Summer 2014 Triathletes.....in here!

[pootlebug]

I've seen a few comments about people planning triathlons for this summer, and I can't find a general triathlon thread (if there is one, can someone point me in the direction of it, pretty please!).

Thought it might be good to have a thread for general chat/tips/encouragement etc. I'm sure there are some seasoned triathletes as well as others new to it.

I did some sprint distances nearly 10 years ago, pre-kids. I was always limited by my crappy swimming though, so never anything with more than a 400m swim. But then I did an amazing swimming course in October, not planning any more babies, and youngest has started (mostly) sleeping.....so wanted a fitness goal for this year. I've signed up for a 750/20/5 sprint in May, an Olympic distance in June, and the London Triathlon olympic distance in August. Currently have no problem swimming a couple of km, but need a lot more work on the bike and run!

Come on in and introduce yourself, tell us your plans, etc.....

[pootlebug]

No-one?

Maybe you're all out training....?

[Mitchy1nge]

I'm thinking about it, having just learned to swim, as something to do between the Edinburgh and Berlin marathons

there must be a sort of entry level triathlon?

[pootlebug]

There should be lots. Look for a 'super sprint' one if you want a short one....although some sprint ones have a short swim but then longer cycle & run. I assume that the latter bit isn't too much of a problem if you're doing marathons!

Whereabouts are you? You can search for UK things here www.britishtriathlon.org/events/

[Lizzylou]

I am doing a sprint triathlon in September. I hate cycling and cry going down hills so have picked a flat one that Dh did last year. I also need to learn to swim faster, cannot do front crawl and currently do a quite fast non-perfect breaststroke. I can run, ish, but am slow.
So, erm, lots to do!

[Mitchy1nge]

oh if you can do it using breaststroke that will be fine, I thought I had to learn front crawl

I will time myself today, but can't imagine I'll be much better (faster) than I am at running

[pootlebug]

I used to do breaststroke for triathlons. You won't be the only one! (although when I did them in Australia I was one of the very few....my Aussie friends were much bemused by my inability to do any other stroke).

[runningLou]

Am thinking of signing up for a sprint tri in May. Can only swim breaststroke due to dodgy shoulder (dislocates if I try crawl!!) so swim time is about 12 mins for 400m. Is this ok or will I be laughed out of the pool??
Also, I need to invest in a road bike as although I cycle a lot my bike is an old boneshaker with DS's child seat on the back!! Don't really like drop handlebars though ... any suggestions?

[Pleaseputyourshoeson]

Me! I'm doing a sprint tri in May. My first one and I am def worrying about it. A) not done any open water swimming before and B) not great on a bike and don't own a road bike and C) am getting running injury after running injury. But I'm going to give it a go. If only to give me something to focus on that isn't running! As long as I'm not disqualifies for being too slow and finish I 'll be ok.

[pootlebug]

RunningLou - you won't be laughed out of the pool. Sure, some people will be quicker, but some will be slower. As an example, you can see the results from the Tonbridge Sprint Triathlon 2013 here, which has a 400m swim www.tonbridgelions.co.uk/2011-traithlon-results.html . A quick glance down the list for the swim times has everything from 6-minutes-something to 17-minutes-something.

It's a long time since I did a triathlon, but especially at sprint distances I think you get a huge variety in types/quality of bike. I've seen people on very bling £££ specialised stuff and others on mountain bikes.

I bought a bike on ebay. I'm sure there will be better bikes there but it is a reasonable road bike and should do the job absolutely fine.

[pootlebug]

Anyone else signed up for any summer triathlons yet?

I went to the Triathlon Show last weekend....slightly scared by all the £££ bikes and compression clothing but some interesting talks and workshops. Now just need to up the training - especially the bike, which it is hard to find enough time to do with 3 smallish kids.

[CMOTDibbler]

I haven't entered yet, but will do my first ever tri at Stratford in May - training starts in real earnest after my HM on the 23rd, but have been swimming twice a week and turbo 3 times. DH bought the turbo trainer for us both with vouchers he won and its great as I can put in an hour on it while watching TV on the tablet and ds in bed.

Swimming is worst discipline for me as can only use one arm, but have been having coaching to sort out freestyle and its making a huge difference.

What have you signed up for?

[pootlebug]

I've gone a bit overboard and signed up for a Sprint (750/20/5) in May, then an Olympic in June in Kent and the London Triathlon (Olympic) in August.

Panicking a bit about how much I have to do. I could do the Sprint and survive tomorrow if I had to (although I would do a very slow bike leg!) but doubling those distances is a much bigger ask.

[CMOTDibbler]

Oh wow! Have you got a training plan?

I agree that sprint is survivable whatever (mine is 400/23/5 and pool based), but olympic is a different matter. Though I have met a lady a couple of times when out running who is in her 60's has a fused spine and competes at olympic distance!

[pootlebug]

My training plan is slightly vague - long run + swim one weekend day, long bike ride the other day....then at least one more swim, a mix of group cycle classes and static bike, and more running sessions either on a treadmill or outdoors. Incorporating interval training into my shorter training sessions in the week to increase my strength and stamina in absence of being able to do longer sessions more often. One day completely off per week and one easy day (e.g. just a swim).

At the moment I'm running up to around 9km (signed up for a 10km in 3 weeks so will work towards that), cycling 40-45km on my long ride, swimming 1500-2000m.

[pootlebug]

Swimming only using one arm sounds hard work CMOTDibbler. Sounds like coaching is very useful though.

I agree that turbotrainer + telly works well for bike sessions!

[CMOTDibbler]

Its just awkward really - at first I found the rotation really hard to manage.

