Triathlon people where are you?

Wow waterfall swims? They sound amazing!

I’m going to have to get in the sea this weekend. I’m not even sure my wetsuit still fits as I haven’t worn it since before I was pregnant with my (7 month old) son! It might be a very chilly non-wetsuit swim!

I've bought a bag from Wiggle but haven't decided yet to keep it.
At the moment I am taping bars all over the bike which is actually working really well. I think I can manage with that plus trisuit pockets.

Nate - how are you storing your food on the bike? One of those bags that goes on the top tube?

I’ve found my people 😍

Anyone doing OutlawX (70.3) in Sept? I’ve not really started training seriously yet, although I’ll definitely do a few sprints and an Olympic over the summer so should get on it ASAP. I am training, just no specific training plan yet and have been focusing on my running. I’ve only been outside on the bike twice this year and have yet to brave an OW swim! 😬

Nate - I haven’t done the course yet, we’re planning to do it the May bank holiday weekend. I’ll let you know what it’s like!

I usually have porridge in the morning so will probably have that in the hotel room early, and then a gel/bar or something an hour-ish before the swim start.

Life- how was the cycle route. I'm not going to be able to recce it, so any tips?

I'm practicing nutrition a lot on the bike, so plan is to eat every 20mins, 1st hour is banana and flap jack, 2nd hour- 3 Naked Bars, 3rd hour Tailwind/ more bars, 4th hr Tailwind.

I'm wearing a DHB trisuit and will pull on a pair of cycling shorts on top for the bike and take them off for the run.

I'm used to swimming in the mornings so always on an empty stomach, so not sure whether to eat or not on race day?

Hi Nate, sounds like you’re doing really well following the training plan. I definitely haven’t been following it religiously and am way behind where I should be on the bike and in terms of brick sessions - have hardly done any of them at all! Longest bike so far is about 45 miles. I’ve struggled with being uncomfortable on the bike, but have invested in a new saddle and bib shorts and that seems to have helped.

Had quite a good weekend training wise - 30 mile bike Friday, parkrun Saturday, 17 mile bike plus first open water lake swim of the year Sunday, and 9 mile run yesterday.

OH and I are planning to ride the Staffs course on bank holiday Monday, or at least most of it - we might not do the bit from Cannock Chase to Stafford town centre as then we’ll have a long ride back to the lake to pick up the car, but hope to do the rest.

Then I’ve got a half marathon on 12th May, so hoping that goes ok and gives me a boost that I can manage the run distance.

I had hoped to do the bike in around 3 hours 30 mins, which is 16mph average I think. But having looked at how undulating the bike course is, I’m not sure I’ll manage that.

Still no idea what I’m going to wear, what nutrition to carry on the bike, argh! It’s getting so close now!

Just checking to see how the Stafford crew are getting on? I've been religiously following the Intermediate Fink plan and it is taking over my life. The kids are semi neglected but only 7 more weeks to go.

Did my biggest day ever on Weds: 4hr 15 bike followed by a 45min Run. Was tough but I did it....then was completely drained and non functioning for the rest of the day. Then had to do a 17k Run the next day- was tough!

I'm enjoying the swimming but have never swum in a lake or in a group.

Can I ask the Stafford competitors what time they are hoping/ expecting to do the bike in. I seem to be really slow and it looks like it will take me about 4hrs 10.

Would love to hear how everyone else is getting on.

Went out early this morning Yah! Got a Hilly 20k on the road Bike id not ridden since last year, then straight into 5k run. Really pleased felt fine with stamina but it was my foot pins n needles which slowed my run as had to keep stopping to stretch it. Feeling a lot more confident about doing the sprint in 4wks time now even if my current timings will put me in bottom 10% (based on last years times)

Well done bee - I’ve still yet to go out on my bike, I seem to have a complete block in my head about it 🙈done a few sessions on the turbo and kept up running & swimming fine. May try a brick session on Friday when off work.

Well done TheOrigFV45 sounds like it was a good brick session.

I really need to get out on my bike just can’t find the confidence or motivation. I’ve done a few turbo sessions instead though so working myself upto it...

Thank you beach.

In the end I did just under 6 miles on the bike and 2 run. It was just in my lunch break so couldn't really go much further on the bike.
It felt OK actually - not as bad as it felt after the (one and only) splash and dash I did a couple of years ago.

I did push on the bike but took it easy on the run as I felt very ploddy but didn't feel jelly-legged.

First ever brick session - DONE!

Sounds like a good brick session although you might be better doing a longer bike and shorter run - say 10 miles/2 miles, to get closer to how your legs will feel after the bike leg in the tri. I would go fairly hard on the bike but start the run quite slowly and build up. Your legs feel really odd for the first few minutes and I've found I feel as though I'm going slow but actually I'm running too fast and need to slow down!

I managed 36 miles on the bike outside on Sunday and hated it :( My TT bike feels SO uncomfortable and I'm thinking about going back to my road bike and using that for the half IM. Maybe I just need to tweak the set up or try a different saddle though.

I have been TOLD by 2 experienced triathletes that I need to do at least a couple of brick sessions before I do my first tri (12th May).

So, today I am going to ride for about 5 miles, dump the bike at home and then go for a 3 mile run.

Does that sound like a good start? Would I be better to really push myself and get a better feel for race conditions, or just take it easy?

The tri is 300m swim, 22K ride and 5K run.

TriSkiRun I find it dull too, and have a TV right in front of me, plus music if I want. I was watching the World Triathlon Series for my long turbo session and that kind of helped. I didn't do enough cycling last week but did manage a 10 mile run yesterday. It's so hard to find the right balance isn't it. Need to get back on the bike more often this week.

My duathlon on Saturday was postponed because of the wind, thankfully, but we can't make the new date as we're on holiday, which is annoying!

Things are going well here. On Week 4 of the Finks intermediate plan and no way injuries yet. Am taking it slowly though and have found running much less torturous now that I have given myself permission to slow down. Out for a 2hr 15min bike tomorrow in the sun apparently. Hope everyone else is good.

Wow 1.5hrs on turbo beach is good going I find it SO dull. I just did my first turbo session (in v.windy shed) in a year, as DH finally set my bike up and it’s just too windy ere for me to go out run/cycle. I only did half hour and found that hard going I’m just not bike fit at the moment. I’m not inspired by being on my bike either which is the biggest challenge for me I think, as I can find/squeeze time if im motivated plus it just seems easier to go for a run than face the scary traffic on my bike!

Swimming once a week but really need to go twice so plan to go tonight. I’m Running 3x a week enjoying that .

Where is everybody, how are you all getting on in this windy weather? I'm supposed to be doing a duathlon on Saturday (and OH and our 2 DCs as well) but the forecast is for gale force winds so it's looking as though it might be postponed. I'm kind of hoping it is, as it's in an exposed location and I don't fancy it with the 45mph+ gusts that are predicted.

I managed 1.5 hours on the turbo on Sunday, followed by a 5k run, so that's the longest training session I've managed so far, still a drop in the ocean compared to IM 70.3!