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petrified london tri novice
sporteve
Posts: 141
in General Chat
hi all
this my first tri ever and i am petrified...
my stomach gets tied in a knot every time i think of 750meters of murky water and kicking legs and arms around me - i have been having panic attacks in the pool or in the sea where i just wanna get out
i am convinced i will get disqualified for one reason or another and i have horror movie nightmares where i fall off my bike on a turn and all other bikes crush over me...
on top of it all i just came back from a self imposed training camp abroad where all went well but now i have entered a weird frame of mind and i haven't trained for 4days....like i am in some denial self destrucion thing...
this should be fun but has developed to a nightmare - the fact that i am not a confident swimmer or an experienced cyclist simply doesn't help..and neither does the fact that i feel overwelmed by the size of the event and i do not know my way around it AND i race at 5 o clock ..i believe my nerves will be in shreds by then and in need of lethal tranquilizers...
am i alone and the only weird newbie around....?????
this my first tri ever and i am petrified...
my stomach gets tied in a knot every time i think of 750meters of murky water and kicking legs and arms around me - i have been having panic attacks in the pool or in the sea where i just wanna get out
i am convinced i will get disqualified for one reason or another and i have horror movie nightmares where i fall off my bike on a turn and all other bikes crush over me...
on top of it all i just came back from a self imposed training camp abroad where all went well but now i have entered a weird frame of mind and i haven't trained for 4days....like i am in some denial self destrucion thing...
this should be fun but has developed to a nightmare - the fact that i am not a confident swimmer or an experienced cyclist simply doesn't help..and neither does the fact that i feel overwelmed by the size of the event and i do not know my way around it AND i race at 5 o clock ..i believe my nerves will be in shreds by then and in need of lethal tranquilizers...
am i alone and the only weird newbie around....?????
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Get down to transition early on the day of the race, get settled maybe (if poss) watch a some of the swim starts and look at the swim course. Its a straight out and back at london with MASSIVE turn bouys (easy to sight with). Get your gear sorted and have a look at T1 and T2 entries and exits, walk thropugh them and remember where youre bikes rackes (every lane is marked VERY clearly at London, remeber your lane number) Once your gears laid out take a moment to mentally run through your transitions, take your time, dont fluster, dont panic.
When your waves getting ready to go try and be one of the FIRST in the water, this will give you ample time to acclimatise and warm up (very important), the water shouldnt be too cold on the day but it always feels a tad colder than your used to. Take a few minutes to warm up, a few 50m swims, getting used to the murky water and run through some breathe/sighting drills.
When the hooter goes DONT GO MAD get a rythm and stick to it get your breathing under control and try and find some feet to latch on to. Sight every few strokes and it'll be done before you know it.......
and the most important tip................
ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!
i know i have to get out of this dark place, it is all in my mind and the fact that's all unknown territory just magnifies everything..
ok, off for my brick now ....if this wont hurt i don't know what will after four days of inactivity...
a lot of people's focus on not training enough, training too much, not training too much enough . sometimes the idea of training just feels like a burden too far, and if you've come back from an intensive week then you might have had enough for a bit.
try to do something you enjoy, take the pressure off yourself. what you do in the next week won't make or break what happens at london! make it a smooth, loose session where you can relax as much as possible.
for the swim, if the thought of being caught in the scrum bothers you then make sure you are away from it - swim on the edge or at the back, sod what the rest of them do out there - do it your way.
the other bikes aren't going to crush over you - your awesome speed will keep them at bay! take it steady on the bike, relax as best you can and settle into it. i find it takes me a little while to settle into a comfortable rhythm on the bike. if you can do a reccie of the course then do, but if not look it over on a map so you know a few landmarks - they really help to keep you going.
if you get any lethal strength tranq's then i'll take some for my next race please!
got my race pack today..it is official and straight to the final count down...!
ris thank you so much for your really encouraging words - it was a great help - i have actually started to visualise myself slowly and calmly swimming the distance while before i was instead having frightening pictures of me panicking .... so yes, big thank you!
