Just signed up for sprint triathlon- anyone else?

[Somanyillustrations]

In a post night shift fit of silliness, I have just signed up for a fun sprint triathlon in 12 weeks...
I'm 33, 5'6 and 10st. Am currently fairly unfit but working on it, and am on week 3 of c25k. Swimming is my strong point, but will be aiming to finish it rather than get a decent time.
Am I going to die?!
Is anyone else doing one this year?

Hello! I'm always on the lookout for triathlon threads on here! Loads of runner and swimmers but not so many doing triathlons maybe we are mad after all.

I've just done a GoTri (like a mini sprint triathlon) and have signed up for a sprint tri in September. You'll love it! But use your 12 weeks wisely, the individual distances are a breeze but stringing them together is another matter! I used an online beginners training plan when I did my first sprint tri last year. Tried to stick to it where possible but didn't follow it to the letter. I also trained on the course quite a bit (it was pretty local mind) which helped reduce nerves on the day. Is your race a pool swim or open water?

It's a pool swim which takes the edge off at least. Have looked up a training plan, but yes, worried about running on wobbly legs after the bike! And bloody terrified by the transitions!
It's not local at all, but am hoping to do the route of a local one which I have just missed as a training route.
How did you find your first one?

Yes there's a big difference between pool and open water swimming! And yes running after being on a bike for half an hour is a very different experience to running on fresh legs! I've done a bit of brick training (bike to run) but haven't found it makes any difference come raceday. Maybe I've not done enough brick sessions.

Don't be terrified by transitions! Get to your race in loads of time so you can set up and figure out what you need when and where your bike out/in area is and run out is.

The two triathlons I've done have been so friendly, especially towards first timers. So I'm sure you'll get advice on the day if you're not sure of anything. My first tri was great but like I said, I trained on the route lots. But I enjoyed the experience as it's so different to just running (which is all I'd done before).Transition is kind of an added discipline. I've just taken the plunge and joined my local tri club. Swimming is my weakness so hoping to sort it out and be inspired by others in the club.

Thanks for the advice- I'm quite excited now!
I work with a couple of serious tri types ( and an Ironman ) so will ask them for some help!

me! Or sort of, maybe... I think mine counts as a Supershort Tri. I wouldn't want it to take any longer. I am hoping for under 80 minutes total.

Mine is in a pool. In about 4 weeks time. (eek)
I suppose I'm only afraid really of feeling totally knackered before I finish the run (3km).

I'd love to hear how you get on. Would be great if we could get a tri training thread going.

Hello ragged! Good luck to you too!

Yes, a training thread would be great- and keep us accountable!
Ragged mine is a supersprint/sprint hybrid- 400 swim/18k bike/ 2.5k run. Still more than I've ever done before!

My event distances are almost the same as SomanyIll.
I did 1 tri before, 6 yrs ago. If I'm nervous night before, that will screw up my sleep, all other worries are small in comparison.

SWIMMING: My avg. (swimtag) over 1.8km is 156 seconds/100m, but my PB is < 140 seconds/100m. On entry form, I said I swim 100m in 150 seconds. What 100m swim times have you guys submitted and how did you figure it out?

Oh gosh I can't even remember what I've put for my swim time! I'm doing the same tri as I did last year, obviously want to improve my time! It's a 500m swim, 14k bike and 5k run. There's also another sprint tri a couple of weeks before it that I haven't signed up for yet - not sure if I'm brave enough! (Lake swim 750m/18km/6km).

For my swim time last time I just timed myself doing half the distance and doubled it. Nearer the race day I got them to change it as I'd sped up a bit.

I just reread your post ragged you've been asked how fast you are over 100m? And not just what you expect to do the full swim in?

I suppose I wondered how people estimate more than exact times, so half the distance & doubled. Coz mine is a pool we are staggered rather than mass start.

I guess most tri's are open water & mass start? I heard those events can be brutal with people trying to swim on top of you & swimmers get bruised by competitors. Plus do you have a wetsuit to deal with?

I haven't given a swim time- I can submit one closer to the time, hopefully a bit quicker than now... We don't have swim tag where I swim, but I'm going to have a look for a fitbit/ swim tracker this week, might be a bit more accurate than watching the clock on the wall in my gym pool!

