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London Olympic 1st timers
rj1265
Posts: 70
in General Chat
Hi all
Are there any London Olympic 1st timers out there ??
This is my first year in Tri and I was wondering are there any others just as apprehensive as me??
I can feel the nerves already as I jump into the dock to swim to the starting area !!! Thats before swimming 1500m.
My current training mottos are "complete .... not compete" !!! and 1 I saw in the magazine on a Ironman bike course "pain is temporary, pride is forever" (I used that hiking Half Dome in Yosemite last year).
Are there any London Olympic 1st timers out there ??
This is my first year in Tri and I was wondering are there any others just as apprehensive as me??
I can feel the nerves already as I jump into the dock to swim to the starting area !!! Thats before swimming 1500m.
My current training mottos are "complete .... not compete" !!! and 1 I saw in the magazine on a Ironman bike course "pain is temporary, pride is forever" (I used that hiking Half Dome in Yosemite last year).
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You'll love it I'm sure!
Good luck
Anyway ... I haven't bought a bike yet, but IronJohn and Co have been really good in offering top advice ... ( I'm currently having an internal Campangolo. vs Shimano 105 debate - 5 weeks ago would have thought this was an resto debate - Italian or Shushi ! )
And I can only do the breast stroke properly.
I reckon I'll be absolutely planking it come the day, but itching to get the kit and get going
Question : Does anyone have a view on the packages that SBR do ? Looked OK pricewise .. just wondering whether the bike ( Scott Speedster S60 was any good .. the guy at the Tri show y'day said it had Shimano 105 set, but it didn't look like it to me )
DL
I have entered the London Tri as a Newbie. Although I have entered the Norwich Olympic Triathlon the month before to gauge where abouts I am.
Even reading blogs about the London Tri makes me nervous. I hope who ever is broadcasting allows for extended highlights as I crawl across the finish line.
I'm entering London as a first timer. Havent' done any tri-races before so hope to do Blenheim sprint in the run up and maybe another. Wen't along to watch last year and atmosphere was quality. I expect I'll have a fair few friends come down to watch (/laugh at) me and take advantage of the bbq in the central bar (can't remember the name) so a practice before is all the more important!
Damian - I got one of the package deals from tri uk in yeovil. It's a treck from London (where I am) though. They do do mail/internet order but glad I went there to try on the stuff. Found it to be far and away cheapest all encompasing option when I was buying (sept/oct last yr). Don't know about the Scott I'm afraid (although can't see mention of 105 on the SBR website where the bike is sold seperately also).
Cen ... thanks for tip on Tri UK .. I'll look them up ( I reckon you're correct about the Scott )
JasonB ... I've emailed the organisers .. to ask will they send a search party if I haven't finished by 10pm !
Catwoman ... I'd be very interested in any feedback you had about Club La Santa ... I think a visit ( to this place or similar ) could be beneficial
Thanks in advance ... DL
Good head up on the accomodation. Will be going on my own, so have to see how much of other people's smelly gear I could put up with ;o)
Good luck all
Good to see there are several nervous newbies like me
My first event ( I will refrain from calling them races .... yet!!) is Cleveland Sprint 400 pool, 20km, 5km in May , then either Sunderland or Ripon before London. A 100mile cyclosportive in June - 7hr endurance test !!
Went to the pool last night and didn't drown !!! -- 100m freestyle , 500m breaststroke and drank half the pool... Aquasphere Eagles are great but my freestyle breathing awful!!
Last 10 days training 2 x 5Km Runs , 2 Brick Sessions ( 70mins Bike (Turbo) followed by 3Km run), 1 40Km bike ride, 1 turbo session (60 mins), the swim above..., 2 REST days - 1 of which was at TCR :-)
Bought wetsuit / trisuit / numberbelt + some other training essentials.... equipment wise ready to go.... time to hone the body :-)
More swim sessions required !!!
This will like my training blog !!
I did my first (and, not through choice, last) olympic tri in London 3 years ago. I found it amazing. The run especially. I have always been a good swimmer but never a good runner so the 10 km run sounded mammoth to me.
Once I got going on the run it felt easier and easier, especially because of the atmosphere at the London event.
You will all enjoy it and you will find that finishing was never as hard as you expected. You will also find that the bug will bite you and you can't wait for your next event.
After a few years out of the game (for reasons out of my control) I am now looking forward to getting back to competition again. I can still feel the buzz of the London Tri even now in New Zealand.
Go hard, try your best and I guarantee that you will not be dissapointed.
Good luck to you all and I envy you for being able to do it!!
A quick update:-
Training - not enough swimming [;)]
Wednesday = REST
Thursday = 1 hour Turbo (75% MHR) followed by 3 Km run / jog
Friday = 30 mins Core workout (Gym Ball , Ab Roller)
Saturday = 65Km (2hrs 10 mins) at <80% MHR
Sunday = 25Km (including 2 x 90m climbs ave 10% grade) 45 mins
Sundays Run or Swim got postponed therefore:-
Core + Swimming tonight
Started listening to my HRM now ?? training much better and overall speed better (not blowing up on the hills). Can go further both run and cycle without blowing up but keeping the same or better average speed.....
