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?

Yeah I’m lacking in core workouts - I get motivated for a couple of weeks then “forget” for a few weeks
The main thing that’s helped my back post-swimming is relaxing more when I swim mostly by slowing down initially and I don’t appear to have any back issues now when using front crawl. Breaststroke does still sometimes.
I’m hoping I can start to do a cycle commute once a week when it warms up abit!

How's everyone getting on? I did my first multisport event of the year yesterday, an aquathlon (400m/5k). It was pretty cold and I couldn't get warm for ages afterwards. I was a bit disappointed with my run time, I felt as though I was going along quite well but when I checked my watch, it wasn't that great after all!

Well done life it’s tough doing it in the cold. I have to have something warm to eat and be in the bath within half hr of a long run or I get that “chilled” feeling all day.

I’ve been on the sofa mostly for 5d now floored by heavy sinuses cold grrrr I had had a brill start to Jan so hoping I can get back out again for a lite run by the end of the week.

Bah! My first group cycle ride of the year has just been cancelled due to ice. I’m all kitted up and ready to go including my super-sexy new salmon pink padded cycling knickers. Off for a sulky gym session instead.
I’m having a few swimming lessons as I can now keep going for longer but am as slow as an iceberg drifting across the sea. The best tip so far has been to engage my core and tighten my butt to prevent my legs swooshing side to side.
January training is hard!

Same here really I've just realised that it's way to icy round here to run. Gonna do some core stuff and weights at home instead. I too can relate to the iceberg analogy!!!! I need to find my core and kick its ass

Hope you're feeling better ski

Well done on the aquathon life. I was the same after my tri in June (!), just couldn't get warm afterwards. It was the bike section that did it and the run just wasn't long enough to warm me up again.

Hope you had a good gym session really it’s really frustrating when you all kitted up ready to go and can’t. It’s cold ere in SW but no ice or snow...yet. Enjoy your home workout bee I’m still sat on the sofa watching Homes under the hammer you know your feeling crap when daytime TV is “entertaining”!
I need to find out how to make my legs work for me better when swimming FC as I currently mostly “switch” them off using lite kick only. In my last swim session before this bug I did try a fast 1L & recovery 1L which worked really well and sped me up without running out of puff too much. I tried kicking more on the fast L but then found I had more body roll movement which I think increases drag so I need advice I think. I’m gonna try catch one of the swim coaches to get some tips when I’m back in the water hopefully next wk.

SkiGirl have you tried using a pull buoy between your legs so you have to keep them still? It helps me to focus on using my core to keep my legs straight, and also high up in the water. I’ve been doing 400m with the pull buoy as part of my swim sets and I think it’s helping.

I’ve also been trying to slow down when swimming, as I tend to start too fast and then get that horrible feeling that my lungs are going to explode. I did what was meant to be a slow 800m last week, and found that my 400m split was as fast as when I go “all out”. So maybe slowing down is helping my technique. I’m hoping to do an Olympic distance tri this year, so want to build up some endurance.

Thanks yes beach I love a pull buoy I quite like ignoring my legs altogether when I swim but I’m getting better at using them now and not wearing myself out.

Fed up of still being on the sofa still with no flipping energy not helped by DH bounding in after his 8m run & DD from swim club tonight. I’m glad they are healthy really just fed up.

Wow Olympic distance Tri is mega good luck with that!!

Not entered it yet; it isn’t until September so plenty of time to train! I’d probably be ok with the swim and bike at the moment, but the 10k run after both of those is the issue.

I’m trying to use the pull buoy less. I found it was making me faster and made swimming feel easier, so I was becoming over reliant on it. Didn’t use it at all tonight, just tried to slow down and do longer distances again.

Oh god!!!! I still haven't actually signed up, the early bird price is available up to the end of Jan. I ned to just commit and go for it!!! I'm slightly terrified if I think about it too much but I know I'd regret not giving it a whirl. Plus I'm hoping it'll sort my flabby body out a bit

Oh life you're doing one too!! Which one?

I'm getting confused between threads, I'd mentioned I'm thinking of doing an Olympic tri on the swimming thread. Swimming is definitely my weakness. I

I'm doing westonbirt sprint tri in May. Currently 9 weeks postpartum and ebf. Went running for first time in 6 months tonight:4km in 33mins, 400m swim yesterday in 10.46. Least said about the bike the better... It's a baseline!

knotty, I’m not too far from Westonbirt and know someone who’s done that one and said it was good.

bee, just looked at your posts on the swimming thread. It’s the Cotswold end of season one I’m hoping to do, it’s on 1st Sept at Cotswold water park. There’s one at the same place in June that I suppose I could aim for instead, but I’m worried about the weather being really hot.

Like you, I have a significant birthday this year, so that’s my motivation!

Meant to say knotty, that’s a pretty good baseline only 9 weeks after having a baby, well done!

I may have been sat on the sofa for over a week now (&youngest DD now has tummy bug ) but I just signed up to a new local Go-Tri in May!! I’m hoping it will motivate the sickness to go away...fed up with it now.

That’s a brill baseline knotty good luck with the training and baby.

knotty I'm very impressed you're even thinking of doing anything with a little baby!

Well I've done it, I've entered the Standard Distance in Leeds in June. It's 1,500m swim, 36.2k cycle and 10km run. I feel a bit sick at the thought of it now!

Poor you skigirl hope you're better soon. So frustrating for you.

Can I join!

Doing my first ever Triathlon in June. Novice - 400m swim/14km cycle/2.5km run.

I'm pretty fit already. Can swim 400m in about 8.15 and 5k run PB is 20.50. But I'm a complete cycle novice! Just bought a road bike in the hope I will cycle more and improve my speed.

I'm training with my local tri club but cold, snowy January is a slog. Can't wait for lighter nights.

I'm considering an Aquathon in March!

Hello lamppull! I wish my swim and run times were anything like yours, any tips for faster swimming? As you've got those nailed you'll have plenty of time to get to grips with cycling. Good luck!

Thanks!

My swimming technique isn't fabulous but I think because I do strength training (combat fitness, weights etc) my core strength is good. I'm sure that helps. But I've starred swimming training with my local club to improve technique. I've always liked running and did it a lot in my youth.

I've never been a cyclist and I lack confidence on a bike. Buying a road bike is a bit of a whimsical and frivolous thing! But I like a challenge!