Tri / Triathlon / Triathlons - do they float your boat?

rule of them, toss trainers when you put them on a flat surface and they ar bowed or can rock. OR 500miles. I rotate two pairs at once, gives the mid sole time to relax. anyway, expensive if you run alot, although no-where near as bas as cycling.

I've just been for my first outdoor run of the year. A very slow 10km. It was surprisingly a lot easier than anticipated. I actually found a pace (slow*) that felt like I could maintain for ages. I pray this is the beginning of loosing my hate of running.

Today I think I nailed bilateral breathing. 5 weeks til the first race.... more like challenge/task actually.

I used to do triathlons, right up to international standard (for the U18's). Only once for GB mind, in a place called Larabetzu in Spain. I was rubbish at swimming and running though. In fact I did one in cardiff where I was the last person out of the pool (35 odd people), but was the second person off the bike. (and finished 3rd)

I was forced though more than choice as my dad was the chairman of the local triathlon club. As soon as I hit 18 it was see ya later!

Breathe every 2 strokes, and do at least a quarter of your training breathing to the other side
Don't plan on kicking much - you'll need your legs later on

Most of what you wrote was spot on... except:

Breath every 3 strokes - will balance your swim alot more, and gives you a better option of breathing to either side of choice if there's a cross wind or sunny morning in an OW swim. The swimmers I work with (adult, mostly new to Tri) would all make the most progress at this stage if they (c)would breath to both sides.

Kick lots, just don't kick like you're trying to kick the sh1t out the water - keep it nice and gentle, imagine you're swimming in a smartie tube and trying to kick the top and bottom of it whilst cracking a walnut or holding a £1 coin between your cheeks.

If you don't kick your legs will drag and you'll be slower.

Edit - P.s. Good luck to all entering Tri this year... great fun.

Today I think I nailed bilateral breathing. 5 weeks til the first race.... more like challenge/task actually.

well done

kp when u riding up my way and doing easy 90min run round heath?

O'Neill reactor wet suit for £35
http://www.kingofwatersports.com/item.do?item=3789 and 10% discount enter king1

^^Dale. I don't run. I shuffle. Slowly. And anyways, my bike is still muddy from last time I went to the heath with you.

I have finally figured this swimming thing out! bi lateral breathing and rhythm! find it really soporific, relentless driving out the strokes. did 2km without even thinking about it yesterday, shouldnt really be going for that sort of length when im racing a 500m sprint but it was so pleasant.

unfortunately i get really bad stomach cramps from drinking too much chlorine! even clamping down on mouth technique has only lessened rather than removed it! ow! i fear i may have found another training addicition in swimming! damn you triathlons

I used to do them all the time when I was younger (back when they first got sponsored by Milk). Great fun!

If it's a mass start/open water race make sure your swimming is very strong - being at the front makes it much, much easier. Doesn't matter so much if it's one of those timed ones.

Oh and you know how to warm up your wetsuit right?

O'Neill reactor wet suit for £35
http://www.kingofwatersports.com/item.do?item=3789 and 10% discount enter king1

am probably going to plump for this since i think its £50 to rent one anyway? can anyone say whether this is a terrible idea or just an average one?

also, warming up the wetsuit. in the microwave surely?

am probably going to plump for this since i think its £50 to rent one anyway? can anyone say whether this is a terrible idea or just an average one?

also, warming up the wetsuit. in the microwave surely?

an average one.

but maybe ask if you swim in it before you buy.

that way you can make sure it fits.

and spend a bit of time getting the wetsuit on properly.

for the upper body right up inot th e armpits and over the shoulders properly.

and for the lower body right up into the groin area.

good luck.

an average one.

but maybe ask if you swim in it before you buy.

that way you can make sure it fits.

and spend a bit of time getting the wetsuit on properly.

for the upper body right up inot th e armpits and over the shoulders properly.

and for the lower body right up into the groin area.

good luck.

most pools will let you swim with a wetsuit on.

most pools will let you swim with a wetsuit on.

but you'll look silly and (more importantly) overheat quickly

;)

but you'll look silly and (more importantly) overheat quickly

;)

will most likely look like a bulbous turd bobbing along slowly

am probably going to plump for this since i think its £50 to rent one anyway? can anyone say whether this is a terrible idea or just an average one?

also, warming up the wetsuit. in the microwave surely?

just thought. check it is a wetsuit for swimming not surfing / windsurfing.

the latter would not be suitable for swimming in.

Wetsuit = cheating.

HTFU

I won a comp from buying asics trainers off wiggle.
Free kit (shoes, shorts, t, trackies, jacket, socks) yay, and a training day with Helen Jenkins (had to google her... she's some top notch olympic triathlete).
This is tomorrow. I have to cycle on down to Hampton Court this eve, night in hotel then 7am start. 8-9am run sesh, 9.30-11 bike sesh, 12-1.30 swim sesh. I'm pretty tired just thinking about the cycle there. Ho hum, least I won't be at work and maybe she'll say something inspirational to make me get off my lazy arse and train.

^ How'd it go?

Right back to this old chestnut. Ahh the 'training day' wasn't great. It was a bit more like being forced to run 5km with a group of randoms pre breakfast (I need food and tea before I do ANYTHING in the morning). It got a bit better though as the day progressed. We cycled to Richmond park from Hampton court and did a couple of laps. At the time I thought that hill was big, now I've been to the isle of wight fixed I know its just a bump in the road. It was a bit paffy the whole day... they weren't exactally forthcoming with training tips etc. It was more an asics PR show - journalists from Tri mags there and a photographer etc. Helen Jenkins hubby, Mark (he was the dude who had a smash on the bike leg in the 2004 olympics - he carried his bike (they weight nothing so don't put him on too high a pedestal) 2km to the finish) anyhow, he was also there and he gave my mate a load of swimming tips. Defs not a waste of a day, but not what I was expecting. Lovely people none the less.

I've got the human race super sprint next sunday. I haven't actually done that much for it (been sick, been partying), but should survive.

I did the Thames Turbo Sprint Tri on Monday, first tri so wasn't too sure what to expect. Wasn't overly pleased in the morning about having to cycle there for 6 especially since I'd got a bit carried away the night before and only had a few hours sleep but once I got going I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Swim went better than I thought and I was overtaking people (pool swim so you were set off every 15s), the cycle was fine and seemed to get an alright time. I got a pretty slow time in the run, not really been doing much running lately so wasn't too surprised by that!

Got beaten by 19 seconds by a really annoying guy at my work which is getting more and more annoying the more people that come up to me telling me he's been over gloating about it. Both doing the Windsor Tri so I'm planning on thrashing him there!

I did tadcaster tri on monday. Totally loved it, great atmosphere all day.
Got my ass kicked in the swim.
Kicked ass on the bike.
Held station on the run.
1 hour 15 mins for 400m 14K 7K didnt strike me as too bad for a first time. Although my competition from my rowing club beat me by three minutes that i seen to have handed him in the transitions! irritating!
on to the next!

I'm doing the humanrace at Dorney lake this Sunday. 400m swim, 20km bike and 5km run. Training has been, lets just say 'relaxed'. Hoping I can still finish in just over an hour. I wish the swim was longer and the run was shorter.

Good luck!
I've just booked my second one and am making plans for a full distance one next year.
over training somewhat at the moment i think