'First Time Triathlete' - The Novice Thread

toomuchdetail

flynne8 wrote: »

i couldnt keep my head underwater cause when i did my googles steamed up and i couldnt see anything!!also people who had their head underwater had no sense of direction and were going all over the place!!(i was at the back) I really had to slow down and let them go ahead.....

Only new to this lark myself last year ,i complted a pool Tri to build up confidence and then went open water with an experienced friend to tried to show me how to sight etc, the sighting is difficult but as per previous post unless your aiming to win or for a fast swim time stay towards the middle or back as the climbing/scramble for position can be off putting .
Had the same issue in Triathlone with both sighting and goggles, you can get an antifog spray which is great but might also be worth paying €20-30 for specialist goggles, also check the fit . Anything that distracts from the swim erodes confidence which makes issues seem worse .
Would recommend you get out into sea/river etc but do so with someone experienced and who knows the tides,swells/currents etc.
Not doing velvet strand myself so know nothing about it , might head to Dublin tho for one.

SueWho

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

No one else suffer from this?

I would use a rich SPF moisturiser about 2 hours before you start the pool swim and just lather on more moisturiser after you're finished the race. SPF is most important for protecting your skin. Also if it does go flaky, use a gentle exfoliating wash followed by more moisturiser to help gently scrub away the flaky bits and renew your skin.

BTH

SueWho wrote: »

I would use a rich SPF moisturiser about 2 hours before you start the pool swim and just lather on more moisturiser after you're finished the race. SPF is most important for protecting your skin. Also if it does go flaky, use a gentle exfoliating wash followed by more moisturiser to help gently scrub away the flaky bits and renew your skin.

Cheers sue. I'm going to look very manly asking for SPF moisturiser in the pharmacy!!

SueWho

BetterThanHoyte wrote: »

Cheers sue. I'm going to look very manly asking for SPF moisturiser in the pharmacy!!

Ha ha, bring out the metrosexual in you Ah but seriously, I know us ladies are a bit too into the lotions and potions but I would consider spf moisturiser a MUST if you are training and racing outdoors. Keeps your skin looking good and more importantly protects it from the harmful sun.

flynne8

im sill looking for a training plan for a olympic tri, cant seem to find one online...Does anyone have any recommendations??

thanks

griffin100

im sill looking for a training plan for a olympic tri, cant seem to find one online...Does anyone have any recommendations??

thanks

http://www.trinewbies.com/tno_trainingprograms.asp

Bagheera

I have a quick question if someone wouldn't mind giving me advice .

I'm training 5-6 days a week at the moment and I'm making sure I get at least one brick session of cycling/running in a week. However on some of the training plans it says to swim and run on the same day. I haven't been managing this as I usually swim before work and am too wrecked by the time the evening comes to even contemplate a run.

Will I find the tri really tough if I don't manage to include these sessions in my training regularly? I'll make the effort and do it if it really needs to be done. Thanks for any advice.

toomuchdetail

Bagheera wrote: »

Will I find the tri really tough if I don't manage to include these sessions in my training regularly? I'll make the effort and do it if it really needs to be done. Thanks for any advice.

Cannot advise as a top end performer but more an mid table wanttobe but I completed 7-8 tris last year and 1 this year so far and never trained twice in 1 day (probably why i am not a top end performer!!:D)
If your set on it try swapping the swim in the morning for the run , Can you run before you actually leave your work place and get into the car i,e park,racecourse etc . I find this a help as I have a solid hours commute but can get 8-12k done on ballybrit racecourse before I go home .
What distance are you training for ?
5-6 days training per week could result in burn out if not balanced .
If you were to do 1 thing the brick is it , the body needs to be able to react .

shotgunmcos

Bagheera wrote: »

I have a quick question if someone wouldn't mind giving me advice .

I'm training 5-6 days a week at the moment and I'm making sure I get at least one brick session of cycling/running in a week. However on some of the training plans it says to swim and run on the same day. I haven't been managing this as I usually swim before work and am too wrecked by the time the evening comes to even contemplate a run.

Will I find the tri really tough if I don't manage to include these sessions in my training regularly? I'll make the effort and do it if it really needs to be done. Thanks for any advice.

No you don't have to do 2 sessions a day. No you won't necessarily suffer in Tris if you don't. Plans are plans. Generic. They have to fit to you not you to them.

