Hi can anyone who remembers being a novice triathlete advise how long it takes to get match-fit as it were?
I quite fancy the London Triathlon... next year :-)... but need to work on the swimming/cycling.
Also are all of you mega speedy or is there room in the bigger events for people who do it for er, fun??
Thanks
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Best of luck whatever you do.
I doubt I could better your 27 mins on the 5K after swimming and cycling!
I am possibly getting carried away because I bought a new bike!
dont worry there are loads of people that enter tri's for fun. it always amazes me that a tri in middle of essex countryside called the ongar try-a-tri attracts 120 (novice only!!!) people every year.
I started running in 98/99, did my first duathlon in 2000 and then started tri's properly in 2001. I settled in quite easily. And you'll never have a perfect race.....always something to learn. But that's what's great about tri's.
Not sure what else to say to you....:O/
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
I might see if there are any popular with novices up my end of the country (Edinburgh)unless London is popular with first timers as well!
I think my first love is running but I'd enjoy the challenge of the tri. I think.
It can't be harder than a marathon.. Can it?
yes usually run/bike/run.
keep updated with the triathletes-uk website (http://www.triathletes-uk.org/) and the 220 mag for up and coming races.
edinbrrrrrugh - bit cold for tri's up there aint it!?
I think runners coming into tri have a slight advantage as your legs are a bit more able to cope with the wobbly 'feel' you get coming off the bike.
i guess depends on distance. ive done marathons and i still reckon a mar falls somewhere between an olympic/standard and a half-ironman distance triathlon.....but everyones different.
Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
But my bike did nearly get blown away in the wind the other day!
I am planning to do the sprint distance (I think it's 750M swim, 20K bike, 10K run?) at London next year. Not really worried TOO much about the running bit, or even the cycling, but the swimming, definitely.
Also wouldn't mind shifting half a stone of flab before donning a wet suit!!
But perhaps that's something to graduate to.. eventually!
What you need to practice is the bike/run transition, until you've done it a few times it feels like trying to run in cement. Most people find their run times are a bit slower than in a plain old running event.
Good luck - and most of all, have fun!
So every event I ever enter is just for fun!!
(my email's fecked at the mo)
Oh and nice photo :-)
Like you I need a goal to motivate me which is why I'm back marathon training and it seems to be going a bit better this time around.
Am contemplating cycling to work tomorrow.
But then there is the Edinburgh wind to contend with...
I can usually reckon on running between 5 & 10 mins slower on a 10km at the end of a tri. For an IM, it takes me about an hour longer than usual to run the marathon!
My philosophy is....I'm doing a lot better than the watchers.
I was out running last nite with a forumite who is also training for Edinburgh Marathon and a ned shouted Get a life.
For the first time I actually shouted back! All I said was Why don't you?
This is progress on two counts though. 1. I am obviously more confident and 2. I wasn't so out of breath I couldn't speak
Im looking forward to the summer months when I can get out more, im a big guy and not really that suited to running and kind of hoping ill be more suited to Troi as the bike and swim arnt weight bearing.
Im in it for the fun and self satisfaction as im never going to win anything but just corssing that line in what I would consider a half respectable time would be my equivilant of an gold medal.
Good luck its nice to hear its going well.
Oh, talking of speed, I filled in my application for Statford Sprint tri yesterday and they asked for an estimated time for the 400m swim, I guessed at 13 minutes... maybe getting it under 10 would be nice but I bet some of the experinaced peeps do it in 5 or 6.
Know what you mean about crossing the line - when I finished the marathon last year I was so happy I burst into tears for a minute. Just never thought I could do it. The fact it was a pretty slow time didn't matter.
Though obviously it would be nice to do it faster next time...
i keep trying to do the triathlon training but to be honest i don't know how you are supposed to do marathon training and triathlon training together - i'm giving it up till after rotterdam!
still hoping to do my first olympic distance this year though after 2 successful (as in i made it to the finish) sprint events last year.
Conerning the 13 mins for the swim, I average about 50 secs per length of a 25m pool just x that by 16. That’s breast stroke which im pretty good at and faster than my crawl which I can only sustain for about 6 lengths consecutively (havnt been able to train as I have a shoulder injury grrrrr)
Region: London
Event: London Triathlon
Distances: 1.5k 40k 10k (SoBR)
Organiser: "The London Triathlon, 14-15 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX"
Cost: £63.00
Phone: (020) 7559 2929
Email: info@thelondontriathlon.com
Web: http://www.thelondontriathlon.com/
Location: "Excel, Royal Victoria Dock"
Date: 01-Aug-04
Region: London
Event: London Triathlon Sprint
Distances: 750m 20k 5k (SoBR)
Organiser: "The London Triathlon, 14-15 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX"
Cost: £TBC
Phone: (020) 7559 2929
Email: info@thelondontriathlon.com
Web: http://www.thelondontriathlon.com/
Location: "Excel, Royal Victoria Dock"
Carl as one reformed (almost) couch potato to another - congrats on your achievements thus far. I have found progress has been stop start but two years ago I could not run for a minute, and now I can say I completed a marathon before the sweeper van!!
but my cycling is truly awful. 40k might take me several weeks!
but april - july gives me loads of time to practice. £63 is quite a lot though!
Though in my defence I had only trained for 10 weeks or so.
And the Edinburgh course is very hilly!!
In fact they have reversed bits of it for this year cos of the complaints :-D
I have moved most of my long runs from a Sunday to a Thursday evening freeing up Sunday for some races (practice) and long bike sessions. I try and fit in another couple of 6 mile runs in the week and another medium distance bike. The 1 or 2 swims (which are only 20 mins due to injury) are slotted in when I have a spare few mins, again the pool is only 1 mile from my house and on the way home from work.
Seems I have all the facilities if only my body was willing…..
I have started running 3 to 4 lunchtimes a week plus sat/sun but thinking of swapping shorter weekend run for a long bike ride to take strain off the old knees and hips etc!
Just need to start building in a few swims after work and I'll be sorted.
Oh and cycle to work. When the wind dies down...