[Closed] 'Giving it all that' results in Triathlon advice request

Get into swimming lessons as soon as possible. Plan to swim 3 times a week at least. There is a massive amount of technique in swimming, much more than cycling or running. Tell your instructor what you want to do, how soon, and what length. 8 weeks is not long at all to get on top of it, aim for not drowning and not exhausting yourself in the swim.

Cycling and running - just get out there and do it. I guess intervals mostly. There are millions of books on tri training.

Mwah ha ha that's brilliant! Okay so there is LOADS of advice on the t'internet, find a beginners programme and try to stick to it.

Swimming wise if you can already do 6 lengths you are doing well, I'm guessing it's a 400m pool swim? Have a look at swim smooth and just practice, it's all about technique, at this stage completely forget about speed. If you are seriously struggling consider one length breast stroke (if you can do it) 1 crawl, for some people who are starting out this is way quicker, but you want to get yourself smooth and streamlined in the water, with minimal splashing. If you have to start swimming with a pull buoy between your legs whilst you concentrate on head position, arms and twisting, then include your legs.

With regards to bike if you MTB don't worry, just get out and smash it as hard as you can like TT. If you feel really sick then that's good 😉

Run .. well what you need to practice here is the transition from bike to run, it doesn't need to be long, it only needs to be 20 mins bike then 10 mins run, to get rid of that hideous feeling that you are going to collapse.

As for the run if you can do 3k now you can easily get to 5k in the next few weeks, do some brick sessions, if wnat to get quicker include intervals. but for your first tri I recommend just back to basics, pace, distance and getting around. you'll love it and become addicted then you can start on serious swim programmes, OW swimming, intervals running etc.

you could swim in budgie smugglers then add some shorts? Or why not buy some tri shorts then throw on a top for bike and run. you HAVE to wear a top!!!! Tri suits are £80 upwards although sometiimes there are some offers for £50. They are good bits of kit, but I wouldn't bother splashing out for a first event until you think you might do more. In which case I would buy a number belt as well.

I guarantee you will love it, I'm now addicted and have my first Olypmic/standard distance (1500m, 40k, 10k) this weekend, feeling nervous already eek! Good luck and keep us posted.

Sage advice,

my cousin Dan Bob was something of a swimmer in his salad days, he'll know some technique stuff, I'll focus on this my weakest area.

Doggy paddling to the poolside cocktail bar on holiday had left me with an exaggerated opinion of my aquatic abilities

Good luck yourself, MC

Swimming - You won't make up any time on a 400m pool swim, so just concentrate on doing it without knackering yourself. Get lessons. This site has some good tips http://www.swimsmooth.com/beginner.php and there are many many more to chose from. I swim and run in my cycling shorts (obviously not baggies)
Bike - go as fast as you can
Run - just limit your losses
Transition - practice this, work out what you are going to wear and what order your going to put it on and get used to running after riding. Talc in the socks if you wear them.

Enjoy it, you will go much faster if you do. Transitions are free time, the fastest transitions in a race are achievable by anyone (i.e YOU) don't underestimate their importance especially in a sprint race (you think you're loosing a "bit" of time then you see the winner has a 30s T1 and you have a 5min T1 that's a lot of time saved in an hour race.) I spend a hefty chunk of time on them, and my transitions are the same ish times for sprint to middle distance. Kick hard at the end of the swim (really important to stop you feeling light headed), SPRINT out of the water (really give it full gas, you'll pass so many people.) Turn up early and have a look at transition, learn where you will enter and exit set your bike up in the spot where it's shortest to get to all entries and exits. Practice transitions weekly (it takes 15mins tops), learn to mount and dismount your bike for extra speed and practice it. Set up your kit at the race as you have practised, finally when coming into T2 dismount and SPRINT through transition again and get elastic laces for you shoes. Then feel smug about having the quickest T1 and T2.