5-6 days a week is plenty and as long as you are getting a good balance between hard and easy sessions and spreading between swim, bike and run, you rwill be grand. It all depends on what you want out of Tri. Working on your weakest discipline without neglecting your strength is the hardset part about the training

Most of all enjoy it

kennyb3

Bagheera wrote: »

I'll make the effort and do it if it really needs to be done. Thanks for any advice.

not a triathlete myself (yet) but this bit caught my attention. I think you need to ask yourself what you want to achieve, what you ll be happy with etc. and do the required amount of work.

coming on the internet and asking others how much you may suffer is bit strange - everybody is different first of all. first of all the plans are set out with double sessions on a day so that you can fit enough running, swimming and cycling into one week. if you are missing a run are you somehow making it up elsewhere? if not your probably not doing enough running and thus you are likely to struggle on this part/ get passed by others who have done more miles.

its totally up to yourself what you want to do and achieve.

Fitzilicious

Hi,

I'm another newbie!
I've never taken in part in a triathlon, but I have done numberous 10k and half marathons and the marathon once! I've also done a few adventure races and duathlons!
I am fine with the running and the cycling!
My swimming is okay, but I could do with a few lessons to improve technique etc.
Trying to find a triathlon club to suit me but proving a bit difficult!
I live in Milltown but I have no car and can't seem to find any club that would suit!

Any suggestions for clubs or swimming training would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers

Bagheera

Thanks for above advice. I'm getting a good balance of all 3 disciplines and enjoying all of the training; I suppose I just want to complete the tri in a decent enough time.

kennyb3 wrote: »

coming on the internet and asking others how much you may suffer is bit strange

Don't know why it's strange to ask if I am not achieving 2 disciplines in one day i.e. swimming and running, will I find the tri tough. I will be completing 3 disciplines in a row for it after all!! Just wanted to know about people's experience who have completed a tri before, whether they felt it was the most sensible way to train.

kennyb3

sorry didnt mean to sound offensive, just kind of meant everyone is different and only way you ll find out is trying yourself.

like if you can do the 2 sessions on the same day - do, if you physically cant then so be it. but having someone else telling you no you dont need to and slacking of as a result isnt a great plan. see what i mean now?

SavannahRose

shotgunmcos wrote: »

Hi SavannaghRose,

I don't think there is any harm in doing 4 sprints in the space of 2 months. It really depends on what condition you are in now and what you want to get out of the races. Its great to have a plan and a series of goals but I would suggest taking one at a time.

Start with Valentia and see how that goes for you. Most of all enjoy it. If its not fun then doing the others will feel like a chore to satisfy the whim of your peeps. Most importantly listen to your body and be honest with yourself. You are either up for it or not. If Valentia really takes it out of you then have a think about whether you can recover fully for another one in under 2 weeks.

Valentia is 5 weeks away so ensure that you get a couple of 90min cycles in. Also a couple of shorter cycles with an easy 10min run afterwards. Lastly a dip in a lake the week before the event for a feel of the OW. Yes its damn chilly in there now but with this weather OW swiimming should be good to go in a few weeks. Fingers crossed we get better conditions there than last year.

Best of luck with those events and let us know how you get on

Hey , Thanks for response! Yes I'm going take each as they come- I reckon will be fine. Might leave Dunmore if fI feel I need to train more than race!! Noted your advice on cycle etc- have been doing that distance for a while now, and in a running club too I i like to run!! ) so run and cycle should be OK. Swimming weakest, considering I could not swim two lengths of the pool in November, I'm happy enough with how progressing- I'm slow but can now get in the pool and swim for double the distance ( with sets and drills mainly ) . .... BUT looks like I have this IB Band thing going on with my leg now- so can't run or cycle this week!!!! Icing it as we speak, physio reckons should be ok in few days- I'm not so sure. That my lesson- I ran on blisters on a long run , then this flared up- ah well , I can just get in pool now and improve swim. Anyone else suffer from this? Seems to be pretty common , going by how many people have said they got it before too!!!
Hopefully be back on track before Valentia- but what will be will be!

MrCreosote

Bagheera wrote: »

However on some of the training plans it says to swim and run on the same day. I haven't been managing this as I usually swim before work and am too wrecked by the time the evening comes to even contemplate a run.

Will I find the tri really tough if I don't manage to include these sessions in my training regularly?

I'd agree with shotgunmcos there. Listen to how you feel- if you're totally wrecked and train you're asking for an injury. Take it slowly, do the tri rather than watching on injured, see how it goes and plan the next one, and the one after that.

Anyway I think it hurts no matter how much training you do! But it's a GOOD kind of hurt...

tunney

MrCreosote wrote: »

I'd agree with shotgunmcos there. Listen to how you feel- if you're totally wrecked and train you're asking for an injury. Take it slowly, do the tri rather than watching on injured, see how it goes and plan the next one, and the one after that.

Anyway I think it hurts no matter how much training you do! But it's a GOOD kind of hurt...

