Calling Triathletes

jellybellywmb

What is the best way to start taking part in Triathlons,do they do varying distances etc for beginners.
I have always admired these events and want to do one before i get too old and flabby.
I dont want to be competative just say too take part to say I have done a few.

heavymental

Do a sprint distance first off. 400m swim, 22k bike and 5k run usually. Great events, a friendly crowd take part and a its a good challenge. Addictive too! Its an event where you want to set yourself a target and try and hit it.

flattythehurdler

Have you migrated from connemarathon?

jellybellywmb

flattythehurdler wrote:

Have you migrated from connemarathon?

:?: Not that I know of

robbarker

Sprint distance events are great for starting out - they are not too difficult and you will get a tremendous buzz from taking part. Triathletes tend to be a friendlier and better adjusted bunch that road cyclists (sorry guys) and are nice to be around.

I wouldn't bother with tribars at first - they will only count for a tiny proportion of your overall time on a sprint tri, and are a PITA if you're not used to them. if you're an experienced TTer then fill your boots, of course. You might wat to try a duathlon if yuou can find one locally - typically run-bike-run, as this gives you practice at the all-important transition, the "fourth discipline".

It is worth investing in a tri suit in my opinion - it's a proper faff getting a vest onto wet skin when you've just jumped out of the pool and are running to your bike. An all-in-one with cyling short style legs is a bit more flattering for those of us with less than perfect physiques too...

Search for events here:

http://www.tri247.com/events.html

Do a couple of sprints, you may then get addicted like I did and follow the well trodden path through Olympic distance, the seemingly impossible (at the time) half-ironman 70.3, then (when you forget how bad it was and get to thinking that wasn't so bad) an ironman.

An official Ironman event is probably the closest you can get as Joe average off the street to taking part in a professional race. You may start 5 mins after the elites, but everything else - the hyper efficient transitions, the course including closed roads for the bike leg, media coverage, crowds lining the route cheering you on, are all exactly the same. It's like riding a stage of the Tour starting 5 mins after the pros. Only it takes 12-13 hrs to get round ;-) (Mind you it would probably take me more than 12 hours to get round some stages of the tour...)

jellybellywmb

Thanks All,just a quick question though.

The term 'Sprint' fills me with fear,do these tend to be beginners or do the really fit guys do these and just clock really quick times or as training runs, I would not want to be still going as they are packing away ready to go home??

robbarker

No, don't worry. You'll see plenty of lardy people, some on mountain bikes at local races. It's all about having a go and the atmosphere is very pleasant.

heavymental

Don't worry about it being called a 'Sprint'. Its just better than them calling it a 'Short Version' or something. As Rob says. All sorts take part as its a good challenge. Some people will just want to finish, some will set themselves a time to beat, and some will be looking to win but basically, no one will laugh at you if you were fat, riding a bmx and running in a pair of wellies. Everyone gets cheered on, and all sorts enter.

First step is signing up, so do that and then you've got something to aim for. Even if you don't feel fit by the time it rolls around just go and try your best. You'll probably finish and then you'll have a time to beat for your next one.

You need to get in the pool , on the bike and out for runs now really. If you can't face 3 disciplines you could always find 2 buddies and enter as a team to get a taste for it. You each do 1 leg.

flattythehurdler

Join the local tri club is the best piece of advice I can give you. Don't worry about kit as long as you can borrow a wetsuit and a bike and have some running shoes. I did my first on a three geared shopping bike.

graeme_s-2

At my first sprint I saw guys on full carbon Planet X TT bikes, and people on mountain bikes that looked like they hadn't see a drop of oil in an awfully long time. There were people flying through transition in Tri suits without skipping a beat, and at the other extreme I saw one woman come into T1 wearing a dressing gown with her hair up in a towel. She then slowly dried off got changed into cycling gear while she waited for her mate in a later swim wave to catch her up so they could do the cycle ride together.

The atmosphere at both sprint tri's I've done has been great, really friendly and a wide range of abilities present.

jellybellywmb

I can comfortably swim for an hour non-stop ,have run half marathons and ride 50miles plus so hopefully my fitness should be ok.

Now I just need to pick an event and take the plunge. My goal is to work up to a full triathlon so here goes.

PS showed the wife the traithlon suits and she said the words "badly stuffed sausage" so will give one of those a miss for the moment .

PPS Anyone know a good divorce lawyer!!

bornagainbiker

In my first 'sprint' tri I was shocked by the mass of flailing arms and legs at the swim start. I thought sod this for a lark and sprinted to get clear and raced round the 600m open water swim in 6.45 GREAT...... was then totally wacked for the cycle. With hindsight I should have hung back and taken it reasonably easy in the swim and saved it for the cycle and run.

robbarker

Good point. Pool swims are essential for a first tri. Open water swims can be rough. The first Ironman Uk swim at Sherborne was not actually a swim, it was 3.8Km of aquatic unarmed combat. Being a rugby second row I did all right, wallflowers simply got drowned.....

hammerite

Jellybelly,

I see you are near to Nottingham. If you are worried about doing your first triathlon you couldn't find a better event for you pretty much on your doorstep.

Erewash Novice triathlon is in Long Eaton. 400m swim in the local pool, flat 10 mile cycle and a flat 5k run. It being a novice triathlon is full of first timers. It's where I did my first last year.

Although based on your ability to swim for an hour, ride 50+ miles and run a half marathon I can see a half ironman screaming out for you to do!! I'm entering two half IM this summer, cycling and running no problem for me, just need to sort the swimming out!!

jellybellywmb

Just checked that one out and seems a good one to start with, thanks for the info.

PS My wife just laughed again when I said "Ironman" I will show that pesky woman!!