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London Triathlon - 6th Aug
jojo
Posts: 76
in General Chat
Hi guys - In a moment of madness Ive just registered for the London Triathlon. Am in pretty good shape - I run 10k about 3 times a week already (about 49 mis) - don't do any cycling and minimal swimming (yes that is what I'm dreading)
Does anyone have any advice ie good training programmes and times I should be aiming for.
This is my first triathlon
Thanks
Does anyone have any advice ie good training programmes and times I should be aiming for.
This is my first triathlon
Thanks
0
Comments
This is also my rookie year and to get going I just bought some good books. Of all the ones I bought, triathlon 101 I felt was the best. As far as swimming is concerned, good lessons are the best way to go. For my first year I am just going to enjoy the ride and look forward to being more competetive next year when I will be more experienced. By the way, yes I am doing London Tri, 35-39 olympic. I will be one of the big green TEAM HERBALIFE dudes, so see you there (only 10,000 competitors to choose from).
Anyway, just have fun.
Good luck!
Andy
Thanks for your response. I think you're right - maybe just being able to finish it will be an achievement in itself without being too competitive - just don't want the family there when it starts getting dark! I may get that Triathlon 101 - I've already got the Mike Finch book - the complete triathlon or something - which is good but hasn't really taught me anything new - but I am qualified personal trainer so I guess I should know all the basics - but I'm just not a competitive athlete and have mainly trained for myself. Still haven't started on swimming yet - but did a bike session yesterday and then straight on the treadmill for a short run and it felt ok - but still got a long way to go!
Anyway good luck with the training and let me know how you're getting on.
I'm in the 30-34 olympic distance group.
Jo Jo
I did the London event last year in the 30 - 34 grouping, its a great day out you will enjoy it (although the water was bloody cold at first !!). I think Scorpion may have a point with the swimming classes, ive never bothered but tend to suffer in the swim. The London event was my first, and to be honest i was just concentrating on finishing rather than position, so took it fairly steady...might be the best way to go for your first!
Im doing the Windsor event this year and my training is currently,
Mon - 2Km Swim
Tues - 10 Km run
Wed - 45 Mins turbo trainer
Thurs - 45 Mins turbo trainer
Fri - 10 Km run / 2 Km Swim / rest (whichever im in the mood for)
Sat - 50 Km bike / rest
Sun - 2 Km swim / rest
I think its important to listen to your body so if your cream crackered, dont force yourself to train and just take a rest, then try to get back on board with the training the next day.
Use this year to enjoy the experience!
I'm also one of those big green Team Herbalife people!
Have fun!
Saw from your other threads that your off to Tri camp... I would ask the coaches there if they can help you put together a proper training programme to cover the months leading up to London.
In the meantime I've found the Swim4fun website really good for some swim programmes.. they have a specific tri section as well...
As for the bike... best advice is get out on the roads and do lots of long bike runs.
jazdog
god the things i consider doing in the name of charity and speed
the mad one !!!!
I say if you're gonna do something ... go do it properly. You guys are such wimps .... we have more than just our legs waxed (well only on special occasions - he he). I dread to think what it would be like if you all had to have babies! It might not be just your speed that improves!!!!!!!
Got my itinerary for Greece - really excited now - kit list is gonna cost a small fortune but at least I'll have all the stuff - only ever heard of half of the items mind you let alone used them!
That David's a bit good isn't he for a first timer .....
and enough with the "oh I am off to Greece for a 2 week training camp .. dont you know " GRRRRRRRR
not that I am even slightly jealous (splutter!!!!!!!!!!) - so no more rubbing it in !!
the mad one !!
ps we have to ask tho with a time like Davids was he smoooooooth ?
However i didn't go for the smooth look, especially on the legs. I'll tell you what though, with all the water from the pool and the rain runining down them the hair was all laid flat anyway.
DAvid
I am sure that if the light had gone, i would have glowed all the way home.
David
I am in a similar situation to the original poster. I have just decided I am going to do the olympic distance in August but have no real swimming experience. Is finishing an achievable goal?