bike and run no fear, swim pertrified is a decent description methinks to the point that hauling my arse out to train is a major effort so far this week Now hauling my arse 75 mile round trip as all our local pools are shut aggghhh
bike and run no fear, swim pertrified is a decent description methinks to the point that hauling my arse out to train is a major effort so far this week Now hauling my arse 75 mile round trip as all our local pools are shut aggghhh [/quote:169dv5mn]
I think that covers a lot of people doesn't it? I couldn't swim more than a few lengths when I entered London earlier this year, and whilst I've come on a relatively long way with lessons and OW swimming the thought of swimming in the thames with 379 other people around me still fills me with a dread - but it's all about overcoming your weaknesses and fears isn't it? That's why I signed up for London in the first place. I know I'll feel bloody great when I (finally) get out of the water and wobble towards T1, and then it's time to start really enjoying it on the bike and run
I'll be the one at the very back of the swim pack, at 15.30 on Saturday
Windsor, still hadn't learned my lesson. Same story
So for London I'm starting off slooooooooowly and hoping to pick off the people who start too quick!
Well thats the plan anyway
one of the great hings about London Tri is the atmosphere. There's a little bloke at the swim muster who gets you going and relaxes you with a bit of crack and is v helpful and friendly. The last two years he's worn the same ridiculous long shorts. Do all the routines that help you as previous posters have said and when you pull on the wetsuit and get in with your start wave you'll see people looking around the same as you in exactly the same situation. as you warm up don't be afriaid to chat as this will dispel the tension. Enjoy it cos you know you'll be back for more.
K
i do hope that things will get better once the race is well under way and also in future races
however at the moment although 'petrified' might be a strong word for you juleso it is a word that describes me the best
i assume you are a far more accomplished, confident and experienced triathlete and i wish one day i will be just like you but for now i am a nervous novice..
this has been a great and hard journey for me having started only 5 1/2 months ago with just being able to swim a length at time (in bad style) and only basic balancing skills on the bike so i think i have pretty good reasons to be nervous!
i hope come saturday evening i will have plenty of reasons to be proud!
Start off with yourself swimming (visualise technique and breathing) smoothly and relaxed, then visualise getting out of the wter and going through your transition steps ... and keep that going throughout the different phases of the race ... a positive visualisation and deep breathing will really help. I'm not saying it'll stop you bricking it (I still am) but it does help if you can see yourelf being successful at the things you have to do, and having a good time of it.
Anyone in the 3:30 sprint on Saturday make sure you wave when blasting past me on the bike course ... I'll be bringing up the tail end of the 3:00pm wave
Even though we got the worst weather short of cancellation, the tri itself was great and rolling across the finish line was the best feeling ever.
Youll be fine
Going tonight to Bosworth Water Park though , and again on Saturday .
As someone said to me , just remember to breath and you will be fine .
Good luck and race with a smile ,remember it's supposed to be FUN
Stay out of trouble at the start of the swim and if necessary let people move off to allow you space to get your stroke going.
After that enjoy the chaos!! Its the best thing about this sport.
Good luck!
I'm just hoping the rain holds off, I'm a liability on the bike in the rain.
Good luck to all the newbies, relax and enjoy, it's only your first tri, once.
...and breathe...
Ohmmmm
malteser at 3.30
moonshine at 4,30
and
sporteve at 5.00
all of us a tad nervous I'm getting there at 2 if anyone wants a group hug
I love it. It gives me an annual target and stops me getting too fat through the year.
(It also has a place in my heart as the first year I did it I proposed to my wife on route from the swim to T1 with dripping wetsuit in hand - oh us romantics!)
The supporters are excellent encouragement too, especially after the swim and all round the run.
If you are nervous on the openwater swim just hang back at the start. The dock is huge so you'll soon be in clear water.
It p1ssed it down with rain last year so I am hoping that the weather is a bit more friendly this year (especially after the soaking I got this year at Blenhiem as well)
I start at 2.30 on Saturday so come along to the swim start a shout "Come on Jase" I'll be the one in the black wetsuit.
Good luck one and all
see you sunday
cheers
jase - am at 2.30 too ... I will also be wearing a black wetsuit -lol
Good luck to all - as said above enjoy it, it is fun ... but remember it is also a race the more you try the better you feel.
Antother nervous first timer for the London Tri sprint race on Saturday here. I am just wondering what the situation is regarding racking of bikes and placing of other equipment in the transition area - i am racing at 15.30 but no guidelines are given as to when this all should take place. It seems a bit strange that there might be people wandering around and placing bikes etc in the transition area at all hours of the day while others are trying to race around them but if this is how it is meant to be then...
Cheers - and good luck to all!