Triathlon people where are you?

Contemplating whether i should try and complete the challenge i set myself - sprint tri by 30, olympic by 40, ironman by 50. I managed the sprint tri but i'm running out of time for the next one as i turn 40 early in the season next year

Any recommendations for olympic distance events later in the season?

Ohgodohgodohgod!! Blenheim palace triathlon this weekend. It’s only a sprint but I haven’t trained enough, haven’t dropped that extra stone and feel a bit sick at the very thought of it all.
Send positive messages of encouragement please!!

Thanks TriSkiRun !

How’s your training going? And I’m interested to hear about that podcast you mentioned. Is it available on the iPlayer app thingy? I’m reading a good book at the mo called ‘Run, Ride, Sink or Swim’ by Lucy Fry. I recommend it.

That’s brilliant RitmoRatmo well done.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and support. Guess what.... I had a last minute change of heart and I DID IT!!!!
Got there with just a few mins to spare, having done no prep and having grabbed my kit in a panic. Was shaking with nerves and shyness but got chatting to some other first-timers and a couple of women from my running club. Plus my bf turned up in full tri-suit and did it with me!!!
I loved it! My swim was a bit slower than hoped due to a slow swimmer in my lane not allowing me to overtake him. My transition was v quick & problem-free. My run was tough as I blistered horribly by 1km and feet were pouring with blood. But it was idyllic out on the hills with stunning scenery and weather and not a soul in sight apart from baby lambs. My final 2km were fast (for me) at about 04:40/km.
Results-wise I didn’t do great. Came 30th out of 37. But my biggest achievement was having got over my nerves and gone for it!!!

I know it’s just a little aquathlon but I’m pleased I’ve got it under my belt and will be hoping to repeat it at the next one in a fortnight’s time.

Thanks everyone for your moral support. And good luck to everyone with your own training!!

I’ve also been listening to the TriPod bbc podcast which has been good with lots of beginners tips

Welcome Ritmo, sorry you weren’t able to do the Aquathlon in the end, it sounds like quite a tough event for a first one, with the run being hilly and off road. The British triathlon website has lists of events, some of them are “Go Tri” events which are aimed at beginners and are friendly and welcoming to first timers. Might be worth having a look to see if there’s one near you, if you still fancy giving multi sport a go.

Nate, I thought you were planning to put bike shorts on over your trisuit in T1? I’ve still got no idea what to do about clothing. I had planned to change out of trisuit into bike shorts and jersey, then change again into running stuff. But then I think maybe I should just wear the tri suit for the whole thing? I don’t know!! I really need to decide!

I did 60 miles on the bike yesterday. I was so ready for it to be over by the last 10-15 miles, but glad to have got it done.

Are you Staffs ladies tapering now? I’m planning one more longish run and some short brick sessions, plus a couple of lake swims.

I’ve started writing lists! Blue bag, red bag, swim stuff, etc. Really don’t want to forget to take something vital! Cannot believe it’s less than 2 weeks now

I also swam breaststroke in my first Tri, along with most of the others! I also messed up my swim completely in a Tri this month, panicking in the swim and ended up doing half the swim as breaststroke so you would not be alone. The wave starts mean that you have no idea if your last or first, you are just going for your own time. So go for it

Good luck for another time RitmoRatmo, I had to get out the deep end of a pool based Tri recently and watched several big men struggle, but I’d practiced getting out backwards with my bum on to the side. so I managed fine despite being short, chubby & middle aged so never underestimate what you can do but practice helps. My DD wears glasses and leaves one pair in transition by her helmet and wore her spare pair to poolside, left them in a safe place when she switched to goggles.

Thanks fidget that’s v kind of you to be supportive. But sadly I’ve chickened out. It’s far too quick and only had 24hrs notice to prepare. I’d need to set off in 45 mins and not eaten tea or prepared my kit, and am feeling unwell with the sinusitis.

