Entered a triathlon in a moment of madness - need tips!

[Givemestrengthorvodka]

I've just entered a novice triathlon in a moment of madness! I'm overweight and not particularly fit although I have been working on my fitness for the last few months so not starting from ground zero.

The distance is 450m pool swim, 12km cycle and 5km run. And it's in 6 weeks time!

Any triathletes out there that can offer some top tips?

My first concern is how the hell do I wear a sports bra! I expect I'll have to wear it under my swimsuit, but then it will be soaking for the bike and run? But can't run 100m without it! And then just run with that and my swimsuit on and put some leggings and a tshirt on top after the swim.

I also now need to practice front crawl as I can currently only do breast stroke.

Ooh what have I done!!

Ah well done. I did this a few years ago and entered one with very little training. I've now signed up for an Ironman 70.3

So top tips

Write a list of all your stuff you need with you and run through what you need in transition.

You can get tri suits with built in bras or just wear normal one after swim. Yes you will be wet. That's part of it. You won't even notice. You will soon dry on the bike.

For swim
Goggles
Hat ( sometimes they give you one)
Ear plugs if you use them
Try suit.

Transition 1
As you get out of pool take goggles and hat off. Chuck on floor.

Socks with talc in already inside your shoes scrunched up.
Stand on towel to dry feet a litte and put socks and shoes on.
Put glasses and helmet on. Do not touch bike until helmet on and fastened.
If really cold/ wet chuck a top on.
Put belt on with race number at back.
Go.

Transition 2
Put bike on rack. Take helmet off. Change shoes if you had clips on
Take a gel? Water.
Twist belt round so no at front.
Go

Over next few weeks every time you get on on bike go for a 5/10 min run.

When you arrive in transition. Ask Marshall's to tell you where bike in and bike out is and where run in and out is so you get your bearings. Remember where you racked your bike!!
Any more questions ask

Do breaststroke for the swim, it's not against the rules! You'll definitely be quicker doing a stroke you're familiar with than struggling with front crawl.

Practice running after a bike ride and getting used to the shaky legs.

Definitely think about a tri suit, so you can just wear that.

I think you only need to practice your transitions if time is a goal, if you're just focused on completing then don't worry about learning routines etc, just remember where your bike is parked!

Good luck OP they are lots of fun.

@Ultimatebetrayal thank you so much for this - these tips are brilliant. Such a good idea to go for a short run after every cycle - I'll start doing that.

I usually run in some pretty tight fitting sweaty betty power leggings which I suspect might be brutal to get on if I'm wet but they do hold everything (i.e. my tummy and my bum) in so I'll need to try putting them on when I'm just out the bath to see how I get on!

Well done on the Ironman 70 - I can't even imagine how tough that must be! Is the training going well?

Thank you @Ihaventgottimeforthis! I think I probably will end up doing breaststroke unless I can quickly become confident enough at front crawl but that's probably unlikely given the timeframe. I find it so tough...can only do 1 length of it at a time.

Is there a brand/model of trisuits people would recommend? I definitely need a supportive bra.

Breaststroke is fine. I did it for my first one and lots do it.

I've just got tri suit from decathlon and I wear a sports bra underneath but I'm not large up top.

I wouldn't be trying to pull stuff on when you are wet. It's a pain and awkward. But if that's what you are thinking make sure you pre talc it to make it easier.

Training going ok at the mo. I didn't think I'd ever be able to do an Ironman either.

ime of baby tri's:

• Most women do breast-stroke
• You're surprisingly warm after swim
• You may be the only person there not in a tri-suit, they can be bought for moderate price on ebay
• trisuits are hugely time-saving over wearing a simple suit
• Trisuits are a hassle... think mine is 2nd hand on ebay originally Aldi. I need mens sizes but back not clear, consider carefully what you're getting
• I didn't use talcum powder, it wasn't hard to pull cycle shorts on over wet suit, just time consuming. I can run in cycle shorts.

In pro-Triathlon, why in world do women wear suits with no legs?! How is there enough padding?!!

I don't have the nerve to wear a tri suit but I wear sports bra, rash vest and (non-padded) cycling shorts. I've only done open water swims so wear a wetsuit but I've swum in the pool in my shorts and rash vest when I've been working with kids and it's been fine.
Do do some brick training where you go from bike to run though. The transition makes your legs feel really weird but if you practice you'll know it will pass.
Enjoy it!

I’m thinking of doing the Cheshire sprint triathlon. I will probably definitely do breaststroke though.
so do people keep the triathlon suit on from the pool right the way through to the bike and run?
there’s a local triathlon club I was thinking of going to a session, would anyone recommend these?

Brilliant! You’ll love it, they are a lot of fun. It can be quite daunting turning up for your first event but at mine I asked a few people to help show me where to rack my bike etc and they were all so lovely and friendly and showed me where to go.

Most people will just wear a trisuit for the whole thing, there's no changing, sports bra underneath if necessary. It's really hard putting anything on when wet. You will waste ages trying to put leggings on. You might put a technical t-shirt on if chilly but it's unlikely. Be really clear where the bike in/ run out etc goes. They will hopefully publish a map beforehand and you can do a recce. Elastic laces are great. Put in an accurate time for your swim so you are in the correct lane. You can only overtake at the end of lanes, indicate you want to overtake by tapping the person's foot firmly during the length ( or someone will do it to you so you need to let them overtake). You then let them overtake at the wall. I would really recommend a club, ours is really friendly, from complete beginners to commonwealth competitors. You get so many tips. They will probably practice transition stuff as well. A race belt is best so you don't need to put a t-shirt on. I wouldn't try to get better at front crawl in six weeks unless you have a coach, focus on stamina just now and then improving it for next time. It does mean your legs will be tireder but that's fine.