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Winter Triathlons ? , Winter Training?

  • 07-08-2008 9:09am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,900 ✭✭✭


    hi all
    I was just looking at the events calender on the triathlon ireland website and there doesnt seem to be any triathlons after september , is the triathlon season feb to Sep ?
    Also how do you train in the winter ? Do you go to the gym and the pool ? Are gym bikes really suitable to train on , Do you swim in OW in Winter ?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭hunnymonster


    Gym bikes are not really suitable to train on as they have the wrong geometry. Spinning bikes are more useful because you can set them up to your own dimensions. Not all gyms will let you use spinning bikes outside of classes though. Another alternative is a turbo-trainer but tbh, the best approach is to htfu. There is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing :-)

    Some people OW swim throughout the year but most give up for the winter. There is no reason to give up on pool sessions though.

    Running is pretty easy all year around but be wary of unlit roads when it is dark.

    There are a couple of winter duathlon/pool aquathon races around the place but the majority of events are in the summer when the water temperatures are high and the roads not going to be frosty. There is also the possibility of traveling abroad for some winter sun and a race. I'm off to Florida in November for just such a thing.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 681 ✭✭✭Killgore Trout


    Pretty new to this traithlong thing - but now i've started it's hard to stop.

    I OW swim all year round already - I find that the water doesn't get cold till November - this is when i'll start using my wetsuit, now that i have one, for keeping the distance up. Much prefer swimming in the sea though i feel the pool gives the structure required for improving times etc...

    I really need to improve my biking and running - so there is no letup planned for winter. As for running - there are plenty of lit up roads with footpaths about - so no worries there. I'll cycle all year round - since I've already been commuting by bike all year round it's not going to be a problem applying that to bike training.

    Would be nice to have a few events to focus on during the winter (that don't involve travelling abroad - Mrs Trout thinks I'm obsessed already - unless we integrate it with a good holiday, cos that's what Mrs Trout is obsessed with - hmmm...)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭hunnymonster


    Between this year and next we are taking 5 holidays

    Beach Holiday in the South of France (aka Ironman France)
    English Coastal Break (aka swimming the channel)
    Winter sun (aka Ironman Florida)
    walking sand holiday (aka marathon des Sables)
    European fly-drive break (aka Ironman Germany/Switzerland combination).

    It's all in how you sell it :-)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,035 ✭✭✭Funkyzeit


    I think Turbo trainer for the winter will be the way forward during weeknights (when it's too dark to go out). I remember when I started training I used the bikes in the gym and HunneyM is dead right - they do practically nothing for your bike times.

    I suppose it'll be pool training for me as we al can't afford a holiday to Florida !! ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭hunnymonster


    Believe it or not, it's the blooming channel that is working out the most expensive. Besides the pilot and accreditation fees, we have to plan to be there for 2 weeks because the launch date is dependant on so many factors. The price of accommodation is much higher in UK than Florida and I haven't even started to think how much petrol we're going to burn through. Florida is also just the two of us whereas we've a swimmer (Mr HM) and crew of 3 for the channel.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 399 ✭✭estariol


    Pretty new to this traithlong thing - but now i've started it's hard to stop.

    I OW swim all year round already - I find that the water doesn't get cold till November - this is when i'll start using my wetsuit, now that i have one, for keeping the distance up. Much prefer swimming in the sea though i feel the pool gives the structure required for improving times etc...

    I really need to improve my biking and running - so there is no letup planned for winter. As for running - there are plenty of lit up roads with footpaths about - so no worries there. I'll cycle all year round - since I've already been commuting by bike all year round it's not going to be a problem applying that to bike training.

    Would be nice to have a few events to focus on during the winter (that don't involve travelling abroad - Mrs Trout thinks I'm obsessed already - unless we integrate it with a good holiday, cos that's what Mrs Trout is obsessed with - hmmm...)

    Where do you OW swim?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,435 ✭✭✭christeb


    I'm off to Florida in November for just such a thing.

    Do you know Kim Visby by any chance (I work in the same company)? He worked in Ireland last year and I know he's planning on travelling to do this event. And hoping to do very well by the sounds of it!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 681 ✭✭✭Killgore Trout


    estariol wrote: »
    Where do you OW swim?

    Sorry - forgot to reply to this. Out Portmarnock way usually. Will be back down there Sundays after the OW racing season is over


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 399 ✭✭estariol


    thanks for reply, gonna try seapoint with a friend on sunday!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 681 ✭✭✭Killgore Trout


    estariol wrote: »
    thanks for reply, gonna try seapoint with a friend on sunday!

    Since we're talking about OW swimming - there is a race at 12:00 Saturday at Kiliney Beach and one 12:45 Sunday at High Rock, Portmarnock.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7 El Hamster


    The reason there are no triathlon events in the 'off season' is that most triathelites do not like to get dirty or cold. If you are a runner, cyclist or swimmer, you will have no problem finding a winter event in your discipline, but it seems that it's not possible to combine these 3 pursuits outside of a May to August window because of some unknown reasons.

    Some people will cite 'water temperature' for the swim excuse. Show me one lake in Ireland where the water temperature varies by more than 3 degrees C between Summer and Winter, or a sea temp. that varies by more than 6 degs. The water temperature in a lake in the summer (when triathlons take place) will be lower than the sea temp. in winter (when the water is deemed too cold....?!) Anyway, what are wetsuits for?

