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?

Darn it, I knew you were going to say it was down to core strength lamp. I'm doing some core exercises 2-3 times a week at home but I doubt it's enough. I just don't have time to attend a specific core class.

Wow lampull you are fast! I’m still trying to get 5k under 30mins and under ten mins on my swim.

After a good week & half out with winter bugs I got back out for a run today and nailed a 10k. Was really pleased as set off for min half hr but felt ok so kept going. I had hoped to swim after but forgot there were school lessons on as they changed the timetable.

10k, well done! Especially on a dreary January day.

My cycling times are pants though. Off to spin tonight to try and improve my cycling fitness

Good effort knocking out a 10k run after so much sickness ski! Good to be back out?!

I'm running tomorrow hopefully, no ice/snow = no excuse!!! Plus that bloomin race is looming so I better get training!!!! I'm seriously doubting I can do it after today's swim session. Only a quick but oh so slow! one today. I managed two lots of 10lengths which is my starting point really. I was blowing a bit I can tell you I intend to add 5 lengths on every week for my Monday endurance session. And do another session later in the week doing drills, mostly with the tri club. Does that sound like a good plan? I have no idea with swimming! I need to be up to doing 60 lengths none stop by May. That's when the open water sessions start near me. So a month or so of once or twice a week with them doing some proper race prep. Race is in June. Any thoughts?!?!

Need some advice re what to wear transitions.

I was planning on wearing a Tri suit, so I don't need to change. But of course that's not padded for the cycle. Would this matter on a shorter distance?

Also do most tri athletes clip into their road bike? I wasn't going to as I'm new to cycling and don't want to feel too scared. Also it means I can wear my running trainers on the cycle and then I'd save time transitioning to run?

Tri suits do have padding for the cycle, just not as much as proper cycling shorts. Should be fine for a sprint distance.

A really experienced triathlete I know says not to bother changing into cycling shoes for a sprint distance, just do it in trainers. I’m quite a bit faster when clipped in, and so I always have used them, even for fairly short races. It depends on how confident you are clipped in and how much difference it makes to your speed.

I’m doing a Duathlon in March, 3k/15k/1.5k and will wear my bike shoes for that, which will mean changing twice - but it doesn’t take me long to switch between them.

Hi lamp, I wear a tri suit for ease, one less thing to think about reasons! Tri suits are padded but not as much as cycling shorts but enough for some comfort. To be honest with the adrenaline going I've never really noticed about the padding. Just make sure you do some training wearing your tri suit cause it will feel different. What distance tri are you doing?

I wear my trainers for the bike and run. Again, one less thing to change! I've never used cleats but might try this year as the bike section for my main race is 36km rather than the 10km I've done before. But for you I guess stick to trainers for now, especially as you're pretty new to cycling and triathlon.

This is great advice thank you!

Yes I'm just going to train and race in trainers. It's only a 14km cycle and quite flat so not sure how much difference cleats would make to my time at this stage. And I don't want to put myself off.

If I like the Triathlon and want to try longer ones, then after the novice one, I might try cycling clipped in.

Let's keep this thread going. Encourage each other and see how we get on!

lamp I did a go-Tri last year and bought Tri-shorts which I wore over my swim costume (with bra underneath). I put a quick dry t-shirt over the top in transition and just wore trainers - I was really fast still in T as we had mini practice at home and put talc in socks which helped. I had a quick dry towel in T as well which was gd.

The bit that sped me up was I left sandals by pool side so I was able to run with confidence from pool to outside transition across variable surfaces including gravel! Others in bare feet were much slower - it was pure luck rather than planning that I had my sandals!

Oh my days, keep getting Facebook posts about the triathlon. They've just announced the elites route which is different to the standard route but pretty much the same distances. There's a little animation of the routes on the website - the bike route looks complicated, I'm a tad worried that I'll get confused!!! Quotes from the Brownlees et al should be inspiring me but actually I just feel a bit nauseous!!!

leeds.triathlon.org/news/article/routes_unveiled_for_the_2018_edition_of_the_itu_world_triathlon_leeds

Wow, it looks like a brilliant event bee, and how exciting to be competing the same weekend as the Brownlees! I see what you mean about the bike course with those two out and back bits. I’m sure it’ll be well marshalled though.

I still haven’t entered the Olympic distance tri I’ve got my eye on. Must bite the bullet and do it!!

How’s everyone’s training going? My running is improving slightly and swimming isn’t too bad, but I’m not doing enough cycling. Must get on the turbo more often, I’m doing a Duathlon in March and it’s meant to be a tough one (according to OH who did it last year!)

life it was exciting last year when I did the Go Tri the day before the Brownlees, this time I'll be there a couple of hours before them!!! They were absolutely awesome around Leeds last year, just incredible. They're probably the reason that I was first tempted to do a triathlon because they're local heros.

