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Beginners Question

  • 27-01-2010 05:57PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 557 ✭✭✭


    Hi,

    I'm trying to assess whether I'm even approaching being fit enough to try a triathalon. What are half-decent beginner times for:

    750m swim -
    20km bike -
    5km run -
    the three together -

    Apologies if this has been answered a million times already (I couldn't find it)!


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭--amadeus--


    I'm not a triathlete (I hate teh feeling of wet skin so my swimming isn't great!) but I'll give you a quick answer until someone else turns up...

    There is pretty much no such thing as "half decent beginners times for..." simply because what you're looking for is an average performance, a baseline you can measure yourself against. And that implies that there is an "average" beginner out there, some standard. But there isn't - I mean is teh average a mid 20s male marathon runner and competitive cyclist who's turned to tri with the aim of qualifying for Kona (IM competition)? Or is teh average a 40 year old overweight mid life crisis woman who smokes 20 a day and didn't sit on a bike for 25 years before starting training? Because I guarantee that somewhere in Ireland this year both of those extremes will be doing thier first tri.

    The best thing I can suggest for you is to mooch around a few tri websites, get a feel for the results and look at where you would sit in them. You probably won't be at the front of teh pack in your first but it's pretty probable you won't be last either so the actual time is really only relevant to you anyway.

    So pick an event, get training and enjoy it rather than putting pressure on yourself about performances.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 557 ✭✭✭Tester46



    So pick an event, get training and enjoy it rather than putting pressure on yourself about performances.

    Thanks, you're probably right, but I think I'd like to at least feel like I'd be at the races (so to speak) so I don't show up, come last and feel totally demoralised, give up and never consider a triathalon ever again! :)

    At least if I have an idea of an acceptable time for each part and the whole lot together I'd know if I need to seriously improve before starting or whether I can give it a blast soon.

    I ain't looking to win medals, but I don't want a collection of wooden spoons either ;)

    P.S. I currently swim and run, but don't cycle much


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,445 ✭✭✭mloc123


    Have a look at some results from previous races you intend to do... should give you an idea.


  • Subscribers Posts: 19,421 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    ...Or is teh average a 40 year old overweight mid life crisis woman...
    Ah, --amadeus-- did you have to bring me into it?

    OP, as has been said, compare yourself to times in races. You want to be sure you wont come last, right?:) Everyone is like that starting out, and youll most likely do better than you think. You could always post your times here, and see what opinion is on them, but the main thing is, dont compare yourself to the guys here with lots of training under their belt and fast times. They had to begin at some point too, just like you.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 116 ✭✭metal dog


    just to give the OP some idea of the range of times and to underline the points above about the diversity in the typical sprint event, at Fingal Sprint Tri - (a very popular eary season pool based sprint event - plug plug), the guy who won did it in 1 hour and one minute or so, there were 280 or so in the event, with the final person coming in just over two hours. A 20 minute swim, 41 minute bike and 26 minute run, with a minute and a half or so for the transitions would have you in around 1:30 (if my sums are right) and in around the 190-200 spot.

    but in general i wouldnt worry about it too much- in contrast with most single discipline sports, in general people do not grow up with a tri background so nearly everyone has been in the same boat as the OP and fairly recently in many cases. It is a good idea to pick an event that is convenient, research the course and the time from last year and give it a shot...:)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 557 ✭✭✭Tester46


    metal dog wrote: »
    just to give the OP some idea of the range of times and to underline the points above about the diversity in the typical sprint event, at Fingal Sprint Tri - (a very popular eary season pool based sprint event - plug plug), the guy who won did it in 1 hour and one minute or so, there were 280 or so in the event, with the final person coming in just over two hours. A 20 minute swim, 41 minute bike and 26 minute run, with a minute and a half or so for the transitions would have you in around 1:30 (if my sums are right) and in around the 190-200 spot.

    but in general i wouldnt worry about it too much- in contrast with most single discipline sports, in general people do not grow up with a tri background so nearly everyone has been in the same boat as the OP and fairly recently in many cases. It is a good idea to pick an event that is convenient, research the course and the time from last year and give it a shot...:)


    Thanks for that. I'll look at those times more closely later and see where it leaves me, but you're right, I'd probably be near the back but not at the back, so it's probably worth giving it a shot.

