Triathlon people where are you?

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

Anyone fancy doing a triathlon training thread? Sprint or Olympic or GOTri or Ironman or whatever? Compare training, schedules, competitions and the mega kit fest that is triathlon.

There have been a couple of threads in the last year or two but they’ve dropped off the radar. Please join me!

bee I’m probably doing 8-9 hours a week, so not much more than you for your Olympic. I definitely haven’t done enough on the bike, or brick sessions. My longest bike is 45 miles, but I’m hoping to do the full 56 on a Monday. I’ve done the full swim distance in a lake and have done the run distance too. It’s just putting them all together!!

I did 25 miles on the bike followed by a 3 mile run this morning, and the run felt really hard. I still haven’t cracked eating solid food on the bike - I find it really hard to swallow!

fidget I thought we’d carry wetsuits on the shuttle bus and put on at the lake. Then I guess we put any clothes we’re wearing into the white bag that gets taken to the finish, is that right?

Do either of you have a goal time in mind?

Lifeis, that makes sense. Thank you. I have no time in mind, the run is the biggest variable for me (having only started running a couple of years ago). I would be delighted to finish! Anything below 8 hours would be great. Adding my individual training times together would get me to about 7 hours, but I may well crumble on the run and walk most of it 😂. We'll see...

Fidget, I’m the same, if I put my individual times together I’d get just under 7 hours, but realistically, like you, I’m probably going to be run/walking the run, so I think 7.5 hours is more likely. I want to be happy with that, as when I entered it was just to finish. I don’t want to set myself a target...but it’s hard not to have a time in mind that would make me feel as though I’d done well.

I’m tempted to do a run/walk strategy from the start of the run, but I haven’t practised it. One of my friends does 60 seconds run/30 seconds walk for all her running races and her times are very similar to mine when I just run.

Yes, I tried a similar thing with a friend last week. Half marathon with 9 mins running and 1 minute walking. It actually worked well because we made sure we drank something at every walk break and ate something (gel or bar) every 30 mins. It felt good and our times weren't bad... Its exciting to have someone to chat to about the 70.3, I don't know anyone else who's doing it :)

I might try the run/walk thing when I do my last long-ish run, which will probably be Wednesday or Thursday.

What are you planning to wear fidget? I still haven’t decided between trisuit and bike/run-specific clothes. I’ve started my weather watch too and it looks like it’s warming up just before the race weekend. I’d love it to be cool and cloudy but pretty sure I won’t get lucky there!

Life I am going to try and do the practice swim. I have never swim in a lake before! I'm hoping I won't freak out.
I am aiming for under 7hrs but there are so many unknowns; mainly in the bike for me- I'm quite slow and have to work hard to achieve the cut off speed of 22.5km/hr. Not sure how much being in an actual competition will improve that? I'm hoping to run the whole 21km but each time I run now something else hurts, so who knows!

Life- I eat loads of solid food on the bike. I can eat easily- that's probably why I am slow- taking it too easy.
My nutrition plan is preswim banana and small flapjack.
Eat every 20 mins on the bike: 1st hour is 2 bananas and a flapjack, 2nd hour is 3 Naked bars, 3rd and 4th hour is Tailwind. Then for the run I'll start with a small bottle of Tailwind and take a couple of gels. How does that sound?
I still haven't practiced a tyre change. I think I will cry if I get a puncture.

Nate, I’m really not sure what to expect on the bike - I think I’ll find it more hilly than I’m used to, from looking at the course on strava. Just hoping I don’t get a puncture or some other mechanical issue as that would really mess things up!

What swim time are you all expecting? I can do 38mins in the pool but don't know how this translates to open water. I'm not sure whether to hang back and start last or put myself in the middle.

I wore my trisuit with cycling shorts over the top last week for my long 4hr ride. It wasn't perfect and did rub a bit but I think I'll do that on the day, then take the cycling shorts off again for the run.

Yes, I'll change for the run too, I've bought a two piece Tri suit but hate running in it. Swim time- maybe 45 mins? I've swum in a 50yrd outdoor pool for the last 3 weeks and two e in a lake and love swimming in the lake so I'm actually really looking forward to that. Even if it's not any faster than 45mins. Bike- I've trained around here and the elevation over 90km is about the same, my average speed tends to be around 23.7km/hr (not that I'm obsessed by numbers 😀). Not liking the look of the 6km hill at around 55km on the course....

I thought about doing that Nate but thought the two padded bits together would rub. I will give it a go on my next ride as I’d like to know what I’m going to do in the race.

I’m about 38 mins for the swim too, but not sure whether swimming with loads of others will slow me down - probably!

Fidget, that’s the hill at Cannock Chase isn’t it? Does look tough and quite a long way into the course too.

I wish I could eat on the bike. I seem to need to breathe through my mouth all the time so even find drinking a struggle. I use tailwind and have tried nakd bars but they seem too hard to swallow! I used Nutella sandwiches last week and they worked the best of everything I’ve tried, but they’re not exactly easy to transport!

Will there be changing rooms to do a complete clothes change?

My little. A 5km Hill? I haven't looked at the profile...