Yes, mine is a staggered start too- not too worried about the swim, but really need to get my bike miles up.
Do either of you do spin/gym training or are you both doing all your miles on the road?

I've done one pool swim tri (staggered) and one lake swim tri (mass start with wetsuit). Pool is definitely less stressful. But the lake swim was pretty civilised cause it was a GoTri where everyone was a novice (and nervous!). So the swim wasn't rough, although I was towards the back with all the breaststrokers! Wetsuits are a pain in the arse mind, I haven't worked how to whip one off in seconds like the pros do yet, I was sat down wrestling with it in transition!

Hi. I've signed up for one in September too. Both kids are keen triathletes (10 and 9) so I thought I'd join them. Have you thought about kit? Having seen my DD struggle with cycling shorts and a T-shirt over wet body and wet swimsuit (epic rookie mummy fail!) I'm hunting for a trisuit to wear - not sure how that works with a sports bra (which I'll definitely need for the run) but perhaps wear underneath? Will borrow DD's racebelt too. And I'm planning on doing the cycle in trainers rather than use my cleats so I don't have to change shoes again.

Any one else with tips? Good luck OP - keep us posted with progress - I need some encouragement!!

Let us know how you get on, Cyclebird :)

Good reminder: I must find out if we get 2 event numbers (or not), so maybe no belt. Whether you need bra under tri-suit must depend on bust size? I will swim in ordinary one-piece cozzie with sport-bra underneath, then pull on t-shirt over & padded cycling shorts. Unless it's warm enough to ditch the shirt. I'm not bothered if my transitions are slow, I will judge performance on the splits & anyway. I am not contender to win anything.

There is no way I would ride 10 miles without SPDs, though. My SPDs are sandals so no struggle to put socks on wet feet.

SoMany: You could use a water-resistant wrist watch to time yourself in pool, I suppose.

Training: I don't like gyms. My cycle training is commuting. I can't spin -- hurts my shoulder. Also my back & shoulder hurt after riding the race bike (pants really).

ps: my other worry is what if I need the loo before event end!! Oh dear.

ragged People in my Tri club told me that proper triathletes just wee as they are going along so don't worry about that. Tri suits are designed to dry quickly anyway.

ha! Weeing isn't the only possible bodily evacuation problem. I don't wannna pull a Paula Radcliffe, iyswim.

somany I did a couple of spinning classes in the winter but while the weather is good and nights are light I do all my cycling on the roads.

cyclebird I got a cheapy tri suit from amazon. I think you can wear a sports bra underneath. I use a racebelt (also amazon!) and just wear trainers for bike and run. My one tip is to put talc in your running socks, makes them much easier to put on wet feet.

ragged I think most triathlons will only give you one number. Some people I knew who didn't have a racebelt pinned it on their tshirt and just turned the tshirt round in T2, otherwise it'd mean taking the number off and pinning it again. What are SPDs btw? Is that a cycling thing?

And I've also had errr bowel issues when running long distances. It hasn't happened in a triathlon yet thank goodness! There'll probably be loos somewhere on course or near transition.

SPD = Shimano Pedaling Dynamics, also known as SPD system, is a design of clipless bicycle pedals. The SPD pedal was released by Shimano in 1990. While not the first, its innovation was its small cleat which fitted in a recess in the sole of a shoe designed for SPD use.

Ok thanks, so is that the name for pedals that you use cleats with? Or am I being dim? I'd usually associate SPD with pregnancy related pelvic pain!

SPDs = type of cleats yeah, sorry for copy & paste in last msg, I got called to an errand so had to post fast. I find it hard to ride far in anything but SPDs.

There is a long running thread on Fetch about triathlon basics. Good to read all the zillion posts. Fetchies said usually there are 2 numbers (but best to ask I guess).

One thing I was thinking about today: fast turns in the pool is something to learn to do. It's a silly place to lose time, yet a lot of people seem to not know how to turn around quickly. There are youtube videos how to turn quick (without tumble turning).

Hello! I've also signed up for a baby triathlon in September. My swimming is coming on (although I panicked like mad at an open water session yesterday) and my running is slow but steady.
Bit worried about how to improve my cycling - guess I just need to get out there a bit more (and perhaps buy a new bike)