part is the run, considering my legs should be like jello by then.

my only real concern is what I'm gonna swim in and T1...

[azoomm]

I'll be running in the Vibram Five Fingers without socks... so that shouldn't be an issue.

I know the swim is going to suck, but I'll be fine. the hard part is the run, considering my legs should be like jello by then.

my only real concern is what I'm gonna swim in and T1...

I ran in my Vibrams - but, I pedal in Sidi's. Socks, rolled how Method said was a brilliant tip. Washcloth - one wet, one dry was also a very good idea.

I advise you to pick up your front tire off the rail your bike is hanging on and spin it, then spin your front tire. Our bike rail had fallen and, while the bikes were hung back up, my rear brake was hit and engaged. I wondered why I couldn't get a rhythm... try pedaling after a killer swim, on the brakes. :skep:

My coach asked me one question when I told him I wanted to do it - can you swim? You can figure out a pedal, you can walk the run... you have to swim.

And, like mentioned above, practice in open water a few times. Open water is absolutely nothing like swimming in a pool. It is much, much harder.

I recommend a sprint tri first - then go full.

[Mr Lefty]

I'm using a free mountain bike, I'm gonna try and score a cheep helmet. I don't want to invest much until I'm sure I enjoy this...

it's in a pond out and back, that is going to start in waves.

I'm hope'n to do a standard Tri at the end of the summer... I've got plans to do 5-7 Sprints by then.

[racedoll]

Ditto to what everyone else said plus I will add in to train for the bricks. The swim to bike isn't bad, but the bike to run is terrible so make sure you train.

If you can get into open water, do it. It is completely different than in a pool.

Personally I bike in the shoes that I run in and just have the cages so I can "pull up" on the pedals. I haven't convinced myself that the clipless would make that much difference when you are changing shoes around. But I haven't tried so I can't say for sure.

If you are riding a mountain bike, you could enter that class.

If you don't have then, I recommend tri shorts. They have a chamois so they will give padding during the bike but not as much as bicycle shorts so it will dry quicker and not feel like you are running with a pad between your legs. This way you only have to add the shirt, if you want.

Most make you cross the line with your race bib so I'd recommend getting a belt for it. So you can just grab and clip around you as you run. And if you don't wear a shirt then you don't have to worry about not having a place to pin it. http://www.nationalrunningcenter.com/Fuel-Belt-Race-Number-Belt/productinfo/FB23/

Other little things are to put your sunglasses on first, then your helmet - so when you take the helmet off for the run you don't rip the glasses off too. I usually set mine inside my helmet. I put both on right after I come in from the swim since you can't touch the bike without your helmet on.

[Mr Lefty]

Ditto to what everyone else said plus I will add in to train for the bricks. The swim to bike isn't bad, but the bike to run is terrible so make sure you train.

If you can get into open water, do it. It is completely different than in a pool.

Personally I bike in the shoes that I run in and just have the cages so I can "pull up" on the pedals. I haven't convinced myself that the clipless would make that much difference when you are changing shoes around. But I haven't tried so I can't say for sure.

If you are riding a mountain bike, you could enter that class.

If you don't have then, I recommend tri shorts. They have a chamois so they will give padding during the bike but not as much as bicycle shorts so it will dry quicker and not feel like you are running with a pad between your legs. This way you only have to add the shirt, if you want.

Most make you cross the line with your race bib so I'd recommend getting a belt for it. So you can just grab and clip around you as you run. And if you don't wear a shirt then you don't have to worry about not having a place to pin it. http://www.nationalrunningcenter.com/Fuel-Belt-Race-Number-Belt/productinfo/FB23/

Other little things are to put your sunglasses on first, then your helmet - so when you take the helmet off for the run you don't rip the glasses off too. I usually set mine inside my helmet. I put both on right after I come in from the swim since you can't touch the bike without your helmet on.

cool... thanks...

[Tsunami]

I think you should do the whole thing in speedos and nipple tassles.

[Particle Man]

I think you should do the whole thing in speedos and nipple tassles.

:lol

[dReWpY]

get on facebook at look up a dude named jeremy tiller on my friends list, he used to do ironmans and he is a wealth of information, dude was sponsored and all, he was my old roommate in college

[Mr Lefty]

I think you should do the whole thing in speedos and nipple tassles.

I will if you will.

[lauralynne]

I've done half dozen or so...lots of great tips and people here: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/

Clean socks for bike ride and ANOTHER set for run - just to be safe.
practice your transitions otherwise it's very frustrating.
Open water swim in a crowd is something you can NEVER train for. You get hit, kicked, grabbed, pushed under, etc. Not always on accident. but it happens. If you're a kick ass swimmer, start near the front and outside. If you're anything less, start near the back and outside - just give yourself 5-10 seconds to cross the timing line and a little extra swim space.
Brick workouts are back to backs - swim then bike, bike then run. Bike to run is the hardest - no matter how good a runner or biker you are, it takes practice for your legs to figure out the difference and the first part of the run is like running on solid logs.
Start with a sprint distance - just to get the feel of it - you're also more likely to be around less fierce competitors - you'll get more help and tips by arriving early and striking up conversations with people.
Have fun! It's addicting!
(I was supposed to be doing a half ironman this summer - instead I'll be birthin' a baby...so now it's on for summer 2012...)