    Thanks :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,123 ✭✭✭GoHardOrGoHome


    metal dog wrote: »
    Fingal Sprint Tri - (a very popular eary season pool based sprint event - plug plug),

    Another good thing about the Fingal Sprint Tri is that the waves are staggered with people who have a slow predicted swim time starting before the fast people. That way even if you are last it won't look like it because there will be people from the later waves finishing around the same time as you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,677 ✭✭✭kit3


    - I mean is teh average a mid 20s male marathon runner and competitive cyclist who's turned to tri with the aim of qualifying for Kona (IM competition)? Or is teh average a 40 year old overweight mid life crisis woman who smokes 20 a day and didn't sit on a bike for 25 years before starting training? .

    How come the man gets to be fit and in 20s and the woman gets to be overweight and 40 ???:rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,100 ✭✭✭DustyBin


    kit3 wrote: »
    How come the man gets to be fit and in 20s and the woman gets to be overweight and 40 ???:rolleyes:

    Men are faster than women
    This is a fact and there is nothing chauvanistic about it - check out any of the record books
    I'd imagine amadeus was attempting to make his point by highlighting the vast range of people who would partake in such an event
    A wippet like 20 something year old will be faster than a 40 somethingyear old, a non smoker will be faster than a smoker and men are faster than women when of comparable fitness


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,320 ✭✭✭MrCreosote


    Tester46 wrote: »
    Thanks, you're probably right, but I think I'd like to at least feel like I'd be at the races (so to speak) so I don't show up, come last and feel totally demoralised, give up and never consider a triathalon ever again! :)

    P.S. I currently swim and run, but don't cycle much

    If you already swim and run you can be pretty sure you won't come last.
    I agree with the others- check up the old results and a description of the course if you can. A "10km run" can vary from 8k to a very hilly 11k so the times might vary. And the open water swim times only compare roughly to pool times with so many other variables like short or long courses, choppy weather, lots of people and so on.

    Best thing to do- sign up for one and go for it!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,075 ✭✭✭BTH


    Rather than start a new thread i'll stick this in here.

    I'm also a new comer to this triathlon lark. I'm late 20's and would be pretty fit.
    I have no real problems getting into a rhythm on the road when I'm running or cycling. I can tip along at a decent pace for a good distance (well, for long enough for this stage of my training). The problem I have is with the swimming. I just can't get into a rhythm in the pool. I seem to be out of breath after every length. I've been training with a club the last couple of weeks, and while the others are doing length after length after length, I'm needing a breather after every one. My technique is pretty strong, I had many years of lessons when I was younger, but I wouldn't have done any consistent swimming in the last 15 years. Is this something that will come if I keep with the club swimming once a week or am I doomed for failure?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,208 ✭✭✭shotgunmcos


    Rather than start a new thread i'll stick this in here.

    I'm also a new comer to this triathlon lark. I'm late 20's and would be pretty fit.
    I have no real problems getting into a rhythm on the road when I'm running or cycling. I can tip along at a decent pace for a good distance (well, for long enough for this stage of my training). The problem I have is with the swimming. I just can't get into a rhythm in the pool. I seem to be out of breath after every length. I've been training with a club the last couple of weeks, and while the others are doing length after length after length, I'm needing a breather after every one. My technique is pretty strong, I had many years of lessons when I was younger, but I wouldn't have done any consistent swimming in the last 15 years. Is this something that will come if I keep with the club swimming once a week or am I doomed for failure?

    just to throw my 2c at this and the OP.

    Firstly on average times. Even if you do research previous lists of results pick a post or target and go for it, it may not work out like that. A million reason why but simple ones

    You may be in much better shape than you are giving yourself credit for, perhaps the resonance of a prevous sporty life, get a lovely sunny day and suprise the hell out of yourself

    Perhaps you are in pretty good shape for all 3 disciplines and you are well prepared and then the heavens open, hail stones fall, the wind blows, your goggles are foggy for the whole swim, your bike computer falls off and you can't find your spot in transition (welcome to my 3rd tri and first OW swim one :))

    Maybe you can run like the wind but can't cycle into it
    Maybe you can swim fast in a pool but struggle with OW or vice versa...

