Triathlon anyone?

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

I've signed up to do my first triathlon (500m swim/14km bike/5km run). I've done a bit of running (did my first half marathon a couple of months ago) but this feels like a whole other ball game! Anyone else doing one, first timers or old hands, and fancy sharing the pain/joy/excitement/fear of transition

Its funny, last year we had quite an active triathlon thread. Which one are you signing up for?

My dh is doing his first one in 2 weeks time, at Stratford. He's doing super sprint, I'm doing the sprint. Though at the moment I'm having issues running, and did an absolutely awful 10k yesterday as part of a run-bike-run relay with a celeb doing the bike. And the other comp winner pulled out, so they filled the last run with a local U23 triathlon international. I felt v inadequate, but the celeb was utterly lovely

I know, it's a shame there's not more traffic. I headed over from the Half Marathon thread which is great, lots of support and chat, thought the same may happen here. But I guess participation for HMs is a lot higher than triathlons.

I'm looking at a couple of Yorkshire ones early next year, pool swim tris for now. Got another HM in mind for early 2017 too.

The run bike run sounds interesting! Did you already know the celeb? What was the issue with the 10k? That's much further than you'll need to do for a sprint tri isn't it? Stratford race should be lovely, it's beautiful round there.

No, it was one of those FB competitions 'join the team' sort of thing. Just awful because I've had minging tendonitis for a few weeks and its been painful to run - and the pressure of people waiting for you doesn't help!
I did the individual run bike run last year, and said never again, but I did say that about marathons as well

I def want to do olympic distance next year, and do a river event having done lots of river swimming this year and am now happy in the murky water. Not sure of what other challenges lie ahead! Though we are doing a family halloween 5k in fancy dress, and I've seen a NYD 10k I fancy so thats a few things!

Well done igotta - I did my 3rd novice tri yesterday and will step up to sprints next year. Loved every minute of it :)

Hi, can I join? I did my first tri on Sunday, only a super-sprint distance (200m/15km/3km). It was just a novice one but I came 5th out of 20, so was quite pleased.

I enjoyed the swim and bike, but the run was horrendous and I wanted to stop during the first km. Not helped by my 8 year old son running alongside me telling me to "pick up the pace Mummy!" But overall I loved it and have also really enjoyed the training. I've run a lot in the past and done a couple of HMs, but much prefer the variety you get with tri training.

I really want to keep training and am hoping to do a sprint distance one in my town next May. But that's a long way off so need to find a way to keep motivated! Would be great to keep this thread going over the winter

I did a couple of triathlons this summer and have more planned for next year. I'd value keeping the thread going over the winter to keep my motivation up to make sure I train consistently (particularly on the bike - I find that the hardest in the winter when it has to be carefully planned around weather, light, work and dcs). Would love to hear some of your training loads and what you plan to be doing over the winter.

Yay, I thought I'd killed the thread!

I feel the same - want to keep the training going over the winter but know getting out on the bike is going to be harder. I've just joined the local leisure centre so I'm going to try some spin classes as a way of keeping the cycling going.

This is what I've been doing through the summer up to now:

Mon - bike 15-20km
Tues - run 5km, sometimes intervals and hill reps
Wed- swim 1.5km
Thurs - bike 15-20km
Fri - rest
Sat - run 5km (parkrun)
Sun - swim 1.5km

I know I need to do some longer runs and also longer bike rides if I'm going to do a sprint distance tri next year. The one in May I'm hoping to do is 400m/24k/5k.

I did a couple of seasons of triathlon last year and the year before but this year have been just running due to lack of time for bike training.

Lifeisabeach - I would tweak your schedule a bit by doing one slightly longer (although not necessarily fast) run a week - so if you do a fast parkrun sat, try and gradually increase your distances on your Tuesday run. That way a 5km run in a tri will seem much easier if you're used to running several km further.

Spin classes are good for putting in some cycle training, especially in rubbish weather. If you have access to a static bike, Sufferfest videos downloaded to your phone or tablet are very good too. Intervals on the bike (such as in spin class or videos) will help to increase your strength and endurance faster than single-pace rides.

But you would get round a sprint distance on the distances you are doing already, with some determination on the day.

I have started cycling to work recently so that helps on cycle training. I might do a shorter distance tri or two next year but have fallen in love with trail running so that will be my main focus for now.

My training week was pretty consistent in the summer (school holidays and I'm a teacher) but it's gone to pot recently.

This is my aim over the winter:
Mon - 60 min run (intervals)
Tues - 4K swim
Wed- 60 min bike (turbo, intervals)
Thurs - 45 min speed work run, 60 min weights
Fri - rest
Sat - 3hr bike
Sun - 60 min swim 90 min run

It should be doable most weeks although sometimes I have to cut a session. I don't watch tv and my dc are teens so they train with me, or can stay at home.

Wow, cottonsandlinens, that's an impressive amount of training! What distance tri are you planning next year?

I would love to do more training-wise but it's so hard to fit in. I've got 3 DC who do a lot of activities after school, and OH did the same tri as me and also wants to fit training in. It's a juggle!

Thanks for the advice pootlebug - I definitely need to add a longer run somewhere. I think I'll enter a 10k as that'll give me the motivation to run longer. I've done a lot of running in the past but have fallen out of love with it recently, which is partly what drew me to triathlon - the variety of training in the different disciplines.