[Mr Lefty]

I've done half dozen or so...lots of great tips and people here: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/

Clean socks for bike ride and ANOTHER set for run - just to be safe.
practice your transitions otherwise it's very frustrating.
Open water swim in a crowd is something you can NEVER train for. You get hit, kicked, grabbed, pushed under, etc. Not always on accident. but it happens. If you're a kick ass swimmer, start near the front and outside. If you're anything less, start near the back and outside - just give yourself 5-10 seconds to cross the timing line and a little extra swim space.
Brick workouts are back to backs - swim then bike, bike then run. Bike to run is the hardest - no matter how good a runner or biker you are, it takes practice for your legs to figure out the difference and the first part of the run is like running on solid logs.
Start with a sprint distance - just to get the feel of it - you're also more likely to be around less fierce competitors - you'll get more help and tips by arriving early and striking up conversations with people.
Have fun! It's addicting!
(I was supposed to be doing a half ironman this summer - instead I'll be birthin' a baby...so now it's on for summer 2012...)
yeah I've been checking out that link for a couple days now... good stuff.

[Mr Lefty]

SWIM: the swim KILLED me. I started 178 of 200 or so (done by registration time) was fourth to last out of the pool but all 4 of them started before me. (they started each of us in 5sec waves)

I wasn't in a hurry and wanted to keep my buddy company as he struggled BIG TIME with the swim (he was 167 and came out the water a good 2 mins after me)

BIKE: went about 1/8 of a mile and the chain came off... fixed it but my buddy left me ( I think he thought I was gonna catch him... uh not so much) took about a mile before I was second to last over all (position wise) the only guy behind me spent a good 5 min throwing up from almost drowning on the swim.

He caught me at the 6 of 16 mile mark... we chatted for a bit then he took off... didn't see him until I was finishing my bike portion as he was halfway on his run.

Yeah, I was probably a good 20 min behind the closest bike and that was someone who had a flat! sucks being on a mountain bike on this shit! and I realized at mile 13 that my front brake was dragging, couldn't do anything about it now though.

all in all... the bike kicked my fucking ass... though I'd have done better if 1. the brake wasn't dragging and 2. if I hadn't stopped 9 times to put the chain on... (would have been 10 but I coasted into the transition)

RUN: holy hell... I knew my legs would feel like lead but god damn... I had no idea just how badly! I ended up walking the first mile (was in last position and probably over all by then so no worries) ran mile 2 and the last 3/4 of a mile.


OVER ALL: I love it... it showed me just how much I need to train! I don't know my exact time... though I don't care. I just wanted to finish and I did.

I am slightly disappointed in having to walk part of the run... but I'll do better next time. Can't do much worse than LAST... then again... I Started and Finished

[G-Rex]

After what you've been though recently, you did great. Congrats man! I know people in great shape who wouldn't try what you did!

[azoomm]

Awesome man. You finished, that's the REALLY night deal.

What did I tell you about teaching your brakes??!?

[Mr Lefty]

Awesome man. You finished, that's the REALLY night deal.

What did I tell you about teaching your brakes??!?

you did... and I remembered it when I realized the drag! :lol:


oh well looking at buying a Trek 1.1 road bike...

[lauralynne]

You know what they call the person who finishes last??

A TRIATHLETE!!!

Way to go!!

[racedoll]

RUN: holy hell... I knew my legs would feel like lead but god damn... I had no idea just how badly! I ended up walking the first mile (was in last position and probably over all by then so no worries) ran mile 2 and the last 3/4 of a mile.

I tried to warn you!

What did I tell you about teaching your brakes??!?

I was thinking this during his review. Guess he'll learn to listen to us in the future.

Good job! Finishing is always a good thing, especially when it is your first time.

[Mr Lefty]

I tried to warn you!



I was thinking this during his review. Guess he'll learn to listen to us in the future.

Good job! Finishing is always a good thing, especially when it is your first time.

Like I said I knew it'd suck... but didn't think it would be THAT bad..


and I did listen... just forgot to spin the tires... as my bike was on it's stand... not the rack (they ran out of spots so I gave up mine as I HAD a stand)

[derf]

I still think you could have done better than dead last, you must not have been trying hard enough, like you had a stroke a month ago or something like that. Sounds like someone welcomed you to looserville. :rockwoot:

Got any good pictures? Many of these events now have a photog that hangs out at a couple of locations and just takes shots back to back. The ones I've seen usually take pictures of people at the changes, and during the run and by bicycle.

[Mr Lefty]

I still think you could have done better than dead last, you must not have been trying hard enough, like you had a stroke a month ago or something like that. Sounds like someone welcomed you to looserville. :rockwoot:

Got any good pictures? Many of these events now have a photog that hangs out at a couple of locations and just takes shots back to back. The ones I've seen usually take pictures of people at the changes, and during the run and by bicycle.

:lol: yeah, though it was 71 days ago.

and they MAY have gotten me getting out of the water but I'm sure they went home by the time I got back on the bike! :rofl:

[101lifts2]

Sweet job dude...my legs hurt just thinking about doing that. lol

You wouldn't have come in last if you didn't have bike issues.

[Cutty72]

Congrats man!
Why did your chain keep falling off?

[Mr Lefty]

Congrats man!
Why did your chain keep falling off?

I didn't have time to devote to do the necessary prep on the bike and the shifters (dunno the proper names) were not adjusted properly... if I tried to shift into the top (hardest) gear, it'd actually shift it off the gear... the lowest I could only get to by shifting the rear gears and then it'd want to jump off to the inside.

it's not a hard fix just a couple seconds when it's on the outside... but on the inside it gets jammed... took me a good minute to fix that... thankfully it only happened once.

it's my own damn fault... not taking that shit seriously... then again... I wasn't in a race... just looking to finish. and I did.