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#7038265 - 04/27/13 03:40 PM Tips for first triathlon? **Update - Finished**
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Registered: 09/09/00
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I'm doing my first tri next weekend. I'm pretty pumped except for the fact that i'm feeling a bit sick this weekend. Hopefully it passes soon. In any case, what tips would you guys have for a first timer? Anything special I should put in my transition bag?

Edited by Monkeydias (05/06/13 08:41 AM)
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#7038324 - 04/27/13 04:59 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
slackereg6 Offline
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What distance?
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#7038371 - 04/27/13 05:47 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: slackereg6]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Registered: 09/09/00
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Loc: Sunny FL
International
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#7038451 - 04/27/13 07:04 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
slackereg6 Offline
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I have only done one sprint and one oly so I am far from an expert. The biggest thing I learned at the first was not to push it on the bike. I like biking more than running so at the first one I went out on the bike and it cost me big during the run.

Also stay calm in the water. Not sure what your background is but I hit the water and all training went out the window. I think at the oly I had a 40+ minute swim. Open water swimming is just not my thing.
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#7038835 - 04/28/13 12:34 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
bt0 Offline
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Second the stay calm in the water sentiment.

If it were further off than next weekend, I'd say focus on your weakest leg the most in training
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#7038959 - 04/28/13 07:56 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: bt0]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Loc: Sunny FL
Swimming will definitely be my weakest link. I only started training for the swim about a month and a half ago and only in a pool. I'm comfortable with the distance now but swimming open water will definitely be a challenge I think. Being that it's salt water might help though. As far as the transition bag just shoes, towel, socks etc? I'm going to have some gels with me also.
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#7039049 - 04/28/13 10:15 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
slackereg6 Offline
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In the water remember you can take a breather by backstroking. I didn't have anything special in my bag just what you mentioned towel, socks, shoes and 2-3 gels.
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#7039074 - 04/28/13 10:49 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: slackereg6]
lessthanmike Offline
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Registered: 09/01/03
Posts: 1486
Loc: Cleveland, Ohio
Like they said just stay relaxed in the water. You transition area should be laid out simple and in order, so you won't fumble around. I don't bother with socks on the bike and rarely use them on the run.

Just a few pointer in transition:
Put your sunglasses in your helmet
Don't forget to clip your helmet before you unrack your bike
If your bike shoes aren't clipped in already leave the velco open
Bike shoes in front of your running shoes
Hat or visor on your running shoes

Here's what my area looked like at my last race.

Edited by lessthanmike (04/28/13 10:50 AM)
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#7039163 - 04/28/13 12:38 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: lessthanmike]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Loc: Sunny FL
Nice. Thanks for the tips. Did you have the water bottle for the ride or run?
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#7039177 - 04/28/13 01:04 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
lessthanmike Offline
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I have one on the bike and the one on the ground is to grab a few quick sips before the run.
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#7039216 - 04/28/13 02:04 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
bt0 Offline
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Swimming strength is far more technique & form based than fitness based. You can be a beast, but if you're inefficient it's all blown.
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#7039272 - 04/28/13 02:49 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: bt0]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Registered: 09/09/00
Posts: 6018
Loc: Sunny FL
 Originally Posted By: bt0
Swimming strength is far more technique & form based than fitness based. You can be a beast, but if your inefficient it's all blown.

That's one thing I've been working on. When I first started swimming, I could barely do three laps in a row free style. One day at the pool I was talking with a guy in the lane next to me and he gave me some great tips which have helped tremendously. Now I can swim the entire mile free style non-stop. Granted i'm not fast, but my goal is to finish, not win.
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#7039284 - 04/28/13 02:55 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: bt0]
Sir Ironpool Offline
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My setup looks very similar to Mikes. Keep it as simple as possible so you're not wasting time trying to remember stuff.
Scope out the transition areas to see where you come in, go out. Even after 3 dozen tris, I still tend to be a little disoriented after the swim.


If you can, get in the water and warm up for a good 10 minutes.... It will help greatly at getting you to relax and from freaking out at the start. If its a mass start, you may want to hang back and wait a few seconds for your wave to get in the water and then you'll get some clearer water.

All I can really say is to just try and relax and enjoy yourself. Soak it all in and learn from it.
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#7039286 - 04/28/13 02:56 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Sir Ironpool]
Sir Ironpool Offline
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Reach and glide on the swim. :). Imagine yourself straight as an arrow and slippery as snot. \:\)
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#7039520 - 04/28/13 05:48 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Sir Ironpool]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Mrs. Ironmom
Reach and glide on the swim. :). Imagine yourself straight as an arrow and slippery as snot. \:\)

Thats what the guy who gave the tips said also. Basically reach as far as you can and hold it longer than you think you should, then pull back.
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#7039653 - 04/28/13 07:51 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
Sir Ironpool Offline
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Not only is a good technique, it also forces you to settle down and not get caught up in the chaos of the swim. Oh, qand if you can find a set of feet moving at roughly your pace, stay on them....the draft in a swim is real, and can be a serious benefit.
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#7040163 - 04/29/13 08:09 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: bt0]
Euphoricuck Offline
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 Originally Posted By: bt0
Swimming strength is far more technique & form based than fitness based.
heh you need both in order to be good. You are right in that all the fitness and strength doesnt do you any good if you technique sucks but the same can be said for just about anything.

If op's goal is to finish... just dont get kicked in the face.
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#7052336 - 05/06/13 08:21 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Euphoricuck]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Registered: 09/09/00
Posts: 6018
Loc: Sunny FL
Well I survived! My goal was to finish in four hours and I finished in 3 hours and 56 minutes. The swim was a lot more difficult that I thought it would be. I had trouble staying on course. Swimming in the pool got me used to following the line to keep straight, where as in the river it was just brown. I found myself looking up a lot to see where I was going and being off course quite a bit. Even so, I finished the swim in 37 minutes and I was shooting for 40.

