Tri-tastic

24

Comments

  • Maybe I should get some lessons on my spelling to...
  • Being a newbie I suprise my self at the advice I can give already lol. Just passing on whats been passed to me by others in the forum.

    RW is one of the most useful info sources anywhere, the people here are just great.

    Anyway time for a bit of couch traing im off to watch TV, see u all later...
  • Thanks Carl
    I never learned to swim till I was 11 and then never really got into it again till about three years ago (I used to hate exercise - can you tell!)
    Before I started running I swam three times a week but it was hard going and I think my technique is a bit crap!
    When I had a sore back last year the physio told me not to swim (???) so am definitely rusty again!
  • Well you seem to be doing great to, you do have to watch out for injury so take it steady.

    I started to swim at an early age and was always a strong swimmer but never done front crawl and couldnt manage a length. Thechnique is very very important as is breathing, I certainly noticed a very quick improvement even from just 2 lessons.
  • definitely agree on the lessons.

    if you can find a local tri club they often do a coached session once a week

    carl - you are doing loads!!!! wow! i get so tired from marathon training that i just can't be bothered to do the rest. and training twice a day takes it from being a pleasure to being a chore. so i'm guessing i may not be cut out for tri's!
  • M - I am not cut out for sport full stop, I am just trying to change!!

    I think I will book some swimming lessons, it sounds like a good idea.

    BTW I cycled into work today. It was a bit scary. And not sure of the wisdom of a thoroughbred road bike on the pot-holed streets of Edinburgh. Ouch.
  • M - you dont have to train twice a day for Tri's.

    Im training for an Ironman in July, even though im sometimes training 8 times a week im maxing about 7 hours training as its all my bofy can cope with. Some of my sessions are only 30mins but I try and concentrate most of my effort on 2-3 long sessions (1-2 hours).

    Ive seen some of the Ironman plans and know I should be doing more but am at the limit of my bodies endurance at the mo. Some plans build you up to 16 hours a week (or even more).

  • Well done for cycling in Guinevere hope you have somewhere safe to leave your bike or its insured. Oh and as a matter of interest how far is your work?

    The potholes wont be to bad if you miss them lol, if the roads are really bad it might be worth investing £50 on a second hand mountain bike to save your thoroughbred from damage (oh and dont forgtet the spare Tubes).
  • Guinevere, why wait until London next year. As you're already getting fit for a marathon you hopefully wouldn't have a lot of difficulty building in the odd cross training session by cycling or swimming. You could then take part in one of the Scottish Triathlons this season.

    If you're keen on open water there is a Portobello Sprint Triathlon on 25th July in Edinburgh. Details at: http://www.tri-scotland.org/
  •  Hi Guinevere, I did the London Tri last year - sprint distance - it was the first time I'd taken part in any kind of sport since leaving school and it was absolutely brilliant experience.

    The organizers of the London Tri are very helpful to first timers, they do training days and answered any questions I e-mailed to them.

    I've just skimmed through this thread and you I think you said you were most concerned about the swim - I was too. For me starting to swim in wetsuit was the hardest thing as I only swim breast stroke. I think the best advice I can give is start training in a wetsuit by April at the latest. Also find a large outdoor pool, Tooting Lido or the Serpertine for me. If you swim front crawl you shouldn't have the same problems as me, but if you swim breast stroke I found a windsurfing shortie wetsuit better as it doesn't restrict elbow and knee flexing the way a full length one does.

    For the race don't let yourself get exhusted by the swim, just go at an easy pace for you and think about making up time on the road. I was nearly last out of the water but had a huge smile on my face as went by the others on the bike and run.

    I ended up doing far better than I expected to. I started out just wanting to finish but as I trained I aimed for 2 hours and then 1hr 45min and ended up finishing in 1hr 36min.

    Go on enter you'll love it.
  • DazDaz ✭✭✭
    Guinevere,
    you can still get in london this year (through ballot) if you wanted to. as others have said the sprint course will be easy for you if you can do marathons and dont have a prob swimming.

    how fast are you - what could you do for 750m with wetsuit? my advice is to start at the sides out of (h)arms way. then when the field has spread out a little and before you reach the first buoy, start to move in-field a bit and start to draft behind someone.