Hi guys,
Loved the super sprint I did last month, didn't find it any harder than the starter-sprint I'd done previously (half swim but otherwise the same) so definitely up for the longer distance next year. I'm thinking April onwards so if anyone can recommend one in SE be great to hear from you. I'm mainly focusing on running at the moment partly due to time constraints on training but also because I need to lose a few pounds & it falls off far quicker than with cycling
I'd also like to try a duathlon this winter and cycling to Amsterdam in May (a bit of a jolly but good training nonetheless )

Hi lifeisabeach I've done a half ironman this summer as well as a few shorter distance races and am aiming for another half early summer next year and a full iron in October. So I have a year to get ready. I'm also going to do some duathlon and runs over the winter. Quite a daunting thought at times but the base fitness is there. I have to make every workout really worthwhile because I'm often very pressed for time.

But I love it!

Wow cottonsandlinens, an ironman! Can see why you need to do so much training. I can't imagine being able to do even an olympic-distance tri at the moment - a sprint seems daunting enough.

I suppose when I started running I couldn't imagine doing a half marathon, and I ended up doing a few of those...so who knows!

Are you a member of a tri club? There's one in my town that I've thought about joining, but I don't know whether I'd be able to fit in with the training session times. There is an open water sprint distance tri (lake swim) that they run every August though, that I might be tempted by after the sprint (pool swim) one I'm hoping to do in May. I've never done an open water swim before though, so I was wondering about joining a club to get some open water experience.

Training update:

Monday - 16km bike ride - got soaked in the rain and was a bit slow
Tuesday - 5km quite hilly run pushing the DS2 in the buggy

Plan for tonight is a 1.5km swim but I won't be able to go til about 8.30pm due to kids' school discos. Don't usually go that late and will probably be tired.

I'm not keen on swimming late either Life. But needs must eh? I've been on an enforced rest for 4 weeks, and am now only allowed to swim while I wait for an mri. But on the upside I had a great swim coaching session with video analysis for my birthday, and have a proper training plan to work on now.

Sorry to hear about the enforced rest, CMOT - what did you do? Swimming coaching sounds good; is your training plan just for swimming? I could probably do with some technique coaching as I'm not getting any faster really.

Yes I ought to swim tonight if I can, as we're on holiday in Cornwall from Friday so I won't get another chance for a week or so. We're planning to take the bikes with us so hopefully I'll get some running and riding done while we're away.

The physios aren't sure what I've done - I thought it was tendonitis, but apparently not and its not getting better. But as my feet go numb if I run through the pain so my private health insurance are doing a consultant referral

Yes, the training plan is just for swimming and working on specific stroke defects.

Not taking a wetsuit to Cornwall?

Haha, well yes I am - but for surfing. Don't get to do it often but I love my longboard! Probably a stupid question but would that wetsuit be ok for triathlon open water swimming or do you need a different type of wetsuit? Maybe I could try a sea swim while we're down there

Tri wetsuits are a lot tighter, more flexible round the arms and have differential neoprene thicknesses to help your body position. So you can swim in a surf wetsuit, but a tri wetsuit makes it much easier - if I'm messing around in the lake on holiday I wear a surf suit as its tougher (the sleek coating catches very easily), and the balance is a bit weird. Ebay is a good source of 'worn once' tri wetsuits

Sea swimming is something I'd really like to do next year

I've not been doing as much training as I'd like recently due to an ankle injury. So I've been in the pool a lot. Racking up about 10-12k a week. I dread to think how many lengths I've done! I use a pull buoy to keep my legs still (to help ankle), to mimic the buoyancy of a tri wetsuit and also to make sure I use my upper body as much as possible. I'm still really slow though so my mission over the winter is to work out why I'm not getting faster. I've had a few swimming lessons and will have done more but swimming really is a mystery to me!

About wetsuits - I scuba dive a lot and always thought that a swimming wetsuit would be similar but it's really not. It's hard work swimming in a regular wetsuit because they are much stiffer and the buoyancy is all in the wrong places and they create drag. An entry level wetsuit is under £100 (wiggles own brand one has great reviews) and I would thoroughly recommend.

Sea swimming. I started this summer and was terrified beforehand but actually it's ok. Helpful if you can bilateral breathe (I can't) but salinated water is more buoyant so you don't get those sinking legs like in the pool/lake. It's easier to keep good form.

Pp with the bad ankle - it's a right nuisance isn't it. Waiting for something to heal is like watching paint dry. Swimming is the obvious choice (which you're doing). Have you also thought about strength training at home? It's a great time of year to work on core strength etc. I try to run through a very short sequence in the mornings before work (I only succeed about twice a week but the thoughts there)

Pp asked if I was a member of a tri club. I am but I only used it for open water swim sessions. I think I might join a different one though as there's a big group that train in a pool near my house and they do track sessions too.

I do use a trainer though. Every week without fail. He keeps me sane and on track.

Next event for me that is meaningful is London marathon so I'm looking forward to exchanging stories and plans over the winter. There's going to be a lot of solo pavement pounding in the dark!

Blimey. Sorry for massive post!