Triathlon Categories

Holty74

Im competing in my first olympic distance triathlon this summer. I've been asked which category i would like to be in; open or age grouped? I'm not sure what is the best one to go for?

The open age categories all seem to be at 6am-930am in the morning, whereas the age group starts all seem to be in the afternoon?

anyone got any tips? as its my 1st should i race only with my own age?? i'm 30 yrs old (not sure if that would make a difference but hey) or just get up and go for it??

cheers!!

Monty Dog

Age group - for an open race you'll be competing against all categories. If still not convinced, contact the organisers - they'll want to make sure you have a good event. Bizzarelt, the most competitive age groups are 35-39 and 40-44 because of demographics and experience

andrewgturnbull

Hi there.

Definately Age-group. The open race will be the elite one.

Cheers, Andy

le_patron

Ultimately, and in my very limited experience (2 middle distance events) I don't think it makes a huge difference. You are basically doing one long time trial and everyone is better or worse at each discipline and there are no bunches to hide in. Just race your own race, set a time and try and beat it the next time. Experience counts for a lot.

le_patron

Listen to Andy (not me), he does tri stuff.

andy_wrx

Is it a multi-lap course where you're going to be passed and get depressed if you're in with others who are better than you, or a single lapper where it could just be a bit lonely?

What are your swim and bike legs like ? Are you going to be doing the passing or be passed on the bike ?

I run and cycle, so joined BTA last year with intention of combining the two in a few tri's.
Didn't take long to realise I loath swim training with a vengance, so I did very little of it and it was by far my weakest leg.

The first tri I did, there were 4 waves - youth, women, non-BTA members, BTA-members.
Someone obviously had the idea that BTA-member men would be quickest...I was a BTA member, so they put me in that wave.

I was 4th-last out of the lake, someone passed me in transition so I was 3rd last onto the bike. I then blew round on the bike and stopped counting after I'd passed 50 people, no-one went past me. The run was OK too but because it was two laps there was lots of passing going on and it was difficult to see if I were racing someone or if they were on another laps to me.

It actually worked-out OK for me.
I'm not saying I'm a hot cyclist, more I admit I'm a sh*te swimmer, and there were obviously lots of people who were better at that than me but not so good on the bike.
Being out of it in the swim meant I wasn't kicked or drowned in the throng and I didn't care about being practically last in that, more that it felt really good passing lots of people on the bike.

Holty74

Its single lap swim, double lap bike and double lap run.

swim is my weakest which is about 40mins for 1500 in open water, bike is my strongest at about 1:15 for 40k and the run is well just the run i suppose after a T2 i run the 10k in about 48-52 mins..

The first open age category starts at 630am which means bike racking is 530am so i think pre race meal will have to be about 4am!! i think deep down its more that i dont want to get up at 4am to race

thanks for the tips guys

andrewgturnbull

Hi there.

That's the best bit of the bike leg of a triathlon - overtaking people. When you catch someone on the bike you know you're beating them. In a time trial you can catch your minute man, but your true rivals are way ahead of you...

Cheers, Andy