Weird question about the triathlon

[scaffoldingtheworld]

I’ve been watching this week. They swim, then cycle and then run.

They get off their bikes and put trainers on but how do their feet survive without being able to dry their feet and put socks on and tie their trainers properly? Is it just the case that their feet get used to it?

In Iron distance events, you can actually have a little sit down and rest in transition

Because you’re racing for 12ish hours, shaving a few mins off in transition isn’t as important

Also, when you’re going to spend 7 or 8 hours on the bike, you want to be wearing proper padded cycling shorts and socks, rather than a tri suit which just has a nominal bit of padding around the bum

So for those events, people will take a few mins to change kit (within the strict ‘no nudity in transition zone’ rule so putting shorts over the tri suits rather than a full costume change!) rather than the few seconds that people aim for in short course events

To eat, you have a pouch attached to the cross bar of the bike with gels, snacks etc - it’s called a bento! Plus 2 water bottles

And yes, if you need a wee, you do it while moving. Standing up a bit in your saddle is usual for women

For really long races, there will be nutrition on the course as well. Less so in sprint races
Also less need to relieve yourself

I read somewhere that to do a decent iron man triathlon you needed to put in at least 18 hours training per week.
Thats quite a big chunk of time if you're working ft, esp with young kids as well. The bike rides take the best part of a day.

@Fizbosshoes You're not wrong. Before I met DP I dated a guy who was training for an Ironman and it took up literally all of his time. Average weekday after work would be an hour or more in the pool and then a half marathon run. Weekends were 5-6 hour bike rides. Madness.

Trying to run after riding a bike though
My fave bit of tri - it's like someone's rewired your legs and you're not quite sure what they're going to do or where they're going to go - always makes me think of the Wrong Trousers

@fizzbossshoes
DH does Ironman (he’s training for his sixth now), he starts off slow and the builds to about 18hours a week towards the last three months. To be fair he could run marathon distance with a month’s training at pretty much any point all year.
When he started he could barely swim proper crawl - if you work hard enough you can do anything. He’s still a pretty crap swimmer and cyclist (his words, not mine, I think he’s amazing!), running is his strength. His first Ironman he did the marathon stage in 3hrs 45 mins - makes me a little sick!
He takes a few minutes at each transition to have something to eat and drink, especially after the swim; he has dry crackers as the sea swim makes him sick. The elites are on the go for between 8 and 9 hours, DH takes around 15 hours - I have no idea how he does it.
His feet always look bloody awful, cut to ribbons, but he tells me it’s part of it all. At points everything hurts, his feet are the least of it 🤪
I imagine each distance has its own challenges and tricks though.

Fascinating thread, I love watching the triathlon and my goal is to do my first one next year, I've just done my first open water swim and am having a coaching session for front crawl, in the lake on Monday - excited!!

I really admire the athletes but do worry about them! I was having a small panic attack as they ran to the bikes. I just know that I wouldn't be able to find mine.. also, the sports bra thing, their boobs must be frozen. Also how do they manage in the UK where it is never warm enough to swim.

Also how do they manage in the UK where it is never warm enough to swim.

if the water temperature is low (below 22 degrees I believe) then neoprene suits must be warm.
but if you are swimming at pace you sure get warm.

Thank you Purple. I am certainly learning a lot from this thread, OP. Not least, that other people have the same random thoughts while watching these brilliant people

So I've been wondering specifically about the female triathletes whose trisuits don't have shorts. Don't they chafe to high heaven?

And then: And yes, if you need a wee, you do it while moving. Standing up a bit in your saddle is usual for women

Chafing and stinking? Yuk.

They should all be given a little break after the swim to slap on some liquid talc, have a slurp of lucozade and a wagon wheel poor loves.

I did an Ironman. I took my time in transition, putting socks and suncream on etc! I’ve never had a wee on my bike either. But then I’m pretty slow.

In shorter races I would cycle and run without socks, to cut down transition time. Still never had a wee on the bike though.

It really is the most inclusive sport. I really want to get back into it now I’ve finished having babies.

@theflippantpenguin

So I've been wondering specifically about the female triathletes whose trisuits don't have shorts. Don't they chafe to high heaven?

And then: And yes, if you need a wee, you do it while moving. Standing up a bit in your saddle is usual for women

Chafing and stinking? Yuk.

Chafing - on shorter distance (Olympic and below) tri suits have adequate padding For middle and long distance, most people will put a proper pair of cycling shorts over their suit in transition

And stinking - you’ve just swam in a lake of duck poo soup, before sweating yourself mad cycling and running
It isn’t a sport for people who are worried they might stink a bit at the end!

I was watching it and said to OH "they must just be chafed everywhere!"

on shorter distance (Olympic and below) tri suits have adequate padding

Not the ones worn by some of the Olympic female triathletes. They were just like swimsuits, with no legs at all.

Watched the triathlon mixed sprint relay this eve. Brilliant team performance from team GB winning gold.

I was wondering why some of the female athletes wear shorty swimsuits and some normal swimsuits. Wouldn’t the shorty ones be more comfy on the bikes.

And obs v hot there atm, athletes just pouring bottles of water on themselves to cool down.