Training is a bit stop start. I'm away for the weekend where diet and exercise will not feature!! And DH is away a lot next week so I'll be squeezing in training where I can when the kids are at school/nursery. Managed a good swim on Thursday, had a lane to myself for the whole session!

I've not even looked at my bike, I'm concentrating on swimming and running for now. And a bit of core/strength stuff. The bike can wait till the weather improves/lighter nights.

What are your duathlon distances life?

The Brownlees are legends, such an exciting event to be part of!

My duathlon is fairly short - 3k/15k/1.5k. The bike part is on a purpose-built cycling track, but it’s quite exposed there and last year it was blowing a gale. My DS did the kids one and OH the adults, and I felt sorry for them battling against the wind. So not sure what has possessed me to enter it with them this year! Hoping for a calm, sunny day!

Must be really exciting to be part of that atmosphere in Leeds bee

I’ve done zero cycling but I did do a 5k wet run today then straight into the pool for 1k swim which was busy but I felt reasonably relaxed in the lane as my FC is getting better I can keep the pace up more. I can’t believe a year ago I couldnt swim 1L of FC and now I can do 40L not bad for a middle aged mamma. I’m on a 2wk countdown now till my first HM so hoping to do a 2hr run on Monday then start dropping the distances abit till the day. I’ve not done a 10m run since NYD due to nasty winter bugs knocking me out for two wks. So hoping I’ve not lost too much of my long run fitness.

ski 40l of the pool is impresssive for someone who couldn't do fc at all this time last year! I'm not quite at that yet. Did my first '20l without stopping' of the year the other night. Will just try to build that up slowly to 60 consecutive lengths. Trouble is my back aches so much.

2 weeks out with illness always feels like a really long time but if you were on schedule for your HM before that then I'd have thought you'll be fine.

life that duathlon sounds ok, but is it hilly?

Did my first cycle on a road bike yesterday. God I was slow and terrified! Tyres feel so skinny; like they'd skid off anything.
But got back on today and was a little more relaxed.
Can't envisage ever having the confidence to race in it though

Well done lamp! You didn't fall off though right?!?! You'll get used to it, don't worry. I'm on a train and very bored!!! Hence the quick response. I'm also browsing turbo trainers so I can use my bike at home in the evenings when DH is away. Has anyone got one?

No didn't fall off! That really was my only aim just now!

What sort of pace do you ladies race at on your bikes?

I never even think about pace lamp. I just go by distance and that always involves hills round here. So I go a comfortable pace and then use the hills as my training efforts. Getting to the top without stopping is my aim!

I rode a racing bike for virtually the first time in my go-Tri last year it was on a closed track and I loved it but I’m too scared to ride it on the road due to thin tyres and dropped bars. I love my hybrid flat bars bike which has road tyres but they aren’t skinny so it feels a lot more stable. I used a turbo trainer when I was on mat leave with second child but I’ve hardly used it since as it’s just SO dull even watching something on the iPad it just doesn’t DO anything for me I’d rather be running.

I hadn't thought about how full it must be ski. But now you mention it what the heck will I do, just pedal along in my garage on my own? Maybe put the radio on It would be really useful to have a turbo trainer though cause my DH is away much more since he's been promoted. And I'm gonna lose a lot of training hours as I usually do a lot when he's back from work in the evening.

If you have reason to use it bee your more likely too. I couldn’t go anywhere when on mat leave on a bike with a small baby hence I put turbo trainer on my patio when baby was napping or in shed so your more likely to use it if it’s your only option but yes it’s really dull. I was utterly determined to shift 3stone post-baby and that horrid turbo really helped just wish I’d not put half of it back on again! They can be noisy too so you need it somewhere it won’t wake up kids and it gets hot so a fan can help.

Our turbo trainer has taken over the kids’ playroom but it’s been brilliant to have over the winter. OH and I both use it, with either zwift or the GCN videos. We’ve put a tv in front of it with fire stick plugged in, so can watch tv or listen to music. It’s still dull though and I’d much rather be out on the road!

lamp on a good day I average 18mph on the bike - that’s on the flat though mainly.

Long run day done! Phew I’m shattered several hours later though gosh it’s really taken it out of me. I didn’t hydrate enough which was a lesson learnt it was warm when sun poked through. 12miles done, at least in my head I know I can do the HM, I’ve 2wks taper now will try get a swim in tomorrow as it really helps my legs recover afterwards.