late registration put me as the 2nd to last one in the pool and passing was pretty much futile
300m swim: 00:06:57
T1: 00:01:56 it was ~55 degrees and it's very tough to put on a long sleeved t shirt when wet lol
10 mi. bike: 00:37:37 (chain came off 2 times, n00b mistake, 2nd time on new bike)
T2: 00:00:59
5k run: 00:25:53 not any slower than a normal run, probably didnt push hard enough at all

lots of fun though

4/11/2011 11:00:06 AM

H8R, assuming you did Granite Falls? I had the same problem of not being able to get long sleeves on for the bike. My arms were numb by mile 2. I guess I should have been more prepared for cold weather and set up a towel to dry off with, but I was expecting low 60's, not high 40's. I was lucky enough to be the second swimmer in the late entry group, so the swim worked out fine. It was a fun but challenging course, there were some pretty tough climbs on the bike course.

4/11/2011 12:15:35 PM

!

pretty much screwing doctors orders and doing a tri in july (i tore my rotator cuff and i shouldn't be swimming... oh well)

gonna do a sprint in july then olympic in september

6/6/2011 5:51:38 PM

Anyone doing the 3 Little Pigs Triathlon here in Smithfield?

6/7/2011 9:44:38 PM

So after mostly just practicing the pieces independently for the first 4 or 5 races I did, I have joined a training group. I think it'll be good to put some structure around it, instead of just going to the Y and doing some random swimming or going for a run.

I have Lake Norman Y Triathlon in Charlotte in August, already did Tri Latta in Charlotte earlier this year.

Anyone have races coming up?

6/27/2011 8:06:20 AM

I have the Colonial Beach in a week and a half and then the OBX full in September

6/28/2011 9:08:03 PM

Washington Olympic at end of July
White Lake Olympic in September

6/29/2011 10:24:51 AM

^^ What is the OBX full? When you say full I think Ironman. Is that what you mean?

^ I had signed up for White Lake last year and flaked out. Hopefully I'll do an Olympic in the next couple years.

6/29/2011 1:37:27 PM

oh no. full in my brainmeans olympic

6/29/2011 2:01:47 PM

triathlon on saturday... times to beat from last year:

Your time was 1:48:18.55.

Your Swim time was 17:53.80, Overall place 85, Gender place 25
Your Bike time was 49:57.35, Overall Place 125, Gender place 38, Speed 17.3mph.
Your Run time was 36:50.45, Overall place 150, Run Pace 11:53min/mile

the run i can definitely step it up (obviously my weakest link) swim is pretty decent and the bike i can maybe shave a few minutes off of, but for me - that's decent too.

7/6/2011 11:16:25 AM

Ok it's official:

signed up for my age group for Washington, NC Olympic on July 30,and then my
first half-Ironman at Washington, NC on Oct. 29!

I've always wanted to do the Beach to Battleship half-IM in Wilmington, but I want at least
a few more under my belt before I attempt that particular one.

7/9/2011 3:27:54 PM

Nice!!

I'm not sure I could do a half ironman. I'm signed up for my first Olympic tri in September on the outer banks. Then my first half marathon in November... We'll see how those go.

Today was crap. I felt horrible. I need to step up my training like whoah.

7/9/2011 6:22:29 PM

^ Sure you can do a half-IM, it's just if you can find the time to train and do it without injuring yourself. My goal is to actually complete the half-IM this year in the time limit, and improve on my Olympic time from last year (I'd like to get it under 3 hours).

7/9/2011 7:03:57 PM

^ we'll see

at the earliest - next season.

and i checked out my splits. my extra three minutes - completely on the run. oh well

7/10/2011 8:15:11 AM

Btw, if any of you are looking for decent plans, I would recommend getting Tri Magazine's Essential Week by Week Training Guide by Matt Fitzgerald. It has everything from sprint to Ironman distances, beginner to advanced, and spells out exactly what to do day by day, especially for the swim.

7/11/2011 10:31:46 AM

Anyone do the Triangle Tri yesterday. I would have liked to do it, but it is so damn hot. I wish they didn't schedule this right in the middle of summer.

