DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Anybody every do a triathlon?

I'm scheduled to do my first 'sprint' triathlon this Saturday... the renewed energy in the running thread got me to post. As I'm nervous as hell... I've been running for 2-3 years now steady. I'd say on average 15 miles a week. My first goal really is to finish, but I'd like to finish under 1hr 30 min. The distances are as follows:

.35 mile swim (figure 15 min, no idea here)
13 mile bike (figure 40 min, avg 17-18mph)
3.5 mile run (figure 30 min, avg 8min mile)

For the past couple months I've been running, biking, and swimming on alternate days and the "bricking" them together one of the days. Last week I went to the local Y to make sure I could do all 3 at once and I felt good. This was a controlled environment though. What scares me the most is the swim... even though its not a far distance, I've swam in open water maybe twice in my life... and it wasn't with 50-100 other dudes at my heals. I figure if I have to I might pull out the breast stroke to see where the hell I am going. Any words of encouragment or advice?

Also, since this is my first and I've never even watched one... what should I expect on race day? I'm cheap and don't have the best of equipment... Bought a $20 jammer speedo cause I can't afford a wet suit (Lake Erie is currently 74 degrees)... have a $100 Walmart 10 speed road bike... and some old New balances. Just finally got a bike helmet as I wasn't riding with one before. Anything else I might need to pull me through?

I always wanted to do a triathlon, but I know I would probably drown in the first 100 meters of the swim. The bike and the run would be cake though.

Yeah the swims whats got me bugging the most... I know I can swim that far... just the open water thing I got to get over I guess. I've also heard it gets pretty chaotic at the start too cause everyone is clumped together. If someone starts grabbing me while I am trying to swim I think I'll just kick them in the face.

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I think I'll just kick them in the face.

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From what I've heard, that happens a lot in the swimming portion. Most triathletes say that's where the most "cheating" goes on. If someone is cheating ...

Anyways, good luck and let us know how you do!

I've done many triathlons including the one you're about to do! The first time I did it, it was the National City Triathlon back in 1997 and it was the first one I ever did. It later became the Rock and Roll Triathlon...is it still that?

Anyway....the tips on your race!

1. Get there in plenty of time. Drink some water and eat a banana (to prevent cramping later) and a granola bar (for sustained energy) while you're walking around waiting. Eat light!

2. You're going to have a lot of adrenalin just before the start. Calm down, take it slow and don't worry.

3. Orient yourself to the direction of the swim and find the sun before you start. For example if it's to the right of you and a little behind you it make note. When you put your face in the water with your goggles on you should see a bright spot in the water at 4:00 on the clock dial. Keep that in mind during your swim so you know you're heading in the right direction.

4. After 5 minutes or so, do 2 breaststroke strokes for every 30 freestyle strokes. It keeps you in line directionally and it gets the lactic acid out of your muscles.

5. Once you get out of the water get to your bike and drink about 10oz of water before getting on the bike.

6. Take 2 full water bottles on the bike and drink it all by the time you get back to the transition area.

7. During the bike, pedal fast but also take time to say hi to people that are racing with you. I've met countless people out there on the bike, going at about the same speed.

8. When a fat person or old person passes you....man up! You're not going to let that guy pass you are you?!?

9. In the bike run transition try to stride as long as you can to get the blood out of your quads and into your hamstrings.

10. If you're running 15 miles a week the run should be no problemo. Take it all in.

And finally.

Have fun!!! Aloha!

The first time I did this sprint The National City triathlon, it took me 1:42.

Three years later I did the Rock and Roll sprint in 1:13.

Don't worry about the time, this time. Once you get some experience you'll know where to push it and how to shave minutes off your time. This time just have fun (and push yourself on the bike and the run)

For me, I was a swimming and water polo guy in college. So my goal was to be in the lead going into the bike. And so it was!

Then I got passed by all the good bikers half way into the bike!

Hehe ... my wife is a big time swimmer, who started getting into tri's ... she asked me, "why don't they put the swim at the end? Then I can do well!" ... I'm like, "probably because the other 2/3rds of the competitors don't want to cramp up and drown at the end."

exactly!

I can't tell you how many people ask me that...and you think the answer would be obvious.

Thanks for all the tips... Some very good ones I never really thought of. Like the sun (hopefully its out tomorrow) and then the long strides after the bike. My legs feel like bricks after the bike... Another thing I have to factor into all of the eating and transition crap is I'm diabetic. So I've got to test my sugar at the bike/run transition too. My transition times will prob be brutal... but like you said. This one is just to get use to it mainly.

The triathlon I'm doing is actually in Erie,PA. It's at Presque Isle. I'm debating now if I need a wetsuit. Lake Erie was reported as being 70 degrees yesterday. Swim should only take 10-15 min... you think I need one? I'm leaning toward trying to rent one at the local diving place.

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I can't wait to get into one of these! That's my goal for two years from now, finish one of the local triathlons. So far, the biking is going ok and getting me in shape. Next year i have to start on the running and swimming.

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It won't take as long as you think if your young enough... believe me I was no swimmer/runner/biker when I started. 5'9 and a whopping 215... Then I got a kick in the ass with a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and lost 40lbs in 5 months. Half due to the diabetes and the other to me eating only 800-1000 cals a day and running 3 miles a day. I was going a little psycho at the time and the only way I could deal with the stress was to work out.