We had a 10 mile family bike ride yesterday which was lovely in the sunshine, and it was good to feel the difference that the turbo has made for me and dh. Ds was on his new bike, and its the first time he's been going on the bottom handlebars. Now I have to find more off road routes for him as my heart rate can't deal with long road rides and a 7 year old!

[Thistledew]

Hello all!

I hadn't seen this thread before but it seems like the perfect place for a completely non-stealth boast!

I did 3 triathlons last year and just did my first of this year's season today. It was a Sprint distance on the same course as one of the events I did last year in about August so I could compare my results directly.

I was 7 minutes 20 seconds quicker!

I was quicker in every discipline and in fact lost time in the transitions compares to last year as it was pretty cold so I decided to put on a top for the cycle leg.

My over all time was just over 1hr 28 and I got my run under 30 mins, which is the discipline I struggle most with.

The event was only about 6 miles from my house so I cycled there and back and still had plenty of energy on the way home.

I would really like to do an Olympic distance event later in the year but DH and I are TTC at the moment so who knows what will happen.

How is everyone else doing with their training?

[CMOTDibbler]

Well done Thistledew! Lovely to be so local too

My training is going pretty well - we've done loads of family cycling recently which is a nice addition to going out on my own, run is fine and getting faster, and swimming is getting there. Am up to 150m freestyle at a time, but can do 1km breaststroke no prob so won't drown at least!

Ds and I have entered Henley tri in June so he can do 8 and under on the Sat and I do the sprint on Sun

[kaymondo]

Checking in!

I'm doing derby sprint tri in sept - it'll be my first one for 5 years, since having dc. Really excited although lots of work to do as very unfit and not ridden my bike since ds2. I've rejoined my local tri club where I was a member previously so have access to good swim coaching and group rides though so hoping the fight back to fitness won't be too painful!

For the novices (and I feel like a novice again after such a big break) if you have a local club it would be worth checking it out, I learnt so much from experienced triathletes and a lot of friendly faces to cheer you on for race days. Also, our swim training sessions had coaches who transformed me from a 'head out of the water breast stroke' swimmer to someone who can swim a decent front crawl - and it didn't take long either, a couple of months.

My other tip is if you are training solo, make sure you do some brick sessions (ie. go for a run as soon as you get off the bike). Whilst it's important to work on all the disciplines separately, you also need to get your legs used to the transition as they feel like jelly when you first start running

I'm getting so excited now typing this - and proper chuffed to find a tri thread on mn!

[pootlebug]

Wow, Thistledew! That's some time improvement! You should be very proud of yourself. Have you any more booked in yet?

27 days until Sprint (750/20/5). I won't be breaking any records but should survive. Need to motivate myself to work more & harder on the bike. My swim will be what it will be - not especially fast but pretty efficient so I'm not too tired for the next bit. My running has improved loads and I'm running 5km and 10km times considerably faster than I ever have. But I still feel like I have weedy legs on the bike and can't go fast enough consistently enough.

[pootlebug]

Cross-posted with Kaymondo....

I'm sure you'll get back into it in no time. 12 year gap here - and the longest I'd ever done was 500/16/5....so not even standard Sprint length.

I am still too scared for the idea of club joining (and find it hard enough fitting in training with 3 kids, part-time work and a husband who works long hours without adding in having to fit in club-time training sessions), but remember the jelly legs post-cycle feel so have been trying to leap off the bike and out for a run where possible. I am also very protective of my swim style - I did a 1-day course with Art of Swimming that was very focussed on minimum efficiency for maximum forward propulsion and turned me from a crap breaststroker into a decent-ish front-crawler overnight, and don't want anyone trying to change it in an attempt to make me 30 seconds faster! Although I'm not super fast (1 min 55 per 100m) I can leap out of the pool feeling fine and ready to attack the next bit.

[Claybury]

Marking place!
I'm a regular runner and do a coached swim session each week and gym work, bike training is sadly lacking as I live in London but I do have good intentions !
Haven't booked many races yet, need to get organised. I had booked an Olympic distance tri in July but it has been cancelled due to disputes with the ( miserable ) Surrey locals who do not much like road closures for cycle events.
Love triathlon training !

[pootlebug]

Hi Claybury!

I have the same problem with London bike training. A gazillion traffic lights and lots of traffic isn't my idea of fun. I end up doing laps and laps and laps within the local park cycle paths, really early so that i avoid the dog walkers etc. But it's a bit dull which isn't really helping me love the bike bit.

[CMOTDibbler]

Hows it going for everyone?

Am lucky on the bike in that we have lovely quiet roads locally to cycle on, so can nip out and smell the bluebells as I trawl up the hills.

Feeling more confident about it all now - swimming is starting to feel like something I can do!

[pootlebug]

Had a crappy week last week where there were too many reasons not to train and missed too many sessions etc. But back into it this week with a training plan from the Sufferfest and a pile of their cycle training DVDs.

Been spending way too many £££ buying stuff too....a new (to me - via ebay) bike, which I am very very excited by, and a new wetsuit as my existing one is 12 years old and a hybrid triathlon/surfing one so when I tried to swim in it I found it really hard work.

I am going to an introduction to open water thingummy at a local-ish lake on Sat and then to an open water technique course the Sat after. I haven't swum in a lake in years so think I need it. Utterly dreading the cold....

First tri (pool based sprint) in 2-and-a-bit weeks. Ulp.

Jealous of your lovely quiet lanes for cycling, CMOTD! I yearn for some of those but you have to go a long way out of London to find any! Great to hear that you are feeling more confident with the swimming too.