7/11/2011 11:01:01 AM

^^ thanks I'll check it out. I'm lucky, though, in that the swim is probably my strongest part of the tri

7/11/2011 11:45:58 AM

I'm in a triathlon training group currently and the swim coach is tough! We swam 2200 on Thursday, 2000 this morning and she's giving us a swim plan for the days we don't meet (meet once a week for swim).

7/11/2011 1:20:39 PM

nice

7/12/2011 7:46:19 AM

I really now want to start training seriously for triathlons. My only thing holding me back is the fact that I have a weak bike.

I think I might bite the bullet and get one though :-/

Any thoughts on this bike?

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1104605_-1_20000__400306

7/16/2011 9:40:55 AM

Fuji makes a decent bike. If this is your first big boy roadbike it'll do nicely for you. There are a couple of things that I would change if you want me to be completely honest. I wouldn't dip below Shimano 105 on any of the components, you'll enjoy it more in the long run if you're running 105 or better as opposed to Tiagra. Maybe take a look at the Scattante R-570 for another $100. I'm also not a huge fan of triple cranksets unless you live in an area where you'll be doing some serious climbing it's just not necessary.

The best advice I can give you though is to take several out before you buy anything.

7/16/2011 10:54:18 AM

Yea I need to test a few.... Maybe I'll do that this week. Thanks for the advice.

There aren't huge climbs around here - but there are some decent hills.

What I'd like to do mainly is keep my hybrid bike for commuting then use my road bike for long distances and racing.... Ideally

7/16/2011 11:27:47 AM

^That's what I do. Most are for commuting/touring/barhopping, 2 are for training. I keep one road bike on the trainer when I do use it, and 1 off of it so I can grab it and go if the weather's good. It's nice to hop on a bike and not have to take off stuff to lighten it up.

7/16/2011 12:34:01 PM

Did the Washington Olympic Tri in Washington, NC on Saturday. Times were:

Swim:
31:07.2 2:05
T1 1:59
Bike: 1:15:26.9 18.7
T2: 1:12
Run: 1:06:30.6 10:44
Total: 2:56:14.6

I'm proud of my transitions and my swim times, especially as this was my first saltwater swim in the Pamlico River, and I dropped my swim time down a bit. Bike was ok, although it taught me I need to get a pro fit for aero bars. There was a stiff wind and the resistance hurt.

Run was absolutely atrocious: I was on pace to run sub 1 hour, but rolled my ankle outward on around mile 4 of the run course and had to walk the last couple miles. I'm sitting at home in a brace now and am hoping I won't have to aqua-jog while it heals. Still finished in my time goal of under 3 hours, though.

Also, saltwater + chafing = lots of burns. Will bring Body Glide next time.

Barring major injury, I'm hoping to finish the half-IM in October in about 6.5 hours, because it should be a lot cooler and wetsuit legal, and I hopefully won't be injured. The tri set-up was pretty good for this event-nice roads, even though the run course was a double loop, 1.5 mile out and back. I also won't be wearing UNC blue in my shirt and my swim cap, people kept asking what year I graduated .

8/1/2011 1:00:43 PM

Haha, last year in the LA Tri, the swim cap for my age group was Carolina blue, and it made me so mad.

8/1/2011 1:58:09 PM

Yeah...sometimes I'm not sure who picks out the colors for swim caps. I've had anywhere from hunter green and navy (thanks, you won't even see me if I get kicked in the head and accidentally drown) to bright green and white. Why not fluorescent colors so you can tell we're not ducks or driftwood?

8/1/2011 2:36:29 PM

Quote :

"at the earliest - next season."

in reference to a half ironman

i've now committed myself to doing a half ironman fall of 2012

8/10/2011 11:11:32 AM

^ Nice! I'm dying here in Boulder right now- just went on a 30-min walk and was out of breath from the altitude, should take me another day or so to adjust, then I'm going to run on the bike paths here.

8/11/2011 1:52:50 PM

WIMP

8/11/2011 11:21:41 PM

First Olympic length tri tomorrow

This might just be a disaster.... BUT its my first time this length so goal is to finish it

9/9/2011 9:07:12 PM

So....how was it?