    My point is predicting times for an event is unrealistic really unless you have done the course before and conditions are the same again etc..

    Instead pick you target times from your own training, not others results! Translate your training paces into the race distances and it will give you an idea of what to aim for on the day. Then just do your race and enjoy it. You will be a thousand times wiser the moment you finish...


    Secondly to BetterthanHoyte, if you learned to swim as a child you are sorted. Just stick with it and put the work in and your swimming fitness will improve. I'd rip your arm off to have your childhood swimming skills. Consistency is key. Don't force it, build it gradually. Turn 1 length into 2, then 2 to 4 etc... If your technique is sound it will come back quickly... just a matter of fitness and dusting off the cobwebs!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,075 ✭✭✭BTH



    Secondly to BetterthanHoyte, if you learned to swim as a child you are sorted. Just stick with it and put the work in and your swimming fitness will improve. I'd rip your arm off to have your childhood swimming skills. Consistency is key. Don't force it, build it gradually. Turn 1 length into 2, then 2 to 4 etc... If your technique is sound it will come back quickly... just a matter of fitness and dusting off the cobwebs!

    Cheers shotgun, i'll keep at it so.

    But you really don't want my arms, skinnier than a models!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 368 ✭✭dare2be


    Rather than start a new thread i'll stick this in here.

    I'm also a new comer to this triathlon lark. I'm late 20's and would be pretty fit.
    I have no real problems getting into a rhythm on the road when I'm running or cycling. I can tip along at a decent pace for a good distance (well, for long enough for this stage of my training). The problem I have is with the swimming. I just can't get into a rhythm in the pool. I seem to be out of breath after every length. I've been training with a club the last couple of weeks, and while the others are doing length after length after length, I'm needing a breather after every one. My technique is pretty strong, I had many years of lessons when I was younger, but I wouldn't have done any consistent swimming in the last 15 years. Is this something that will come if I keep with the club swimming once a week or am I doomed for failure?

    I have had & sorta still having this problem with the swimming. However i have turned my front crawl from a couple of strokes to 12.5m to full 25m length of the pool. The breathing is getting easier at every visit to the pool. As they say practice, practice, practice!!

    Good luck


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,168 ✭✭✭colblimp


    The problem I have is with the swimming. I just can't get into a rhythm in the pool. I seem to be out of breath after every length. I've been training with a club the last couple of weeks, and while the others are doing length after length after length, I'm needing a breather after every one.

    That is exactly my problem, I'm totally out of breath after every length. I'm having one-to-one lessons at the moment and my teacher reckons it's just lack of swim fitness, but I'm not convinced. After a length, my arms and legs are not at all tired, they could probably keep going for ages, it's just my HR is racing.

    Any advice/hints/tips/suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong/how I can fix it?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭--amadeus--


    colblimp wrote: »
    That is exactly my problem, I'm totally out of breath after every length. I'm having one-to-one lessons at the moment and my teacher reckons it's just lack of swim fitness, but I'm not convinced. After a length, my arms and legs are not at all tired, they could probably keep going for ages, it's just my HR is racing.

    Any advice/hints/tips/suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong/how I can fix it?

    Could it be breathing? If you aren't breathing enough you'll be in oxygen debt and so your heart will be racing even if you're not tired - like holding your breath while running would do


  • Subscribers Posts: 19,421 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    Im the same stage in swimming as you guys, and i figure its that Im trying to go to fast. When I relax and slow everything down, my heartrate reduces, and my breath is much better. Also Im trying to vary the number of strokes per breath to see what works best.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,029 ✭✭✭Pisco Sour


    Have done 2 tri's one sprint and one Olympic.

