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?

Well done SkiGirl, 12 miles is awesome! I did 8 yesterday and am really feeling it today. The half I’m aiming for isn’t until May so I think I’m going to stick at 8/9 miles for a few more weeks and then increase again.

Well done ski when you know you can do 12 miles you know you'll be fine for a HM. 8 miles isn't to be sniffed at either life!

Thanks for the advice re turbo trainers. Do you mind me asking how much you spent on one?

17/18mph! I can only dream of that kind of speed on a bike. I'm fit enough; I'm just terrified going above 12mph!

Well done on the long run ladies!

Yeah but you can do 5k in under 21 minutes Lamp - I can only dream of running that fast!

Well, we all have our strengths and things we need to work at! That's what I love about triathlon, it pushes you out of your comfort zones.

Well done all!

Definitely, it’s certainly challenging and I love the variety of switching between the 3 sports in training. Trouble is, there’s never enough time and I feel like one aspect is always being neglected - currently cycling for me. But my running has improved a lot recently so hopefully I can maintain that now.

I eased out my legs tonight on a 5k run but they felt “heavy” after Monday’s epic run. I missed my swim Tuesday so will try get one in Thursday night if I can be bothered after work.... maybe Friday lunchtime would be easier? I struggle motivating myself to go swim but enjoy once I’m in. I dread the fear of it being busy though as that’s not relaxing. If someone said to me there will be max 2 in the lane both at your pace id go easily

Totally agree about swimming SkiGirl, it’s hard to get out of the door but fine once I’m
there. I did 1800m in total tonight. It was really busy though, with a few annoying people not obeying etiquette!

I’ve been concentrating on increasing the distance I can do in one go, and did 1000m non-stop tonight. Previously I’ve tended to do a few 400m sets plus some shorter ones. But now I’m thinking of the Olympic distance tri, so a 1500m swim, and trying to improve my endurance.

I agree re swimming, the quality of the session is so often dependant on how busy it is. I love the idea of doing all these proper drill sessions but in practice it hardly ever happens because of zillions of other people getting in the way! I'm sure I get in other people's way at times too, it's just the way it goes isn't it.

I'm trying to do the same as you life gradually building up my consecutive swimming. I'm up to 650m which was inconceivable this time last year! I think I'll start swimming with the tri club again soon, just once a week, but that covers the hardcore drills side of things. And do another session on my own concentrating on endurance.

Now I'm just trying to think of a succinct response to the triathlete downers on the pure swimming thread!!! We're all just trying to improve, I don't get the negativity.

On another note, my running is getting there. Did 4.5miles yesterday which is the furthest I've ran for ages. Feeling much more confident that the standard distance triathlon isn't such a ridiculous challenge after all. Still 4 months of training to go (3 months till the open water sessions start). I'll be happy just getting round the course but it'd be great if I can get to a stage where I feel like I can train to improve my time rather than just being fit enough to complete. I hope I'm being realistic!

Who are these triathlon downers and what have they said?!

I would struggle with drills at the lane swimming sessions I attend, as they’re so busy at the moment. I do try and do some faster sets where I’m timing myself over 400m, but quite often have to abandon them if someone’s got in my way. I also started using a pull buoy a lot, but it makes me faster and I found I was relying on it too much, so I’ve ditched it for now.

650m is great going bee, and good place to gradually build up from. And 4.5 miles running too.

I’m fairly sure I could do the individual distances of the standard tri now, but I want to get to a point where I’m comfortable enough with them (and doing them back to back) that I enjoy it. I did enjoy most of the events I did last year, but one particular tri didn’t go so well - it was 750m open water swim, 24k bike and 5k run, and the run was just horrendous, I almost cried near the start as I didn’t think I could get to the end. Not sure whether it was the longer swim or that I didn’t fuel properly, but I want to avoid a repeat of that. So I want to push myself well beyond the standard distances so that I can do them comfortably. Especially the run!

Just the insinuation that triathletes think they're super fit and amazing at everything but then it turns out they have bad swimming technique. I don't know, I think most triathletes (apart from the elite) are often jack of all trades and masters of none! That's me anyway! Having a bash at all three, definitely least confident at swimming but having a go anyway. And there's the 4th discipline of transition and actually turning up with all the right kit on the day! I can't be bothered to respond now anyway

Obviously I should say that some triathletes will be masters at running or cycling or swimming! Not usually all three though. I think triathlon isn't about mastering them all, it's about trying to balance them all in training, reaching a compromise and attempting to execute it as well as possible on the day.

Yes definitely, it is a balancing act and you can never give enough time to all three. But that’s part of the challenge isn’t it.

Dragged myself to the pool tonight and it was ok only 3 in lane all similar pace so I just swam for half hour 1k done and then home to collapse. Tired after runs and work this week. Need rest day tom!

Hmm not sure why Swim thread having ago at Tri folk most I’ve met have been respectful swimmers as keen to learn and improve. Hohum maybe just the full moon effect...

You're working hard ski!

No training here as DH away and DD isn't in nursery on Thursday or Friday. DS is poorly so I might be up a lot in the night with him, could be a zombie run tomorrow for me!

Anyone else see that Alistair Brownlee won the half ironman in Dubai today? 3hrs 35mins! Way ahead of the rest. He's a machine.

Hope you don’t have a bad night bee

I can’t believe Alistair Brownlee’s times for the 70.3 - amazing!

I did 1200m without stopping tonight and 2000m overall. Very busy lanes again!

He's something to aspire to anyway life good effort with the swimming!

Hope you got sleep bee it’s horrid when you go to bed thinking one of the kids may be up in the night.

I’ve not been following the brownlee brothers recently missed that win. Can’t wait for Winter Olympics to start we are snow heads in this house

Did a half hour run then half hr swim this morning, it fits in with my eldest DDs activity so it’s my reward for having to get her there at 9am on a sat

Great swimming beach I need to work on swimming past 40L as I just stop at the moment but I’ve been using swimming to relax post running when I do need to work on it more really.

Well done all - I'm really inspired by all your motivation and hard work!

We're looking forward to the Winter Olympics too ski but we've got the six nations in the meantime. Not many sports aren't followed in this house!

Both DC, especially DS, are still poorly. A couple of rough nights has made training more of a slog but I'm glad to have got out the house to do it anyway. 4.5 mile run again yesterday, a couple of minutes faster than the other day. And I've done 750m without stopping in the pool earlier - a new record for me! I find that I start off ok technically then lose it in the middle of the swim. And then the last few lengths I feel like I really focus on technique again. Maybe I should focus more on technique than endurance for a while?

How's the cycling going lamp?

We’ve just been rather reckless & booked another cheap ski holiday for April my DH & I are not reckless folk at all but don’t think we will get a chance next year with school terms & super late Easter and our DD at secondary school. (I really shouldn’t have kept signed up to all the ski deal emails...) Can’t wait excellent high altitude cross training for Tri too...gonna spend the rest of this year paying it off though!

Did my fastest 10k this morning guess my long HM training runs have paid off. I didn’t set out to do it and thought I was feeling tired and finding it hard going but was super when at 9k I registered the pace but I was on my long slightly hilly rd (it’s 1.5k uphill) which I just have to plod up with gritted teeth but know it’s doing me good! Hope you haven’t had snow? My folks did this morning and they are on the south coast!!

Well I did my first ever proper ride on the road bike today. 7.5 miles at 13.5 mph ave speed.

It won't break any records but at least I wasn't braking and clinging for dear life the whole way round and I was more relaxed and at one with the bike.

One more step forward ladies!

Well done lampull that’s good going, I’m too scared to go out on a road bike at the moment your braver than me .