[Closed] Olympic distance triathlon

Why is open water a problem? Just asking like.

Swimsuit!

Hi M-C,

I've done the Bath Olympic Tri a couple of times in the past simply because it was a pool swim rather than open water. It was a pool swim (50m length) at the uni sports village.

The down side is that Bath is in a 'bit of a dip' so the run and cycle course are HILLY.

Ben

I'd imagine that most are open water because it takes quite a long time to do 1500m and pools have limited space in them. If an event had a reasonable number of participants then it would take too long for all the waves to go through the pool. You might get lucky with a small event. If the wetsuit is a problem then you can hire them from some shops like [url= http://triuk.com/ ]http://triuk.com/[/url] for example. 220 has quite a good list of races [url= http://www.220triathlon.com/races ]http://www.220triathlon.com/races[/url]. If you're not sure about the swimming aspect because it's your least favourite discipline then olys probably aren't the best distance to be doing because they contain the highest percentage of swimming. If you favour the bike and the run it might be worth looking to go long as in half iron and ironman distances the swim makes up a much smaller proportion of the overall race (I think 3% in sprints and olys and 1.7% in Half and Ironman.) If you happen to live in the south then have a look at [url= http://www.wessexwizards.com/Race.html ]Sherbourne sprint Tri[/url] The swim is a very short pool swim (400m) but the bike and run are comparatively long (30km and 8km although the run was shortened to 6km this year.)

Iain

iDave - I believe a requirement of an open water swim is that a wetsuit has to be worn. It might not be a fixed rule, but individual events I have previously investigated stipulate that one must be worn.

This makes things difficult: Buying a swimming wetsuit and training in it was just too difficult for me.

Ben

M-C,

Don't know where you are based but Huntly do an Oly distance that is pool based. I did it this year. Next year's Huntly one is in October though so you maybe don't fancy waiting until then even if the location works for you. I didn't feel my swimming would be up to doing an open water. I am hoping to do a couple of open water sprint ones in 2011. Have you checked out the events section at http://www.britishtriathlon.org/

I don't think it's a rule you MUST wear a wet suit. I've seen people do them without. If the water's too hot there is a rule that bans them. Why is it a problem anyway. I'm sure you can hire them if the expense is a problem.

I have done an open water sprint tri before (The relay champs in Notts) and the open water was HORRIFIC!!! I couldn't put my face in the water as it freaked me out and hence I couldn't do crawl! Next issue, I can't do breast stroke and you (as most of you probably know) can't do back stroke so I doggy paddled 400m. Which not only meant I was last (actually last but one!!) but it compeltely drained me, I nearly passed out when I got out of the lake. I do intend this year to have another go at a few more open water swims (sprint tri's) as I own a wetsuit. But physically wise I am fit and easily able to do the distance of an Olympic over a sprint which is why I fancy giving it a bash, but just dread having to do a 1500m swim doggy paddle all the way around!

BlobOnAStick.. interestingly I just found the Bath one which looks good (although not sure on the hills!) and found another one in Arundel that's pool based (although would have to make a weekend of that one). I live in Oxfordshire so prepared to travel a little bit if required, or make it an overnighter if I had too. I'll take a look at the others mentioned as well though. Cu_dubh not idea where Huntly is?? (OFf to google it!)

Sounds like you just need to practice in the open. Is there a local Tri Club? They often do open water sessions (not this time of year) which I'm sure they'd help you with.

I'm sure you can hire them if the expense is a problem.

I guess it's the fact that I don't want the first time I wear one to be during the event - I can't imagine how sore my armpits/shoulders might be if the wetsuit didn't fit properly and rubbed me.

Also, like M-C, I am (was 🙁 ) perfectly capable of swimming the distance but I'd like to know what swimming a mile with no walls to push off is like, so a few training swims would be needed.

Ben

MC,

Huntly is a heaving metropolis outside of Aberdeen, so superbly handy for nearly everybody. But it does have a pretty flat course for the run and bike.

About joining a triclub. That might be an idea. I joined Glasgow Tri Club. During the summer they do open water swims at Loch Lomond. I am sure other clubs will do something similar. Also, I did a course, sorry I can't remember who with, at Loch Tay earlier this year as an introduction to open water swimming. I am not a confident swimmer but going to a course to learn some basics was pretty handy. Good luck.

BOAS
Good points re fit of wet suit. My first one was too tight, brought the day before a race, which didn't go well. I think the only way to do it is just buy one and practice. If you don't get on with it I'm sure there's a market on ebay.

Oxford tri club do open water practice sessions for several weeks before the Blenheim triathlon. Never done it myself- I helped provide canoe cover for them. They also train at cassington lakes regularly , although not this time of year
😀

I think the only way to do it is just buy one and practice

.....Or find an oly that's pool based 😀 Thanks for the encouragement though Rich. I might take another look in the spring as I'll need to get a goal in my sights to try and shift all the weight that this snow is making me put on!

Ben

Ooo Macgyver can Joe Public just turn up and join in those? I have looked at joining Tri Clubs before but doing shift work and living about 10 miles out of Oxford it's not so convenient. Cassington has a lake??? Hey oh i could go down there and give it a go.

Munqe Chick
The come and try it are done over several weekends ahead of the tri. I say cassington lakes but it's actually one of the gravel pits they gave permission to use. It is nice and clean though . Not to sure of the set up as I dont do tri, we just know a bloke who coaches there!

I did my open water swim section of the tri in no wetsuit.

I think the water has to be under 14 degrees for it to be mandatory.

And as everyone is being so grumpy, comedy "velociraptor" stance tri pic to lighten up the mood:

[img] [/img]

skip the swim do a duathlon, or conquer the open water phobia, lifeguard club would be good for that.

Surf-Mat ... ggrrrr looking manly!! Did you say to bloke next to you "come on mate this is supposed to be a race? Get running" ...... he he!
Lazybike I really enjoy swimming in the pool......

Hee hee! I think he lit up a fag and sat down.

PMSL @ Surf-Mat!!!!

I vaguely remember a clubmate having a book with all the years triathlons in it, try a search for that............[url= http://www.britishtriathlon.org/index.php ]try here[/url]

If the fear of open water swimming is the problem then enter an Olympic distance with an open water swim. This will then give you the motivation to practice it and conquer your fear. Even if you can't make the sessions your local club should be able to point you in the direction of your nearest open water swimming location. I think having trouble getting your head in is quite normal. I normally get it after running into the water your HR is quite high so you struggle getting your breathing under control. I forget I'm in a race for a few minutes and take a couple of steady strokes with my head out the water and then get on with the swim focussing on my technique as oppose to what's going on around me. In my first OW swim I did the whole distance with my head out slowly but after a few more you do settle into it. I'm lucky enough to have a local weekly Aquathlon series with an 800m sea swim followed by a 5k run so I just went every week for a while to get used to OW swimming and swimming in big group.

Personally I dislike swimming, especially with lots of people round in a dark lake at 7.00am but with practice you can force yourself to get over it.

Iain