I'm considering signing up for one in july and i was wondering if that would be enough time to train for it, as well as if there are any tips you may have that could help me train. k, thnx bye.

3/15/2007 9:11:15 AM

I assume you are talking about Triangle Tri?

Yes, you have a ton of time for this one. Swimming will be the hardest part, start now.

Do you have a road bike?

3/15/2007 9:20:49 AM

My roommate does. Fucking nuts.

3/15/2007 11:24:15 AM

First question....what can you do now?? Do you run?? Do you bike?? Do you swim??

Honestly, you could do it without doing any of the three right now...but it would help in giving you advice.

Swimming is definitely the harder of the three unless you've swam competitively in the past and have a good stroke. If you haven't, I would recommend getting with a good swimmer and have them work with you on your stroke. Swimming conditioning is an assload harder than running or biking conditioning.

Running is running. You can find good running advice in other threads.

Biking is biking. If you're really serious, you can get an expensive road bike. Make sure you go to a good bike shop and get a bike specifically for you. But you can easily get by with just a decent bike period. I've seen guys on 10-speeds blow past guys with several thousand dollar bikes.

That's about all I've got for now. My dad has been doing triathlons for about 20 years now and I've seen him train and race a lot. I've done a lot of running, biking, and swimming, but never done all three consistently at the same time to be confident enough to do a triathlon. I was in a swimming conditioning class my senior year at State, and that's the closest I've come to be in good triathlon condition. If I could find a pool here in downtown Charleston that didn't cost me an arm and a leg, then I would pick it back up again. I think I'm going to have to wait until summer and just do some open water swimming.

3/15/2007 12:42:54 PM

wow thanks. currently i run a 5k three times a week, but only at a moderate pace. ~25min +/-2 depending on the day. I really dont see the running being an issue, nor do i see the biking being an issue, as long as i can get the endurance up to do it. Swimming will be the hardest part i'm certain. I haven't swam in years, and when I did it was only as a kid playing marco polo. Would you advise doing a trial run some time a week or two before the actual race?

3/15/2007 2:14:51 PM

Can you swim the proper crawl, face in the water, couple strokes, then breath?

A trial run can't hurt. If you can't get a full swim bike run in (due to logistical reasons, or otherwise), you need to at least do a bike to run brick or two. When you hop off the bike and start running, you'll initially have a dead leg feeling. You don't want to have race day be your first experience with this.

I can't remember if I did a bike/run brick by itself in training or if my first time doing that was on the day I did all three. Either way will work.

I went to Optimist early on a Saturday morning and did the swim, got out and changed as quickly as possible and hopped on the bike, then changed out of that for the run as quickly as possible. It definitely wasn't as fast as race day, but it was definitely helpful to get a taste of it.

3/15/2007 2:25:24 PM

From what I hear, getting the transitions down is important. People normally train with "bricks" where you practice one of the transitions (i.e. a swim then bike workout or a bike then run workout). Not only does it help you get the mechanics of the switch down to save time, but it gets your muscles use to having to run after biking or whatever. Not speaking from experience though, I'm just a runner. I'd like to try a triathlon sometime.

3/15/2007 3:01:34 PM

how far is the run portion of the triathlon?

3/15/2007 3:47:07 PM

I'm pretty sure that a real triathlon's run portion is a 10K. But the most popular triathlon's are sprint triathlons where the run is just a 5K. I don't think I'd ever do anymore more than a sprint triathlon.

It's different wherever you go depending on the course...but it's usually close to a 1 mile swim, 10 mile bike ride, and 3 mile run.

3/15/2007 3:56:49 PM

This one is mile swim, 15 mile bike ride and 5k

3/15/2007 3:58:04 PM

Which one is it?

3/15/2007 4:00:25 PM

@synchrony7
brick workouts are done mostly for the training aspect of getting used to run/bike back-to-back, not necessarily to work on transitions. Transitions need to be practiced in, ummm, transition workouts.

For a beginner, don't stress too much about your transition. I mean sure, get some tips, layout your transition pad in an efficient manner, prepare your shoes, and practice the steps you will go through, but don't worry about shaving seconds off by slipping out of your shoes while on the bike then making a running exit off the bike - that kind of stuff will just lead to crashing and embarrassment.


^^ that sounds like a long swim. There are very few sprint tri's that have a mile swim. The only one that I know of that is close to that is the Wilmington Sprint Tri that has a 1500m swim, and the reason it's so long is that it is point-to-point, going inland, so theoretically the current and/or tide is usually going in and should make the swim seem much shorter. Most sprint tris (those with 15m bikes and 5k runs) should be around 750m swim, less than half a mile.

[Edited on March 15, 2007 at 4:07 PM. Reason : .]