I thought there was some kind of tent for changing, not sure whether there are individual cubicles though?

The athlete guide has info on the bike course including the elevation profile (sorry I don’t know how to do clicky links!):

m.eu.ironman.com/triathlon/events/emea/ironman-70.3/staffordshire/athletes/~/media/a7467e2361d745ea89c76048ef115a75.ashx

Love reading you guys’ excited/terrified tri chat! I’m sure you’ll all be fab. No advice re eating on the bike. I know someone who did a 70.3 last weekend (she’s done lots before and two full Ironman races) and even she was doing run/walk. Seems to be the key to success. I half wish I was doing it with you, some of my family are in Staffordshire.

@Nate, that sounds like an amazing fuelling strategy on the bike. I ate way too little on my ride today and suffered on the run for it. @thinkingbee, maybe next year? :)

Thinking about what to wear for Stafford- is it a silly idea to wear my cycling shorts under my wetsuit for the swim and then no need to do a full change for the bike? Surely they will dry quickly and won't slow me down for the swim? On the other hand have never heard people do this. Any opinions?

Hi folks. Is it ok if I tentatively join you? I feel like a fraud even writing this in a tri thread as am a complete beginner!

Until age 38 I’d never run for a bus/always skived PE etc and had been on the chubby side (at times obese) for many years. Plucked up courage to start jogging under cover of darkness when my marriage ended last year, and did a few 10ks and fell races etc at the start. Built up to a half marathon this spring which I found fine despite a hideously torn knee cartilage and a traumatic bereavement immediately beforehand. This has boosted my confidence slightly and I’ve started getting secretly interested in the idea of triathlons. My newish partner is a seasoned triathlete and is v encouraging, but I’m too ashamed to admit I’m contemplating one.
Anyhow, yesterday on a whim I signed up to a local aquathlon which is TONIGHT!!!
I figured I’d slink off and do it in secret, just in case it all goes wrong and I look stupid.

I’m PETRIFIED!!!!!! Not helped by fact I’ve got awful sinusitis so am feeling feverish, achey, and exhausted.

Fuck. What have I DONE?!?!

The aquathlon is 420m in outdoor pool, then 6km off-road hilly run.

Please tell me it’ll be ok?!?!

I’ve been out and panic-bought a tri-suit (bit too small for me but didn’t have my size). Going to wear running bra underneath.

Please talk to me about swim/run transition.... do I bother with socks or just go for talc in my fell shoes?!? Also: I have to wear prescription goggles and glasses so I’ll need to transition eye wear. How?!?!

Any help gratefully appreciated!

(Btw fwiw I think you’re all bloody incredible for what you’re doing and what you can achieve. I’ve got a girl crush on you all )

Ritmo, if course you'll be ok tonight. It's great you've signed up, you'll love it! I hate running without socks so put talcum powder in my socks for transition. I don't wear glasses- what will you wear on the run? Have fun tonight! :)

Thanks fidget that’s v kind of you to be supportive. But sadly I’ve chickened out. It’s far too quick and only had 24hrs notice to prepare. I’d need to set off in 45 mins and not eaten tea or prepared my kit, and am feeling unwell with the sinusitis.

Also, the biggest thing is that I’ve just realised I’d probably be required to climb out of pool just using the side, which I can’t do (I can only use steps like an old lady). And also I can only do breast stroke (fast) and just don’t feel brave enough to look like a complete odd-one-out

Good luck for another time RitmoRatmo, I had to get out the deep end of a pool based Tri recently and watched several big men struggle, but I’d practiced getting out backwards with my bum on to the side. so I managed fine despite being short, chubby & middle aged so never underestimate what you can do but practice helps. My DD wears glasses and leaves one pair in transition by her helmet and wore her spare pair to poolside, left them in a safe place when she switched to goggles.

I also swam breaststroke in my first Tri, along with most of the others! I also messed up my swim completely in a Tri this month, panicking in the swim and ended up doing half the swim as breaststroke so you would not be alone. The wave starts mean that you have no idea if your last or first, you are just going for your own time. So go for it

Welcome Ritmo, sorry you weren’t able to do the Aquathlon in the end, it sounds like quite a tough event for a first one, with the run being hilly and off road. The British triathlon website has lists of events, some of them are “Go Tri” events which are aimed at beginners and are friendly and welcoming to first timers. Might be worth having a look to see if there’s one near you, if you still fancy giving multi sport a go.

Nate, I thought you were planning to put bike shorts on over your trisuit in T1? I’ve still got no idea what to do about clothing. I had planned to change out of trisuit into bike shorts and jersey, then change again into running stuff. But then I think maybe I should just wear the tri suit for the whole thing? I don’t know!! I really need to decide!

I did 60 miles on the bike yesterday. I was so ready for it to be over by the last 10-15 miles, but glad to have got it done.

Are you Staffs ladies tapering now? I’m planning one more longish run and some short brick sessions, plus a couple of lake swims.

I’ve started writing lists! Blue bag, red bag, swim stuff, etc. Really don’t want to forget to take something vital! Cannot believe it’s less than 2 weeks now