For swimming find a local masters club and join it (might want to get some swimming lessons in first though.) It will help you loads, once you can do 400m comfortably (you have more than enough time to do this) work on your turns, you don't need to tumble turn but a good turn and push off in the pool will knock seconds of your swim split for little effort and is easy to learn.

Bike: triathlons in general aren't that rapid on the bike (esp in a local sprint) you'll be grand. Find a local cycling club and enter a 10mile TT to get a feel for pacing. No need to work to hard on this.

Run: work slowly up to 5K and run a lot but be careful to warm up, cool down and stretch and generally avoid injury. Look for an on-line run plan or try and find a sprint training tri plan on the net and follow that.

Kit: hopefully you have a road bike and a good set of shoes for the run. Swim shorts/ change into bibs: really don't bother you'll loose so much time in the swim and in transitions. Get a set of tri shorts for [url= http://www.moremile.co.uk/prodtype.asp?strParents=4070,4072&CAT_ID=4320&numRecordPosition=1 ]£15.00 or a tri suit for £30.00[/url]. Tri suit is best as you'll need to add a jersey in T1 if you only go with shorts, get a number belt as well to attach your number to and slip on in T1.

You might not podium but if you've got a little time in the evenings and weekends, 8 weeks is plenty to really have a good crack at it (spending almost all your time on swimming and running) and if you're handy on the bike, limit your losses in the swim and the run and have a blistering T1 and T2 you'll surprise yourself.

Iain

Cheeky edit: Socks are for half Iron and up (if like me you're not hard enough to handle a half marathon barefoot) don't bother with them for a sprint. You'll get blisters but it'll not slow you down over 5k and you're feet will still probably be numb from the swim so you won't notice.

I haven't done a triathlon in 15 years but can still remember the importance of getting the swim successfully out of the way.

I detest swimming with a passion but made the effort to get to the pool 2 or 3 times a week in the run up to the events. Assuming it's a pool swim they're generally a bit of a bun fight following others in lanes. - Don't fret over this and just concentrate on what you're doing.

Now, speaking as a photographer who's shot loads of triathlons, do yourself a favour and DON'T ride a MTB, especially if you have a helmet peak. - Nothing screams noob on a tractor quite as much as this!

Most of my local tri's are on quite testing courses, being either hilly or on narrow country roads, or both. - Find out what the route is and have a couple of practice runs.

If you can find a local bike club who are running evening 10 mile TT's they're definitely worth a go, just to set a benchmark on.

It's also worth practising transitions from bike to run, just to get the different muscle groups used to the effort. Convenience says do an X mile loop from home on your bike and then quickly change into running shoes and go out again for 2 - 4K

I did my first sprint triathlon in June, with about 10 weeks practice - like OP, hadn't really swam more than a couple of lengths in one go for nearly 20 years!

I used Micoach.com to shout at me for 30 mins 3 times a week for running at lunchtime (you can choose interval training), I cycled twice a week (approx 60km in total) and swam at least twice per week.

Just keep plugging away at the swimming - In 10 weeks I took nearly 3 mins off my 400m time, just through getting used to swimming again.

I got a zipvit trisuit for £35 - already had running shoes and bike gear. I would also get a race belt (£5) and elastic laces (£2ish) as they could save minutes in the transition.

I loved it - My next one is Sept 23 and now have this desire to do the Wimbleball Half-Iron man before I'm 40...

Tobes

Cheers Guys

Ian, i think you overestimate my chances but will try and do your advice justice.

After yeas of MTB hirsuitness I'm going to have to shave my legs, aren't I?