    JJ, ongar try-a-tri is about 8 miles from epping and is run by tri sport epping i think (website: http://www.trisportepping.co.uk/tseevents/tryatri.html)
    I've won it last two years, but used my flatmates name (Rob) in 2002......because novice entrants are not supposed to have done more than 3 other tri's. By last year I think I'd done 15. Told you I'm naughty! :O)





    Endurance Coach @ DazCarterFitness.com
    Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
  • Daz, that's really bad actually! Hmmm. You robbed some genuine novice of the prize.
  • DazDaz ✭✭✭
    there isnt a prize in this race nic. they dont even put the times in order if you see the website.

    and i know at least 3 other people there who have done it the prev two years like me :O)

    Endurance Coach @ DazCarterFitness.com
    Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
  • Carl, it's about three and a half miles from my house to the office. It's not far, but today was first time I had cycled in the dark so was slightly scary :-)
    Also getting used to the razor saddle on my racer!!

    Ping Pong Boy - I admire your optimism, but am still not sure about this summer!!
    I think I could do the bike bit with a lot of practice and the run should be all right but I'm sure it takes me about 50 secs to do a length breast-stroke so 750M would take me AGES!!!!

    But then again, Dangerous Dave's posting has inspired me... What happens if you get in through the ballot and then get injured? Is it the same as marathons where they will hold your place to the following year??
  • DazDaz ✭✭✭
    guin, yes i think you get an automatic for the next year
    Endurance Coach @ DazCarterFitness.com
    Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
  • DazDaz ✭✭✭
    hmmm nic ;o)
    Endurance Coach @ DazCarterFitness.com
    Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
  • Hmmmmmmmm.....
    I might not get in thru ballot anyway.....
    Someone stop me??
  • DazDaz ✭✭✭
    No Guin, you HAVE to enter....or you'll regret it :O(

    go here:- http://www.thelondontriathlon.com/entry/userlogin.asp

    the london tri is waiting for you....it's beckoning you into it's loving arms....do not resist!
    Endurance Coach @ DazCarterFitness.com
    Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
  • I have filled in the form... I have been provisionally allocated Female Sprint Group 2... All I have to do is pay.
    Yikes!!
  • DazDaz ✭✭✭
    yay you!
    type in that 16 digit number!

    :O)
    Endurance Coach @ DazCarterFitness.com
    Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
  • Tis done... But although the site link said "click here to guarantee your place!" it doesn't guarantee it at all, I am only in the ballot :-(
    How likely is it that I will get in???
  • What are you like Guin. NO will power. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to be the last out of the water in the Scottish Tri's this season.

    Drowning PPB.
  • DazDaz ✭✭✭
    hmm dont know. this is the first year theyve used a ballot system.

    personally i think they brought it in to trim some of the olympic groups where there were far too many people last year (my age group had 300-odd which was crammed in the swim). i think the female sprints should be ok........so you looking forward to it now? :O)
    Endurance Coach @ DazCarterFitness.com
    Elite Ironman, Ultra Trail Runner
  • Well done Guinevere - I'll buy you pint afterwards.
  • Yes. Still worried about the swim. The site says the average is 17 mins!! Mine'll be closer to half an hour!!!!
    But 50 mins for the bike seems do-able and 32 mins for the run is all right. It's just piecing it all together...
    I hope I know what I am letting myself in for :o)
    I have emailed their office to ask re the ballot situation too!!
  • Well done Guinevere, you'll have a ball!

    Daz, am still not impressed. *tutttt* !
  • I was worried about the swim too, but it was fine on the day. If you know you're going to be a slow swimmer stay at the back for the start and let the others go, that way people won't be crashing into you. Swim at your own pace and relax. The main mistake I saw the other bad swimmers make was trying go to fast at the beginning and running out of steam. One guy ahead of me went charging off and had to change to back stroke after 250m because he'd exhusted himself.

    Most DNFs are in T1 because they over did it in the swim.

    And get that wetsuit and start train outdoors as soon as the weather is good enough.
  • Where exactly is the swim on the day??
  • In the docks (Albert docks? Royal Victoria? - can't remember) Just by the Excel Centre. NOT the Thames, don't let anyone try and freak you out going "eugh the Thames, you'll get Weil's Disease." It's not, and you won't. It's a lovely green colour like swimming in an emerald.
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