The bike ride was great for the first 17 miles except for the road being bumpy. I was able to average 21.9 mph for the first 17 miles. Right at mile 18 we hit the sea shore and the wind started howling right in our faces. My speed went down dramatically from there pretty much the whole way back. My avg speed ended up being 16 mph.

The run ended up being the hardest part for me. I got a stomach cramp right at the beginning that wouldn't go away. I stopped and pooped and hoped that would help but the pain continued for the rest of the race. I ended up having to walk quite a bit. I'm not sure where the pain came from as I've never experienced it during my training. I'm thinking it was probably something I ate the night before or maybe my breakfast.

Overall I had a great time. The course was really nice minus the bumpiness of the bike ride. But seeing the vehicle assembly building and the launch towers on cape canaveral were really cool. I hope that they'll be able to do this race again next year and it not be just a one time thing. Either way, I'll definitely be doing another tri. I have some friends doing Ironman Augusta which I think will be my next race. Thanks for all your tips before the race.
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#7052666 - 05/06/13 11:39 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
Sir Ironpool Offline
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Nice job man....sounds like a solid performance for your first Tri under less than ideal conditions.

I remember I used to get side stitches off the bike in my first few races. I think it's just an overall lack of fitness. Even doing bricks in training, it's a new experience for your body. Just keep at it and it will get easier and easier.
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#7052811 - 05/06/13 12:20 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Sir Ironpool]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Mrs. Ironmom
Nice job man....sounds like a solid performance for your first Tri under less than ideal conditions.

I remember I used to get side stitches off the bike in my first few races. I think it's just an overall lack of fitness. Even doing bricks in training, it's a new experience for your body. Just keep at it and it will get easier and easier.


What does doing bricks mean?
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#7052853 - 05/06/13 12:30 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
nato2377 Offline
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back to back workouts. like, do a 20 mile bike ride, hop off and go run 5 miles. or swim a mile, then go bike 20 miles.
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#7052867 - 05/06/13 12:34 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: nato2377]
Sir Ironpool Offline
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Yeah, it's to simulate getting off the bike and going straight into a run. Called a brick because that's how your legs feel when you start the run. \:D
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#7052893 - 05/06/13 12:44 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Sir Ironpool]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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I see. I'm definitely learning this stuff. I've only done those a few times prior to the race. Do you think that was what cause the cramping/pain and want to poop/throw up at the same time? haha. I was farting practically the whole run too.
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#7052909 - 05/06/13 12:51 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
Sir Ironpool Offline
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Lol, farting is totally normal. I've never had to crap during a race, but my body is pretty well trained to go before the race. \:\)

You may have swallowed a bunch of water on the swim too.
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#7052957 - 05/06/13 01:11 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Sir Ironpool]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Loc: Sunny FL
 Originally Posted By: Mrs. Ironmom
Lol, farting is totally normal. I've never had to crap during a race, but my body is pretty well trained to go before the race. \:\)

You may have swallowed a bunch of water on the swim too.

I did swallow some. I would have thought it would have hit me on the bike ride though. I took a nice crap before the race so I thought I would be good, guess not!
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#7053096 - 05/06/13 02:06 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
slackereg6 Offline
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Posts: 868
Loc: Hot Texas
Congrats on the finish.

Salt water swim? Look up salt water flush may explain a little if you swallowed some. My fist tri I swallowed a ton of salt water and later that day sucked. Not sure if it was the salt water or the crappy pizza I ate afterwards.
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#7053168 - 05/06/13 02:37 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: slackereg6]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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It was a salt water swim.
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#7053434 - 05/06/13 04:49 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
gamby Offline
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Congrats. \:\)
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#7053842 - 05/06/13 08:30 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: gamby]
lessthanmike Offline
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Nice Job!! Especially because you jumped right in to international distance instead of doing a few sprints.
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#7054078 - 05/06/13 11:15 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: lessthanmike]
Euphoricuck Offline
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congrats. looking up in open water is normal part of the swim
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#7054330 - 05/07/13 08:03 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Euphoricuck]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Registered: 09/09/00
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Loc: Sunny FL
 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
congrats. looking up in open water is normal part of the swim

I can understand that. It was hard because the only swim training I did was in the pool where I could follow the line on the bottom to stay straight. During the race, I kept finding myself a good 20 or 30 feet to the right of all the other swimmers. I had to have added a good 10th or more to my distance just because of all the back and forth I did trying to stay on course.
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#7054831 - 05/07/13 11:52 AM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: Euphoricuck]
gamby Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Euphoric
congrats. looking up in open water is normal part of the swim


this

Having grown up swimming in the ocean, you lose course VERY quickly.

Pics of bike?
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#7054969 - 05/07/13 12:45 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: gamby]
MonkeyStillAlive Offline
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Loc: Sunny FL
It's nothing fancy, just a bike I bought off a friend. Bone stock Trek Alpha 1.1 or 1.2. Can't remember which model off the top of my head.
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#7055185 - 05/07/13 02:01 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
WNDYCTYone Offline
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Hell of a job, OP!!
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#7055200 - 05/07/13 02:06 PM Re: Tips for first triathlon? [Re: MonkeyStillAlive]
gamby Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Monkeydias
It's nothing fancy, just a bike I bought off a friend. Bone stock Trek Alpha 1.1 or 1.2. Can't remember which model off the top of my head.


Hey--it did the job for now. Beware the aero bug...
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