Triathlon?

[BitBackShot]

Sprint Triathlons aren't a big deal. Can you swim? Yes? You're fine. Can you ride a bike? Yes? You're fine. Can you put one foot in front of the other? Yes? You're fine.

Hopefully you have fun and can use it as a springboard to longer races, but you don't need to overthink it. Just do as you're doing and get into all around good shape and you'll be fine. At that distance, you don't even need to drink water or anything during the race.

If you move up to longer distances, you'll need to start working in energy gels, etc and figure out how to drink while running, but that's at substantially longer races.

Just have fun. Good luck.

[SaintBlaise]

Best advise it to train with someone with experience. Not sure what your level is but here are a few tips in case you are a newbie.

Guide to being a Completer...
- if you can swim, don't waste too much time training on the swim. The race is probably just a 1/2 miles swim, that will only take 30-40 minutes. Spend extra time working on your run or bike, they are the hardest.
- practice the transition from the swim to the bike a couple of times
- do a brick every week. (after your bike, run a mile, build up to 3)
- learn biking etiquette like signaling, how to pass, when to allow a rider to pass, how far to stay off someone's wheel. If you bump their rear wheel with your front, your going over your handle bars.
- eat well the night before
_

[Ouch]

I've had enchiladas 4 days in a row.

[Luckyhunter]

There is one in Fairfield NW of Houston. 200 swim, 10 mile bike, 5k run. I got the swim and bike no problem. It’s the building to a 5k and being able to do it after the swim and bike that will require serious work.

http://www.fairfieldtri.com/

My goal is to run the 5k and feel like the training paid off at the end of the whole thing. I know I will survive, but I want to finish strong. Not worried about winning, my momma already says I’m a winner...even though Ryan went out of his way to ruin that.

Looks like it will be a fun race! Honestly if you feel comfortable with the first two you should have a good race, just save a little for the run.

Be sure you post after and let us know how it went!!

Best of Luck, Ken

[txpitdog]

If I am able to do this sprint tri at the end of October, would it be reasonable to work my way to doing an Olympic length event a the beginning of January? Or do I need more time to train?


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[northernhunter]

Me and the wife have done a bunch, everything from sprints and Olympic, up to a few half Ironmans. Your first race will be a serious learning curve no matter what the distance. Just try to enjoy it and don't over push. Everything else will work itself out from there. This book has some great training plans for all of the distances and abilities, highly recommend it to give your training some structure: Triathlete Magazine's Essential Week-by-Week Training Guide: Plans, Scheduling Tips, and Workout Goals for Triathletes of All Levels by Matthew Fitzgerald. $17 on amazon

[BitBackShot]

If I am able to do this sprint tri at the end of October, would it be reasonable to work my way to doing an Olympic length event a the beginning of January? Or do I need more time to train?


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Every person is different, but my experience was that the first couple were hard and then I improved drastically over my next few. I went from Sprint Distance to a Half Ironman in around a year with a bunch of Olympics tossed in between. The most important thing is to get comfortable running after biking. So every time you bike, even if you don't have time to get in a full run, take off and do a quarter mile or something.

[Stins]

Keep it simple and set realistic expectations. Im a big guy and have done them all, even a full IM. It takes alot of time to safely build the endurance. Most important thing, have fun. The thing that I enjoyed the most was working out with a group. They encouraged me, taught me alot and pushed me.

My wife uses a coach, that is mainly to eliminate the arguments between her and I when I try to "coach" her. That said I have no business, she has completed 4 full IM.

if you need a plan, lots of beginners plans you can get online

[Hart8]

I've done a few,and always thought the clipless shoes,and pedals were overrated for short bike rides.
Avoid potholes,and manhole covers at all cost.Nothing sucks worse than having a flat on race day!

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[Kevin]

It takes alot of time to safely build the endurance.

This is so true. When I started exercising again at age ~32, it took a long time to build up endurance without injury, and I still only weighed ~170 lbs @ 6 foot. I was for sure skinny fat.

[hooligan]

If I am able to do this sprint tri at the end of October, would it be reasonable to work my way to doing an Olympic length event a the beginning of January? Or do I need more time to train?


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I think you’ll be fine

If you like podcasts check our Purple Patch Podcast. Matt Dixon is an amazing wealth of knowledge. Has some great books on training too. Most of his stuff is 70.3 and Ironman related but he does go over short course stuff

[txpitdog]

Thanks again for the help and suggestions. I’m not going to get ahead of myself but I am finding that I enjoy the training and exercise part of it. I hope to keep it going after this first attempt!

[hog_down]

If you like podcasts check our Purple Patch Podcast. Matt Dixon is an amazing wealth of knowledge. Has some great books on training too. Most of his stuff is 70.3 and Ironman related but he does go over short course stuff

Any other suggestions regarding marathon training podcasts? I like Dixon, but sometimes difficult to hear. Thanks!

[hooligan]

Any other suggestions regarding marathon training podcasts? I like Dixon, but sometimes difficult to hear. Thanks!

Yeah their audio can be hit and miss some episodes but I have yet to find anything as good on fueling and hydration as the episodes they have put out.

For just run training I like Science of Ultra and some of the RUNfit 365

Tower26 is the best swim related podcast I’ve found. Tons of great info from those guys

[txpitdog]

So far so good! Never really followed through with a plan online but have been building intensity and duration in my own. Many thanks to be12hunt for the Garmin watch. It’s been a huge help! Doing swim twice a week. One just a solid 3x500 with warmup and warm down, and one easier Zone 2 workout of the same but with a 5 mile bike ride afterwards. Cycling is two 17 mile rides a week - one easy at Zone 2 and one harder brick with a 1.3mi run at the end. Running is up to a 5k during the week and the run after the bike. First brick attempt the run nearly killed me, but my legs definitely got stronger. Now doing a brick every week. I’m still getting adjusted to my new bike. Learning how to stay comfortable on it and today I had my best ride. I am apparently most comfortable riding in the drops instead of the hoods so that kept my hands from going numb. Second attempt at a brick this morning and I felt great. Best time for the 17mi bike then matched my fastest mile split on the run afterwards. Could tell I am strong enough to survive the 5k after the bike ride, so I may increase the run on brick workouts.

Decided to do the Pearland sprint TRI on Oct 20 instead of the one in Fairfield on the 27th. It’s 500m/22k/5k, and there’s a matching distance one in Katy two weeks later. I know I will be ready, and the Katy event will give me a chance to try and improve my time. Never thought I would be able to do anything athletic again but I am having a blast seeing what this old carcass still has left in it.