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

IMUK was my first IM too, it got me hooked! Good luck.

I'm doing Helveylyn in August but I'm hoping to make it feel like Alpe de Huez by not doing a single training session in any sport since early March.

I'd love to do Helvelyn- if only it wasn't 2 days after returning from Nairobi.

On that note- how do I train for swimming and cycling without a pool or bike?

In-fact, looking back at the TP, I think I might have met him as he overtook me somewhere just before Streatly (mile 71). I remember a couple of people checking I was OK as my body imploded in on itself in the last few miles before I withdrew.

Next year my aim will just be to finish in sub 24 rather than aim for a target time - so I'll be a lot more conservative.

5mph should do that with time to spare. It's strange how that doesn't sound a lot, but 20 reps takes it's toll!

I'd love to do Helvelyn- if only it wasn't 2 days after returning from Nairobi.

Do it! it's only a week after I get back from 4 months in Indonesia :) Apparently they are releasing more entries at the end of the month?

Hillingdon splits: 600m swim(17:20) 6k run(34:34) 25k bike(44:55) overall 84th/138 looks like I need more swim and run practice!

Upton tri became Duathlon, river was close to bursting, full of effluent & trees etc making rapid progress south.

Was first off in my wave of runners, 5s gaps between each, held everyone off to T1 then had to take a breather as 5.30 for that was quite an effort. Ave 21mph for the bike when riding (long T2 entry I walked) then had nowt in the tank for 10km run PW of 54+ mins.

Finished with things to be positive about, and a few reminders that training for these things would make a huge difference.

Bring on next years race...

Ok, generic targets to train for, how do these sound?

Swim: 0:35
Ride 1:05
Run 0:45

For an Olympic distance.

^ what can you do for each alone at the moment & when's your race?

I'm going to enter three "near London" events in 2013 as soon as I can walk normally again- which I have high hopes will be Monday at the rate my foot is healing.

Looking for a spread through the year so I can (hopefully) track progress as each one gets faster.

I don't know about the swim- haven't ventured into the pool for 5-6 years.

However I can do the ride now (on a road bike, not tried it on a TT bike), and could do the run in that time last year when running was part of my training.

ok,

swim - have a go sooner not later & see where you're at, even a 400m time be helpful

bike - you might be slower due to swimming first

run - unlikely to match that time after swim & bike, best do some 10-15 min runs off hard bike rides to get used to that feeling you'll have at start of the run, plus see what pace feels comfy on those legs.

enjoy!

Yep, aware that those times are in isolation, not after a hard effort elsewhere.

What I really wanted to estabish was whether they were decent goals to train to, or crazily optimistic.

I'll jump in the pool as soon as I get my stitches out and see where I am with regards to that.

Anyone got a wetsuit for sale that would fit someone just under 6'2", 40" chest, 77kg?

check results for last year at those events you've lined up and see where those times place you.

As a rough guide 2h30 is a nice goal first off on a typical course, so you're not aiming miles away from that which suggests those times are indeed reasonable...

Don't forget to factor in Transition times, nor to practice that too so you don't waste time there.

Heh, the way I arrived at those was to open the results for the London Tri 2011, then picked the times from the first chap in my age group who did a 2:30.

He finished 101st in that bracket.

sounds like you're thinking along the right lines then, tho over 1.5/40/10 km I'd say that guy was weaker swimmer / strongest bike / strongish runner so you should balance your expectations accordingly.

Ok, so- get in the pool ASAP and find out where I am with that.

If I can get through the water faster it gives me some headroom for fatigue in the ride and run.

Next time you do a turbo session, head for a run straight off the bike too. 15 minutes at 10k pace will give you a very good idea of how realistic you times are.

The olympic triathlon seems to be a road race instead of the usual TT. I thought all tris were TTs?
This will help the Brownlees who along with their domestique can work together. Is this not against the rules of triathlons?

ITU races, and this race, are draft-legal.

It's all about keeping up with the fast swimmers, so that you make it into the bike bunch, and then being a better runner.

ok thanks

makes it far more watchable. Going to stroll over to the Mall soon see if I can see anything

All the age-group stuff, and Iron Man stuff, is no drafting.

makes it far more watchable. Going to stroll over to the Mall soon see if I can see anything

The corner of Birdcage Walk & Buck Palace is where they'll be falling off and sliding across the road on their arses.

Good to see they're keeping up the stereotype..

The corner of Birdcage Walk & Buck Palace is where they'll be falling off and sliding across the road on their arses.

And that is exactly where I shall be :)

Good to see they're keeping up the stereotype..
The organisers have done their best to help reinforce it by keeping that corner in the race.

I'm surprised they didn't dig the road up and put in a few wet metal drain covers just to be absolutely sure there would be more wipeouts.