3/15/2007 4:04:27 PM

Quote :

"This one is mile swim, 15 mile bike ride and 5k"

That's weird.
.42 of an ironman swim
.13 of an ironman bike
.12 of an ironman run

That swim is abnormally long. With those other two distances, I'd expect the swim to be about 500 meters (.13 of ironman distance).

[Edited on March 15, 2007 at 6:52 PM. Reason : not that i know anything about triathlons .... i'm just a fan of consistency]

3/15/2007 6:51:12 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triathlon#Standard_race_distances

3/15/2007 6:57:20 PM

ah ha, someone added that one 0 one tri distance I was telling you about the other day.

3/15/2007 8:12:04 PM

a mile swim would be awesome, that's the part I'd do well on

i was easily able to do a mile in 25 min or less... (slack pace)

[Edited on March 15, 2007 at 8:43 PM. Reason : d]

3/15/2007 8:26:43 PM

I have done about 8 or 10.....I always found training on all 3 disciplines is the key to doing ok.

3/15/2007 10:08:47 PM

Think I will be doing the one in Chapel Hill in a few months. I have never done one but ride and run together a lot and just need to get the swim down but even that isn't that far just getting the endurance together to do all three will take some time.

4/2/2007 2:22:53 PM

about how long does it take to swim 750m? my spatial skills do not include meters, especially when i look at the length of a pool. i used to swim straight for 30 minutes before, but lord knows i had a headache after almost every time.

my husband and i want to do a mini-try some day. we're strictly novices. we run about 2 5k's each year, 1 10k. bike probably once a week (weather permitting). we have a book on going from a couch potato to a tri-athlete with training guidelines - we just haven't employed it.

4/2/2007 2:56:17 PM

Quote :

"about how long does it take to swim 750m? my spatial skills do not include meters, especially when i look at the length of a pool."

Are you swimming in an Olympic sized pool? If so, are you swimming across the width of the pool, or along the length?

If you are swimming the width, if you count 1 lap as up and back (50 yards), then figure on about 16 of these for 750m. If you are an average swimmer, figure on it taking about 1 min per 50 yds or meters.

If you can swim for 30 minutes straight, you'll be able to complete a 750 regardless of how poor your form is, assuming you get over the mental block of swimming in open water where you can't see the bottom.

4/2/2007 3:10:30 PM

^^750 meter = 0.466 028 394 mile

4/2/2007 3:16:34 PM

Which one in Chapel Hell are you going to do?

4/2/2007 3:35:47 PM

^I found this one that will give me some time to train some more and is close by.



http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventid=668

4/3/2007 8:28:17 AM

Quote :

"brick workouts are done mostly for the training aspect of getting used to run/bike back-to-back, not necessarily to work on transitions. Transitions need to be practiced in, ummm, transition workouts."

No need to get sarcastic about it, geez. I was merely trying to point out (I'm a runner don't have any experience with triathlons) you might want to figure out those things, not for speed necessarily, but you can get some uncomfortable chafing/blistering running in wet shoes/shorts etc. Actually trying to swim and then bike in wet clothes might give you an idea of what materials are more comfortable and stuff.

For example I found when running a marathon, wearing compression shorts under your regular gym shorts is the best way to be comfortable once you get past 15 miles. Some people swear by BodyGlide but it doesn't do crap after you've been running for 3 hours.

4/3/2007 12:45:16 PM

i'll be at these for this season
usat collegiate nationals
white lake half im
triangle
duke liver half im
florida im

plus one or two other marathons and a few century races, haven't decided on which ones yet

4/3/2007 12:51:44 PM

I am planning on:

Kure Beach June 27th
Triangle July 15th or J.F Hurley July 21st not sure which yet
Chapel Hill Sprint in August

4/3/2007 12:59:22 PM

probably going to get back into the tri's this fall. decided to train for the chicago marathon in october instead of tris this season

4/3/2007 1:12:03 PM

Quote :

"i'll be at these for this season usat collegiate nationals white lake half im triangle duke liver half im florida im plus one or two other marathons and a few century races, haven't decided on which ones yet"

Are you a student, or how do you find time to train?

4/3/2007 1:32:27 PM

Quote :

"No need to get sarcastic about it, geez."

i wasn't being sarcastic.
I was sincerely informing you on what the purpose of a brick was, and that there is such a thing called a "transition workout", which is what's used to practice transitions.

4/3/2007 9:43:23 PM

my my my

4/3/2007 10:34:19 PM

^^^I am a student, 21 hours this semester plus 2 jobs (technically 3 though)... ha sometimes it sucks. Although it's not too bad as long as you make time for it and plan ahead. I pretty much have to make a schedule and follow it strictly. Not unusual to go for swims as soon as the pool opens in the morning or long runs starting around 10-11pm, when it's too dark to bike I'll do a workout on the trainer, etc. Plus I view all the other tri's, marathons, etc. I view as part of my training for for Florida.