I wouldn't recommend the stress to anyone, but it was the motivation I needed. Physically I've never felt better... I'm now at a healthy weight of 185 and have my diabetes under control. Make sure you do something this winter... its very easy to fall out of an excersie routine. And once you do thats it.. your back to square one. Even if its only a couple times a week.. it will pull you through the winter and you'll be ready to go when the nice weather hits.

My sister does triathalons, and all I can say is once you finish, you've done something most others don't even try! I commend you on that.

It seems to be from what her and health nut friends told me, about an hour and a half for your first one is par for the course. Seems like you should be solid!

Let us know how it goes.

Heck NO.......


Here a few hints for ya....

For the swimming portain, have your Cousin set up his duck hunten flat john boat early so it looks like he's just doing some teal hunting, thier in season right now, have him toss a rope over the edge, as you swim by grab the rope and he will kick up the motor and pull ya most of the way accross the lake. If spotted just explain your arm got stuck.

Have a friend bring a pick-up truck with coolers, seats & cameras in the back of the beds, this will make them look like film crew to everybody and when people ant looking grab thier truck and hold on they will pull ya along for a few miles, this will save your legs and you'll go alot faster

Have one of your Harley ridded relatives bring thier bike with a side seat atteched, while your running have them pull up beside you and quickly jump in the side seat, strap on one of those pointed biker helments with a smoked shield and nobody will know it's you as you speed past them. Make sure you sip on a few beers during this time....You must remain hydraded...just stay away from the moon pies, they might not sit to well in the gut...Have them drop ya off about 1/2 mile from the finish line so nobody suspects a thing.

Good luck

70 Degrees is pretty close to needing one. If you do rent one just get a half john not a full wetsuit.

I would err on not getting one. Remember that you heat up during the swim and it's such a short distance.

I did the Escape from Alcatraz in SF with a wetsuit in mid 60s temp and was glad I had it. Although by the end of it I was sweating like a banshee.

To sum up:

Don't rent a full one.
If you can find a half one, without arms, rent that.
If not .... you're only going to be in the water for 15 minutes or so, man up!

By the way it's good that you've been doing bricks. I always run like Tigger for the first 100 yards until the blood transfers to the right places in the legs. the longer stride facilitates it quicker.

And Good Luck!! And have fun!!

You'll breeze through it.

I'm not athletic by any measure, but I will wish you the best of luck in the upcomming triatholon.

Best of luck in your endeavor!

Well I did it... and I did it right on my goal of 1hr 30 min (15 sec... shhhhh!!!). I was surprised... the worst part for me was the bike. My bunghole was hurting. I'm not sure of my splits yet. They'll post it on runhigh.com by tomorrow. I didn't feel like sticking around to wait. Here's a few of my thoughts about my experience:

I got there an hour before and signed in... got my chip and marked. I then changed into a wetsuit I bought (shorty marked down to $20). I went and looked at the beach and warmed up. Man was it bad!!! At least 5ft waves. I was close to calling it a day when I was warming up and was struggling. But I quickly forgot how bad it was after I got out. So I swam it... you couldn't even put your head down to swim. I pretty much did the breast stroke the whole way. I can't believe they even let us in the water. Some people got messed up I heard against the breaker wall... I also saw many turn back before the first corner. Finished in the middle of the pack in that.

Then I transitioned, changed into my clothes and shoes and took my sugar. Then was off... Man some of the dudes and dudettes really move on those things. I passed maybe 5-10 people on the bike portion... but was passed by probably 40-50. Was so glad to see the finish cause my a$% was on fire. I'm gonna get one of the old bannana seats for the next one

Final transition... I needed to eat/drink something as I could feel my sugar was a little low. So I chugged a gatorade. Then took off... well kinda. Log legs crepped in... and my shoes were full of water (rained the entire time). But I struggled through the first mile and then felt like a million bucks. I picked up the pace and prob passed 15-20 people. Toward the end I sprinted the last .25 mile and passed a couple more.

Overall I know I could prob take 10 min off of the time, just with experience alone. I prob need a better bike too.. as I was peddling as fast as I could on the lowest gear and just couldn't keep up with the big dogs. It was a perfect first triathlon overall and I am extremely happy I was able to partake. Now on to the next one...

Thanks all for the tips... I just needed that extra boost of confidence. And ya'll provided it.

Congrats man!!

Might I suggest that if you do want to do this more seriously def invest a little more in the bike portion... I've recently got into biking and it's amazing what a good road bike with clip in shoes can do for your speed... You can get a lot of stuff on sale as well... I bought my bike for about $800 total and it was worth close to 2 grand brand new (I got major sale plus it was a few years old). But the clips on the bike REALLY can increase your speed because you can use your hamstrings so much more! Really makes you more efficient... also - GET BIKING SHORTS... your buns won't burn... trust me! totally worth it

You want ot make sure your biking porition of the tri is solid because it's the longest part of the race. Sounds like you can really take some time off just by getting the right equipment - will make you feel a lot better as well.

Congrats on what sounds like a great experience!!

I've always thought about doing a triathlon but I don't think I can swim long enough and would probably drown.

Congratulations!!!

From your post I knew you'd be fine once you started running, and passing people. 1:30 is a fantastic time, especially in those conditions.

Welcome to the club!

Congrats Man!

That is a hell of an accomplishment!

Even though I put a smiley at the end of it, the serious reason I won't do a triathlon is because of a fear of drowning. I think it'd be an awesome challenge though to do one day.