9/10/2011 8:22:06 PM

actually... not that bad

the run was the worst part, not because of the actual running but because it was sunny as fuck out and i got burned (we were on the obx). the swim was really choppy too - there was a wind coming off the ocean and there was a lot of drinking the sound water.

Times:
Swim: 42m12 (1500m)
Bike: 1h26m28 (25miles)
Run: 1h16m28 (10k)

overall: 3.28.19

2nd in my age group (granted there were only 4 of us, but still )

and i only finished 20 minutes after my sister, which is way shocking - she was surprised at how well i was doing

9/10/2011 8:26:49 PM

Good first Oly! Was it a small tri, or are you in the 20-24 age group? I've noticed most of the tri ladies are above 30, and I hear the most competitive age group is 35-39. Uh oh, gonna get my butt kicked when I'm older!

I totally feel you on the running- running is by far my worst sport out of the three, and I hate running in the sun. Today we did about an 8-mile run and felt like hammered shit afterwards- but maybe the bad hangover had something to do with it .

9/10/2011 8:35:15 PM

haha hangover definitely could have something to do with it

i was in the 25-29 age group, my sister is in the 30-34 age group, and she got 9th, i think there were 14 in hers.

it was a rather small tri though.

and there was a guy there that looked ridiculously familiar... any of you people do the obx tri this am?

9/10/2011 8:40:06 PM

Great jerb!

I'm doing my 5th sprint in a couple of weekends and 2nd half marathon in nov.

9/11/2011 9:56:14 AM

which half are you doing?

9/11/2011 9:57:00 AM

city of oaks

9/11/2011 10:08:14 AM

oh okay

i'm doing the obx half on nov. 12

9/11/2011 10:11:58 AM

so i'm looking at starting to plan for my races next season with the end goal (tri wise) to be a half ironman in the fall. maybe the OBX one or there's one in indianhead maryland on the 13th of october.

anyone with any recommendations on a race schedule (timing, number of them, etc) leading up to a half in the fall?

i'm running my first half marathon a week from saturday (but i know that i need to work on the running). swimming and biking i should be okay on.

and honestly my goal is to finish it..... i'd like to be able to run the entire half marathon portion (without walking) but we'll see

11/3/2011 9:24:20 PM

If finishing is your only goal, then you don't really need to worry about peaking your training or anything so I would do as many races as you felt like over the summer. I would try to squeeze in some races that give you confidence you can do the distances (like a metric century bike, or half marathon run). Do you have a training plan?

When you said Fall Triathlon in Maryland, for a second I thought of the Savageman. Youtube Savageman Westernport Wall if you haven't seen it. Crazy hard bike section.

11/3/2011 10:46:41 PM

So, how does one get into triathlons? I've been running for a good while now, but think I want to switch it up... Ideally, I'd like to start with a duathlon (run/bike/run) and then finally get the swimming down. I really don't have a place to swim at the moment and I'd like to make sure I like biking enough to keep pursuing this.

I already have a hybrid type bike, that I ride every once in a while but not as much since I moved a couple miles further out from the beach. So, will people give me weird looks and what not if I show up at a duathlon with that kind of bike, instead of a road bike? A road bike is too big of an investment right now... This is the race I have my eye on http://virginiaduathlon.kalerunning.com/

[Edited on November 4, 2011 at 8:54 AM. Reason : .]

11/4/2011 8:53:14 AM

Nothing to get into really except to just sign up, train for one and then do it. Noone will look at you funny if you don't have all the perfect equipment. When you train, make sure and do some bike to run sessions as there is definitely a rubber leg feeling you have to get used to. Might help to hop in with some of the development groups out of the triathlon/bike shops. I am pretty sure Tri-sports has one. Makes training much more fun IMO.

I don't know anything about that particular duathlon, but it's a doable distance for a beginner. If you don't already have your heart set on that particular one, I would check outhttp://www.woodlaketriathlon.com/. It's a great course not too far from Raleigh, laid back atmosphere and excellent for beginners. In fact, I can guarantee you wouldn't be the only one without a road/triathlon bike there. They have a duathlon course, but the swim is great for beginners because it's in a lake cove that only gets about neck deep at the deepest point. It's also cheap because it's an independent race.