4/4/2007 1:08:48 AM

triathalon very very difficult to achieve victory. you must dicipline hard for that very well. good luck to you.

4/4/2007 1:12:48 AM

^^ Jesus. Do you have a social life? I work a full time job, about 45-50 hrs a week, and I could do all that if I eliminated all my friends from my life and devoted all my other non work time strictly to eating, training, and sleeping. And with a girlfriend, that's basically not an option.

4/4/2007 10:15:16 AM

Yeah, i would say I do have a social life. A lot of my good friends I either work with or live with so that helps a lot. Not being in a serious/defined relationship helps out probably even more. I've cut out a lot of things like watching TV, AIM or spending too much time on the Internet (I'm actually surprised I responded to this thread), but that's not really related to tri's, more of my personal preference. Besides I'm not the type to go out to bars/parties 3-5 times a week, though I might occasionally go to Mitch's or Flying Saucer with friends once every 1-2 weeks. Honestly, it's not that difficult to do, it just has to be important enough to you to make the dedication. As for me, it's a been a long term personal goal so it's definitely worth it. Plus, being busy makes you appreciate the time you do get to spend with friends and family that much more.

[Edited on April 4, 2007 at 1:06 PM. Reason : .]

4/4/2007 1:04:56 PM

[Edited on April 4, 2007 at 8:52 PM. Reason : dunno]

4/4/2007 8:48:39 PM

It was less than 90 days since the old thread died.

Is anyone currently training for one? What are some good swim workouts you can recommend?

What are the best ones in the Triangle?

Does flow yoga count as a strength training workout for triathlon training?

6/14/2007 11:29:54 PM

i want to start training for triathalon,,,, i want to find someone who can swim bike and run and will train with me.

6/15/2007 12:09:45 AM

I could give you some sample swim workouts if you could provide me some information.

What's your background in swimming?
What's the furthest you've swam in the past 2 weeks? the past 3 months?
How often do you swim a week?
What are you training for (triathlon distance: sprint, international/olympic, half, IM)?
Do you get neck pain?
Do you get shoulder pain?

Yoga can be a strength workout. It's generally used as active recovery, at least when I train it is.

[Edited on June 15, 2007 at 2:17 AM. Reason : .]

6/15/2007 2:13:35 AM

My great-great uncle won the silver medal in the 1936 pentathlon if that helps
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/cfleonardjr.htm

6/15/2007 11:58:27 AM

why would it?

6/15/2007 11:59:00 AM

Because it's cool, that's why.

6/15/2007 12:20:52 PM

well, it's also cool that he's dead.

6/15/2007 12:36:18 PM

i just volunteered to compete in the Iditarod, and 1,150 mile dogsled race lasting 15 days over the world's toughest terrain. wish me luck!

6/15/2007 1:31:40 PM

I have done about 6 or 7 ....the key I found out is of course train for all phases.....but you should also practice your transitions....you can knock a couple min's off your time just getting that down....but it all depends how serious you are !! Good Luck !!

6/15/2007 3:17:45 PM

Quote :

"If you are swimming the width, if you count 1 lap as up and back (50 yards), then figure on about 16 of these for 750m. If you are an average swimmer, figure on it taking about 1 min per 50 yds or meters."

no


25m one way (length)
25m back (length)

50m lap (2 lengths)

500m = 20 lengths or 10 laps
750m = 30 lengths or 15 laps (1.5 times 500 distance)

but no one refers to things in this manner really, i say lap and mean 25m/y so it's 30 to me.... or 7 100's plus a all out sprint

6/15/2007 4:01:59 PM

Hey Liusclues,

I am a better than average swimmer, I take 50 sec-1 min/ 50 m (that's my timed average, free, over distances > 500 m) I swim about 2x a week, 30-40 min, with mostly free, some back and breast, and the occasional fly.

I mostly practice:
50 m sprints (5-8 per practice?)
steady swimming (medley-20-30 min)
kicks, pull buoy

I am mainly looking to improve my speed and muscle strength in the water and vary my workouts.

Also, I do Ashtanga yoga in self practice, basic series, with some extra poses thrown in for my back (stiff shoulder blades from swimming).

What are the best poses you've found for upper body strength? I do a sitting lift with my legs crossed, arms at sides, between sitting poses.

6/15/2007 5:24:20 PM

i did.

6/16/2007 2:55:33 PM

bttt

Triangle is coming up in a couple weeks. Any takers?

6/25/2007 12:06:54 PM

So what if you never learned to swim? What's a good way an adult can learn and get the proper technique?

6/25/2007 1:42:44 PM

Classes at the Y or a private instructor is your best bet. If you are naturally athletic, you could probably pick it up on your own with a friend that knows how to swim giving you tips.

6/27/2007 11:14:25 PM