Thanks
I really hope so. Read through all the posts on here - there is some great advice regarding the swimming. Me personally, I joined a tri swimming club last week and it was sooo helpful. I had been practising on my own trying to get my Front Crawl up to scratch but when I went to the club the people there basically taught me a whole new way of doing it which will hopefully mean I'll be much less tired by the time I finally finish the 1500m.
Best thing to do is for the first triathlon lets just concentrate on getting through it and then maybe next time (if I can bear to do it again) then try to improve on times.
Good luck
Jo Jo
I hope you succeed, i'm sure you can. Jojo's comment about swim squads is good, join and get some people to train with and coaching advice on technique it has helped me no end.
Have you competed in any of the disciplines or any tri before? I would suggest that you could find a super sprint at the end of May (400 swim), a sprint for the end of June (800 swim) and be better mentally prepared for August 6th. I know the pool swim competitions won't prepare you for the wetsuit section but according to the posts on here the wetsuit makes swimming a doddle.
David
I have a pool tri a week om sunday the a open water tri the middle of July...
If you find a tri club the will probably have open water sessions so you can practice before a race...
one final tip - never under estimate the darkside of cycling 40km you need miles on your legs..I am playing catch up at the minute as I have consentrated (for good reason) on my swim.
Ian
Watch the video on this site about Ironman Hawaii... the basic mantra applies to anyone who decides to do a triathlon at any distance...
no such thing as "I can't"
By making the decision to do a triathlon you said "I CAN"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgS2y3Rkx2I&search=ironman%20addicted%20drug
Jaz
I know now that i won't do an ironman this year, i probably won't do an ironman next year..... but in the end i WILL DO an Ironman![:)]
Just don't tell my fiance til after we're married.
David
My wife is already moaning at my training for an olympic distance ...
Maybe if I get her into it as well um...
Ian
p.s. did you see how slow there arms were moving swimming?
fatmatt
For anyone else reading this and worrying about cycling miles on legs is the best way - even if you can only do 5 miles a day it all helps!
fatmatt
Dunno if anyone else is like me but I started with the intention of doing one tri to show I could do it but like David and Ian I am now thinking of doing longer distances (wife not yet told) and then do an Ironman in a few years ... think we should start a new club Tri Addicts Anonymous!
Kev
I'm in pretty good shape - I run, bike and swim regularly and do martial arts - the only thing concerning me is the open swim. I can do 750m easily enough in a pool (at the moment in about 15 mins) but haven't done any open swimming before......
However, I live in Brighton near the sea, so once the water temperature rises another couple of degrees I'll get my trisuit and get out there!
Good luck to everyone, especially those first timers.....
There is another thread that shows peoples diets, some have big fry up most mornings lol.
Supplements are only worth using if you are really drained or want muscle mass. I used to take a protein supplement only to be asked by my doctor (RAF days) if I was eating a ton of bananas a day becuase the supplement was going straight through me. So wasted loads of money.
With reference to the swimming, and not sounding patronising, sounds like you need to slow it down a peg or two, and just achive the distance you need rather than a time you are aiming for. Once the distance is easily achievable then concentrate your distance mixed with sprints, techniques etc.
Relaxing is the key to breathing easily in the pool.
I used to be like that gasping for air, but I followed my own advise and now breathing is no problem, my shoulders get tired now.
Hope this helps.
1) accepting my weakness in swimming as something I could build on & not as a failure
2) seeking support - i did this initially with a few lessons at my Total Fitness then by joining a tri club
3) making my swim my priority in my training accessing a pool as often as possible - at peak I was swimming every day (occasionally more)
4) realising that WHEN I cracked the swim the bike & the run would be so much more acheivable for me (the swim fitness you will acheive will only serve to beneifit the other two not to mention the sense of success you will carry forward)
dream ... believe ....become
mandurse (phil)
I can only agree with the otherr comments here, i too was a drowner[:D] i could swim 50m F/C but no more. Since xmas i have been training and asking my coach for feedback then working on the comments, my swim is much faster and more relaxed and i can get out of the pool at the end[:)].
It seems to be a common thread that when swimming F/C we try too hard and windmill our arms too fast. Slow down and learn to breath first then with the stroke development the speed will come.
David