    For the sprint I did the following splits:

    Swim: 19 minutes (18.30 minutes plus 30 seconds run to the timing mat)
    Bike: 58 minutes (but this was with a hybrid bike so perhaps about 50-52 minutes with a racer bike)
    Run: 22mins 40secs

    Thats just my own times, but I wouldnt be anywhere near a fast triathlete. Hope that helps!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,075 ✭✭✭BTH


    Another absolute beginner question. I'm doing the first of the Duathlons in the Phoenix park this Sunday. First time i've done any sort of race. Just reading up on the website and found this requirement for pre-race transition entrance:

    "Have your race numbers already stuck on to your bike helmet and bicycle which match the bib race number worn on your front during the race."

    Does anyone know if numbers will be supplied at registration, or if I have to go out and get numbers myself and put them on the bike and helmet. If so, where does one buy these numbers? They have the list of race numbers up on the website.

    I know, a bit of a roll your eyes question, but I just want to make sure I'm not forgetting something and this is all new to me.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 116 ✭✭metal dog


    Does anyone know if numbers will be supplied at registration, or if I have to go out and get numbers myself and put them on the bike and helmet. If so, where does one buy these numbers? They have the list of race numbers up on the website.


    don't worry - unless the recession is really kicking in they will supply the numbers - probably a sticker for the bike helmet and either a sticker or a paper number for your top. if it is paper they will probably hand out safety pins as well - it you want to be bomb proof on his stick a few safety pins in your bag just in case. down the road one of the bits of kit you will acquire is a race number belt but no need to worry about that for now - safety pins will be just fine

    good luck in the race - the duathlons are great fun and you will want to come back for more afterwards


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 721 ✭✭✭Highway_To_Hell


    Another absolute beginner question. I'm doing the first of the Duathlons in the Phoenix park this Sunday. First time i've done any sort of race. Just reading up on the website and found this requirement for pre-race transition entrance:

    "Have your race numbers already stuck on to your bike helmet and bicycle which match the bib race number worn on your front during the race."

    Does anyone know if numbers will be supplied at registration, or if I have to go out and get numbers myself and put them on the bike and helmet. If so, where does one buy these numbers? They have the list of race numbers up on the website.

    I know, a bit of a roll your eyes question, but I just want to make sure I'm not forgetting something and this is all new to me.

    Any numbers that are required should be supplied at registration, any of the duathlons I have done in the Phoenix park (different organiser) have not issues bike/helmet stickers. At a lot of Tri events you will receive two small stickers for helmet and bike and two for your top, one front an back. Officially for the run section number should be on your front and for the bike section on your back (so they can identify a competitor if illegally drafting). Also when retrieving your bike after the finish it helps security if your bike has a race number for identification purposes.

    Enjoy your first race of hopefully many.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,075 ✭✭✭BTH


    metal dog wrote: »
    don't worry - unless the recession is really kicking in they will supply the numbers - probably a sticker for the bike helmet and either a sticker or a paper number for your top. if it is paper they will probably hand out safety pins as well - it you want to be bomb proof on his stick a few safety pins in your bag just in case. down the road one of the bits of kit you will acquire is a race number belt but no need to worry about that for now - safety pins will be just fine

    good luck in the race - the duathlons are great fun and you will want to come back for more afterwards

    Cheers.

    And I intend on winning on Sunday!!!

    Ah, no, I've set myself a target time and will be very disappointed if I don't reach it as it's very do-able. We'll see where that takes me. Kinda disappointed that the Newbie race is so short, but I suppose it'll be a good place to start.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 76 ✭✭gombeen99


    Could it be breathing? If you aren't breathing enough you'll be in oxygen debt and so your heart will be racing even if you're not tired - like holding your breath while running would do

    That was also happening me when I started swimming training, despite the fact that I was running & bike fit - I could feel my heart racing after a couple of lengths. I focussed on slowing down, and trying to keep my neck & face muscles as relaxed as possible - I wrote this down on a post-it, stuck it inside my wallet & read it before every swim to try to keep it in my mind. It should be easier to get good, deep breaths if your face / neck muscles are relaxed. Hope this helps & stick at it, swimming doesn't come as naturally to most of us as running or cycling.


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