"It doesn't get easier, you just get faster"

MrCreosote

tunney wrote: »

"It doesn't get easier, you just get faster"

Quick google says Greg Lemond?? Just what I was trying to say!

jungle jim

hi can anyone recommend a tri club in the dublin 15 or near to dublin 15 area? when is the best time of year to join? how often do the clubs train? cheers!

Jupiter36

Check out www.3dtri.com for training times and locations. Pulse also does some training in the Phoenix Park.

SavannahRose

Hi,

I've heard the bike part of Valentia is a tough climb for about the first 7 k! Anyone do it before and what did they think?

mitresize5

SavannahRose wrote: »

Hi,

I've heard the bike part of Valentia is a tough climb for about the first 7 k! Anyone do it before and what did they think?

yeah first few k's a uphill for the most part alright - but on the plus side what goes up must come down and the following fews k's at the far end of the island are down hill

last 5 or 6 km's flat enough this year .... there was a killer drag just before the finish last year but the route has slightly changed this year to exclude it

TFBubendorfer

SavannahRose wrote: »

Hi,

I've heard the bike part of Valentia is a tough climb for about the first 7 k! Anyone do it before and what did they think?

Actually so far I have never cycled it but I have run it plenty of times. It's a climb, sure, but it's not THAT tough. It's not 7km, it's about 2 miles or 3.5 km, and according to google maps the elevation gain is about 120 meters.

connundrum

Just a quick question about gear.

In planning for my first Tri later this summer, I note that it seems all Irish Tri's insist on competitors wearing a wetsuit. I've no problems with that, but I always wear a short, summer wetsuit when surfing etc - even in the winter. I just feel more comfortable tbh.

So I'm looking at this suit http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/triathlon/10/Aqua_Sphere_Ironman_Mens_Speed_Suit/5360047890/ - can anyone see any issues in wearing this in an Irish Tri?

Sorry if its a silly question, I'd rather know before shelling out the dollars.

searay

Most irish triathlons alow short sleeved wetsuits so what you have will probably suffice for your first tri.

If you do decide to buy a new one, don't rule out a suit with arms. Wetsuits for swimming usually have good flexibility around the shoulders and some have panels on the forearms to help your catch.

If you're not a great swimmer, one with greater buoyancy will help you through the swim. I'd also suggest buying in a shop in order to make sure the suit you buy is a good fit. A bad fitting suit will slow you down

BTH

Splashed out on my first wetsuit today with my eye on my tri debut in 3 weeks time. Heard that these things are fairly delicate. Anything I should be getting to help keep it in order? Looking at that black witch stuff on wiggle, recommended? And also, any thing to help get the damn thing on and off?

SavannahRose

TFBubendorfer wrote: »

Actually so far I have never cycled it but I have run it plenty of times. It's a climb, sure, but it's not THAT tough. It's not 7km, it's about 2 miles or 3.5 km, and according to google maps the elevation gain is about 120 meters.

Thanks for responses. Not long now till Valentia- first Tri will soon be over and I can call myself a triathlete:)

connundrum

So, took my first spin on my new bike today - delighted!

Can someone give advisory times for Tri Sprint event?

750m swim

20km cycle

5km run

I just need times which I can set as goals, and by no means am I looking for winners times A decent 'average' finishing time for each split will be if great help!

Danke

Highway_To_Hell

Every race is different due to the course layout, select your target race and then check out the results from the previous years races they should be available from the race's website.

middle of the of the pack times for sprint distace would be

Swim: 12-15 mins
Bike: 40 - 50 mins
run: 20 - 30 mins


the Athy sprint results from last year are available here. The winner was under 1hr and final finishers were just under 2 hrs.

ZZJ

I would just set your goal to be enjoy it and finish it.

The problem with setting times as a goal for your first one is even though you have a great day you may not make the time you guessed and then go away with a negative.

You can worry about times for the next race after you have a better idea how you perform over the distances, but bear in mind all races are different.

So basically go out and enjoy yourself and do not too caught up in doing in a particular time.

connundrum

ZZJ wrote: »

I would just set your goal to be enjoy it and finish it.

The problem with setting times as a goal for your first one is even though you have a great day you may not make the time you guessed and then go away with a negative.

You can worry about times for the next race after you have a better idea how you perform over the distances, but bear in mind all races are different.

So basically go out and enjoy yourself and do not too caught up in doing in a particular time.

All taken on board 100%.

As my first Tri will be a totally new experience, I'll not be looking at my finishing times for a good while after, and deffo won't be worried about it.

I'm in training at the minute and need some sort of times to bench mark myself against though - hence the query.

Cheers