Also, the biggest thing is that I’ve just realised I’d probably be required to climb out of pool just using the side, which I can’t do (I can only use steps like an old lady). And also I can only do breast stroke (fast) and just don’t feel brave enough to look like a complete odd-one-out

Ritmo, if course you'll be ok tonight. It's great you've signed up, you'll love it! I hate running without socks so put talcum powder in my socks for transition. I don't wear glasses- what will you wear on the run? Have fun tonight! :)

Hi folks. Is it ok if I tentatively join you? I feel like a fraud even writing this in a tri thread as am a complete beginner!

Until age 38 I’d never run for a bus/always skived PE etc and had been on the chubby side (at times obese) for many years. Plucked up courage to start jogging under cover of darkness when my marriage ended last year, and did a few 10ks and fell races etc at the start. Built up to a half marathon this spring which I found fine despite a hideously torn knee cartilage and a traumatic bereavement immediately beforehand. This has boosted my confidence slightly and I’ve started getting secretly interested in the idea of triathlons. My newish partner is a seasoned triathlete and is v encouraging, but I’m too ashamed to admit I’m contemplating one.
Anyhow, yesterday on a whim I signed up to a local aquathlon which is TONIGHT!!!
I figured I’d slink off and do it in secret, just in case it all goes wrong and I look stupid.

I’m PETRIFIED!!!!!! Not helped by fact I’ve got awful sinusitis so am feeling feverish, achey, and exhausted.

Fuck. What have I DONE?!?!

The aquathlon is 420m in outdoor pool, then 6km off-road hilly run.

Please tell me it’ll be ok?!?!

I’ve been out and panic-bought a tri-suit (bit too small for me but didn’t have my size). Going to wear running bra underneath.

Please talk to me about swim/run transition.... do I bother with socks or just go for talc in my fell shoes?!? Also: I have to wear prescription goggles and glasses so I’ll need to transition eye wear. How?!?!

Any help gratefully appreciated!

(Btw fwiw I think you’re all bloody incredible for what you’re doing and what you can achieve. I’ve got a girl crush on you all )

Thinking about what to wear for Stafford- is it a silly idea to wear my cycling shorts under my wetsuit for the swim and then no need to do a full change for the bike? Surely they will dry quickly and won't slow me down for the swim? On the other hand have never heard people do this. Any opinions?

@Nate, that sounds like an amazing fuelling strategy on the bike. I ate way too little on my ride today and suffered on the run for it. @thinkingbee, maybe next year? :)

I thought there was some kind of tent for changing, not sure whether there are individual cubicles though?

The athlete guide has info on the bike course including the elevation profile (sorry I don’t know how to do clicky links!):

m.eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/staffordshire/athletes/~/media/a7467e2361d745ea89c76048ef115a75.ashx

My little. A 5km Hill? I haven't looked at the profile...

Will there be changing rooms to do a complete clothes change?

Fidget, that’s the hill at Cannock Chase isn’t it? Does look tough and quite a long way into the course too.

I wish I could eat on the bike. I seem to need to breathe through my mouth all the time so even find drinking a struggle. I use tailwind and have tried nakd bars but they seem too hard to swallow! I used Nutella sandwiches last week and they worked the best of everything I’ve tried, but they’re not exactly easy to transport!

I thought about doing that Nate but thought the two padded bits together would rub. I will give it a go on my next ride as I’d like to know what I’m going to do in the race.

I’m about 38 mins for the swim too, but not sure whether swimming with loads of others will slow me down - probably!

Yes, I'll change for the run too, I've bought a two piece Tri suit but hate running in it. Swim time- maybe 45 mins? I've swum in a 50yrd outdoor pool for the last 3 weeks and two e in a lake and love swimming in the lake so I'm actually really looking forward to that. Even if it's not any faster than 45mins. Bike- I've trained around here and the elevation over 90km is about the same, my average speed tends to be around 23.7km/hr (not that I'm obsessed by numbers 😀). Not liking the look of the 6km hill at around 55km on the course....

I wore my trisuit with cycling shorts over the top last week for my long 4hr ride. It wasn't perfect and did rub a bit but I think I'll do that on the day, then take the cycling shorts off again for the run.

What swim time are you all expecting? I can do 38mins in the pool but don't know how this translates to open water. I'm not sure whether to hang back and start last or put myself in the middle.