    All runners know that Winter means; cross country. That's Irish for muck, dirt and hardship. Most runners will relish that, but not triathelites. They might get their tri-suits dirty!

    And as for cycling; Sean Kelly (some of you may recognise him as the greatest Irish cyclist that has ever lived) when asked how he managed to face into going out for a long spin on the bike in poor weather conditions in the Winter, replied: 'I never knew what it was like until I went outside'
    I'll translate that for the weaker minded amongst you: 'he was planning to go cycling, so he went cycling!'

    I do triathlons.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,365 ✭✭✭hunnymonster


    El Hamster wrote: »
    , or a sea temp. that varies by more than 6 degs.
    It's always a good idea to have your facts straight before you adopt an arrogant tone.;) In Cork we routinely have sea temperatures of 6-7 C in winter and it's currently 15-16 C. Variations in the lakes and rivers is even more.

    El Hamster wrote: »
    I'll translate that for the weaker minded amongst you: 'he was planning to go cycling, so he went cycling!'
    Cycling in winter is a very different game to cycling in summer. It is more dangerous because it is more often wet and icy and visibility is less. There are less hours of daylight so less opportunities to get outside safety. You need more clothing (added expense) you need to clean your bike more often (extra time a lot of people don't have).

    In winter I switch to running so that I can do an ultramarathon in spring, This year it happens to be he MdS (a wee sandy race for the weak minded!) This suits me, not because I'm weaker minded but because I have a life ans spending 2 hours every weekend taking a bike apart to clean is not time I'm willing to give up. Restricting myself to cycling between 9am and 4pm is not something I'm willing to do. I do sometimes cycle in winter but way way less than in summer and it has absolutely nothing to do with being weaker minded.
    El Hamster wrote: »
    I do triathlons.
    As do I. You'll find most people posting in triathlon treads in the triathlon/marathon forum do triathlons, or are getting ready to do one. Do you want a prize?


    There are a number of reasons why triathlon is a summer sport in Ireland. Not least is that sensible people periodise their training and need a down season. Racing every week (or two) throughout the summer as many people do will take it's toll and athletes will take a break in September/October and spend the winter working on weaknesses and base fitness before gearing back up in the spring.


    to everyone else, can you tell I'm just back from a hard 5 hour cycle and a bit pumped???;);)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,584 ✭✭✭✭tunney


    El Hamster wrote: »
    The reason there are no triathlon events in the 'off season' is that most triathelites do not like to get dirty or cold. If you are a runner, cyclist or swimmer, you will have no problem finding a winter event in your discipline, but it seems that it's not possible to combine these 3 pursuits outside of a May to August window because of some unknown reasons.

    Some people will cite 'water temperature' for the swim excuse. Show me one lake in Ireland where the water temperature varies by more than 3 degrees C between Summer and Winter, or a sea temp. that varies by more than 6 degs. The water temperature in a lake in the summer (when triathlons take place) will be lower than the sea temp. in winter (when the water is deemed too cold....?!) Anyway, what are wetsuits for?

    I've come close, dangerously, to hypothermia twice. One time was after a 6 hour ride in the middle of Janurary when it started to pi$$ rain 15 minutes into the ride and didn't stop. The other time was after DNFing a triathlon which took place in freezing and rough conditions, winter like conditions. The swim took longer because of the conditions so you were not only in colder water but also in it for longer. Driving winds and rain coupled with low temperatures and the typical two piece tri suit and low body fat percentage meant I got 15 minutes into the bike and couldn't continue.

    Wet suits are great but the ones used in triathlon are not diving suits, nor surfing suits, they are designed with speed in mind not cold temperatures.
    El Hamster wrote: »
    All runners know that Winter means; cross country. That's Irish for muck, dirt and hardship. Most runners will relish that, but not triathelites. They might get their tri-suits dirty!

    Cross county is great fun. When I used to run with a well known dublin running club at least 50% of the cross country teams were triathletes.

    Triathlon is made up of swim bike AND run - you know that right?

    El Hamster wrote: »
    And as for cycling; Sean Kelly (some of you may recognise him as the greatest Irish cyclist that has ever lived) when asked how he managed to face into going out for a long spin on the bike in poor weather conditions in the Winter, replied: 'I never knew what it was like until I went outside'
    I'll translate that for the weaker minded amongst you: 'he was planning to go cycling, so he went cycling!'

    Emmmm funny you should mention cyclists and poor weather conditions. This year I plucked up the courage to go out with a Dublin Cycling club. First time out with them (and last) it was raining very hard, it was cold too. Imagine my surprise when a load of them said "its not going to stop raining, I'm going home". WTF???

    Again alot of cycling clubs members are triathletes - orwell, swords, Murphy and Gunn and Dublin Wheelers are all clbus I know with lots of triathletes.
    El Hamster wrote: »
    I do triathlons.

    Not for very long nor seriously I'd venture a guess if you haven't figured out the reason people do triathlon is that they love swimming, cycling and running and just because its not suitable to hold triathlons doesn't mean there aren't triathletes knocking their nuts off in running races, cycling races and duathlons year round.


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