11/4/2011 10:00:35 AM

Not too bad to get into them- I added one piece of equipment at a time (road bike, the tiny tri shorts that make your legs look like tree trunks, bike shoes, top, etc.)

They make tri specific stuff but you don't need any of that crap if you are doing a sprint tri- just the following:

1) swim- goggles, they provide a cap, shorts/shirt that won't drag you down
2) bike- functional bike with 2 hand brakes, gears preferable, helmet (required for safety)
3) run- run shoes, socks. I would wear my running shoes and socks on the bike to save some time.

And practice. There are many free training plans on line like "couch to sprint" newbie sprint ones. Just use the Google.

11/4/2011 11:50:43 AM

Needless to say, peeps, no half IM last week at Washington, NC that I had registered for. Have been battling a left heel/ankle pain for 3 weeks since my half marathon and can't even walk or stand without some pain, and running was out of the question. Oh, and it was 40 degrees, raining and had high winds. Poo on that. I plan on getting my ankle X rayed by a sports medicine doc when I've got some time in a few weeks.

I'll try for another half-IM again next year (this distance really likes to stay out of my reach), maybe Mayo or White Lake in the spring. I'm going to concentrate on weight training and yoga this winter, and some cyclocross races, to give my body/mind a break from tri training.

5 months of training (since June) gets old. How do these crazy people training for a full year for Ironmans?

11/4/2011 12:00:59 PM

^^^ Thanks. I actually live in Virginia Beach, so the VA duathlon is closer and I have ran a few races that Kale has put on, so I know they will do a good job. With that said, I may end up trying the Woodlake one, since it will give me time to work more on the bike. The first part of the year is going to be run heavy since I have a 3-4 races before March. I think there are some bike shops around here that do group rides, I just have to find the time to start. (Hate being the "new" guy in the group too).

^^ Thanks, I think I have all of the essentials. Just need to spend a lot of time on the bike and eventually in a pool.

^That sucks, I was planning on doing the Marine Corps Marathon this year, but 2 months ago I sprained ligaments in my ankle playing soccer. I was pretty much in "marathon shape" at that point too, ended up defering to next year (probably run one before then, b/c I doubt I can wait a year) and ran the 10K instead.

11/4/2011 12:42:18 PM

Quote :

"If finishing is your only goal, then you don't really need to worry about peaking your training or anything so I would do as many races as you felt like over the summer. I would try to squeeze in some races that give you confidence you can do the distances (like a metric century bike, or half marathon run). Do you have a training plan?"

there was a book recommended to me a few pages ago that i picked up. i'm trying to make it through my half marathon on saturday then start into a training for the half ironman/summer triathlons.

i got back in the pool this morning (first time swimming since my tri on 9-10-11) felt good

should be able to swim three mornings a week with my new schedule

11/9/2011 8:41:46 AM

Kuota Kaliber Triathlon Bike for sale

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/bik/2691423395.html

11/11/2011 11:54:58 AM

yay

stationary trainer set up AND it even works.

can't get hit by a car while on this thing

11/25/2011 3:39:01 PM

^ Cool. I am milking this nice weather for all its worth to avoid the trainer. Went on a road ride Thursday morning, went on a mtn bike ride today and didn't die, although I've got some nice bruises and scraped knees because I Superman'ed over the handlebars on a technical descent. I invested in some full coverage gloves today after that one.

My trainer is a Travel Trac Century. Got it from a friend at the co-op. I'm not sure how high end it is, but it seems
to do the job fine while I curse it.

We also have a low-end one from Bell we just got to run a bicycle-powered generator on, so maybe I can actually
produce useful energy while working out, once all of the parts are put together.

11/25/2011 6:16:32 PM

For those of you who use GPS watches to train, what do you use?

^^ Somehow you're going to get hurt on that thing, I don't know how, I just know that the Universe will not allow you to escape unscathed.

11/29/2011 3:49:46 AM