Eye of the tiger....GRRRRR....after this caramel shortbread, like.

i actualy did my first try a tri 2 weeks ago i just set a aim to get withing the top half of the finishers list

the swim dont stress to much ul be suprised the folk tri's atract from young,old,big,small just get in the pool 2-3 times a week and go at your own pace it will hurt but hey ho

the ride this is whare i new i was going to make up time just chase the person in front of u,overtake them then chase the next easy as that really

run i really wasent looking forward to but was suprised i managed it ok once i was going,i found it easyer running after i was already warmed up from swim and ride and pumped up with adrenaline it really is a good fealing doing one of these events

as far as clothing i was abit woried with what to wear being a family event and tri suits being tight and all,I found a tri suit from a company called motion in ebay was only £25 inc post and was very good fit and comfy thru the whole event pading dried out within a few mins on the bike i planed to pop shorts over the suit,arm warmers and a road jersy all of that went out the window and just got on with it.

luckely u need the number on your back on ride and front on run so u can spin your belt round in t2 to cover your man bumps 😉 as its always in the back of your mind wether u like it or not
the belt i recomend orca has 3 gell loops and a small pouch should u need extras i put a c02 cartridge in it for the ride

u wont need it but good luck just enjoy being part of something that 90% of averge joe would never ever consider if its any comfort i can chuck up some pics of me looking stupid 😆

Oh no don't be shaving your legs... at least not for your first, that'll scream "professional" and who knows what might happen 😉

You will love them, as tobyToby says I have spent the last 2 years doing the odd sprint, I've upped to Olympic distance this year with a few to a 70.3 (half Ironman) in September 2013! Not desire to do Ironman, couldn't run 26 miles on it's own without other gubbins in front of it.

It's a fantastic sport to get invovled in, as all over tones, rather than just being a cyclist with weedy arms, you'll notice shoulder and arm definition etc so positives all round really.

thestabiliser

Cheers Guys

[b]Ian, i think you overestimate my chances [/b]but will try and do your advice justice.

After yeas of MTB hirsuitness I'm going to have to shave my legs, aren't I?

Eye of the tiger....GRRRRR....after this caramel shortbread, like.

Not at all.

Had some folk in the office do a relay event last year at Dorney Lake (Olympic rowing venue) which is so flat you can see the curve of the earth. I offered to go out for a bike training pootle thinking the cyclist would do the 40K in a gentle 1:20. Turns out he took just over 2 hours for the 25 miles.........

Oh and don't shave your legs, especially if you're a bit hairy elsewhere, - it'll look even more wrong!

m1kea - Member
thestabiliser
Cheers Guys

Ian, i think you overestimate my chances but will try and do your advice justice.

After yeas of MTB hirsuitness I'm going to have to shave my legs, aren't I?

Eye of the tiger....GRRRRR....after this caramel shortbread, like.

Not at all.

Had some folk in the office do a relay event last year at Dorney Lake (Olympic rowing venue) which is so flat you can see the curve of the earth. I offered to go out for a bike training pootle thinking the cyclist would do the 40K in a gentle 1:20. Turns out he took just over 2 hours for the 25 miles.........

Oh and don't shave your legs, especially if you're a bit hairy elsewhere, - it'll look even more wrong!

Yep as above you'll be surprised, half the people in local races are just in to see if they can finish if you know before hand you can finish and concentrate on doing well you've already beaten half of them.

I'd shave personally though, feels quicker in the pool.

Iain

Bump

Just to say cheers for the advice again folks 😀

Managed it - the Ulverston Tri - 400m swim, 28k bike, 5.9k run) in 1:33:01 finishing 37th of 116 overall and 19th of 42 in the Open Male cat.

Reasonably happy but think there's more time to be had there.

Run was a bit slow (30 mins) but other than that I can honestly say i put the advice to use, trained hard and am seriously considering lining up another couple next year! Really good event though and would really recommend it for other newbies given the time trial format and good general buzz about the place. Raised a few quid for the air ambulance too, sweet.

Good stuff 8)

I just got back from the Craggy Island Triathalon . I trained for the swim by swimming double the swim distance once a week for 6 weeks and came out the swim 135th out of 185 entrants ,i made up 6 places on the cycle and then lost it all on the run as i didnt train once ,there are plenty of training schedules online so train train train i finished last but plenty didnt finish so at least i hold my head high ? it was a lot of fun just enjoy it