Algarni I am already bitten by the bug..... the scary part is that I will want to go longer than Oly distance. I am more of a diesel than a turbo petrol engine. I can go long and steady.... roll on 70.3 / IM .... when I can swim the distance.
Mental Note :- More swimming sessions required [:)]
Keeping training and enjoying it .... only 25 weeks to London (50 swim sessions @ twice a week !!)
R
It must have been my red wine, cheese and chocolate diet the last 6 weeks that's help it all mend [8|] ....
Lucky it's nearly shrove tuesday so i can give it all up and get back to some training - here's to finishing!!!!
i've loved cycling for years (thanks to stephen roche in 1987) but i'm a bit rubbish at it, apart from going up hills which isn't much use in london. not a big running fan, but that's probably because i have to train in the dark at the moment and it'll get a lot easier when it gets a bit lighter in the evenings and i don't have to wear a headtorch while i'm running to see where i'm going.
really looking forward to august though. all my friends and family think i'm mental, but nevermind...
I am also a first timer to Triathlon's, and fairly new to getting off my backside, so entering for the Olympic distance this year is already giving me butterfly's!
As far as training - Last year bet ween May and December I went from bugger all for 15 years to 8 miles cross country in a great off road race called the GRIM 8 in Aldershot Hants. Nothing quite like running through waist high freezing wet ditches, running through ponds etc in the sand to keep you going! I did this as part of my plan to do one big event for charity each year. Last year I managed to raise just over £700 for Cancer Research which my workplace matched. This year I want to double it, so have set my eyes on the London Tri Olympic [:D] Everyone reckons Im loopy, but I am keeping the people who sponsosred me last year up to date every month with my progress towards this years challenge, then will hit the with a sponsor me email using the justgiving website.
So far my training this year consists of swimming 3 times a week (Mon, Wed, Fri 1500m, running to or from work one day (Tues or Thurs 6 miles then riding the other way back on a mountain bike. Im looking to get a decent bike soon for practicing more on the bike sie of things. I also go for a long run at the weekend too over the army grounds round here in Aldershot (about a 6/7 mile run up and down the hills with the dogs.
As the nights are now getting longer, Im looking forward to getting into nighttime running too as for me, with a wife and 2 kids, its the best time - go out about 8, 9pm. I do try to avoid as much tarmac as possilbe as Im 6ft 7 and quite big built (16 stone) so roads / pavement kills my knees.
In terms of events this year Im doing the Blenheim, Michelob Ultra, South Coast, a couple of other sprints and the pier to pier sea 1.4mile swim event run by the Heart foundation in July.
Cheers
Glen
Like you I am 6ft 7" and heavier @ 112 Kgs ( thighs like tree trunks - cycling in the Hilly NE !! ). I saw an article in 220 (cannot remember the edition) , it was in the Q&A section regarding something called the 'Ironman Shuffle', obviously I am not built for running speed, the article mentioned talked about not 'bouncing' as you are running at but still run at a reasonable pace... I have found this very useful since it reduces the impact on my knees and hips when running on tarmac. I am never going to run 5K in 20 mins or 10K in 45 mins. So as long as I can run the distance ( without stopping and walking ) and finish without needing to visit to the local A&E I will be happy [:)][:)][:)]
And in terms of going the distance without stopping - not me. [;)] I like the motto around here for new triathletes regarding complete, not compete. I dont know why, but when I run I tend to need to stop for a breather about every 2.5 miles, with one quick one after the first mile. Initially this was crushing me as I thought you have to do the whole thing, no stopping and that somehow I was a failure. In fact I now think this is a good thing, as with this strategy, I broke my 4 mile 'barrier' and now up to 9 mile runs, with breathers at 1, 3.5, 6, 7.5 then 9. The way I look at it - I just want to finish, I dont care If I have to stop every mile, crawl or drag myself across that finishing line, as long as I do it on the day at olympic distance ,I will be one happy man, and hopefully raise a shed load for charity. [:D] My first big lesson was learning that I cannot compare myself to anyone else in the race, on these chat boards etc. I have my own strengths and limitations. I just want to have fun, do something that I never woud have dreamed of 9 months ago, and do my family proud through trying my best. With that approach I finished the Grim 8 last year, and I WILL finish the Olympic distance Michelob this year, and I will be grinning all the way [:D]
As Yoda would say.... strong the force is in all of us - realise it we must - umm yes
glad it's not just me. i'm sure i used to be able to swim and breath at the same time. pool time has definitely just jumped to the top of my needs list!
Does anyone know of any good newbie friendly tri's before Blenheim (ideally open water) near London? Sprint (or super) would be ideal... thinking I'm going to need the practice!
Monday Morning - Another week flies by !!
Hope everyone's training is going OK
Last weeks training was:-
Monday - Swim 700m ( Made up of 6 lengths Breast Stroke , 2 FreeStyle) - Didn't drink as much of the pool, must be an improvement
Tuesday - 5Km Run, Fast Jog really 28mins
Wednesday - Active Recovery 45 mins Turbo Session HR < 60%
Thursday - 5Km Run, Fast Jog really ~ 28mins
Friday - Turbo Session 70 mins , (15 mins warmup, 45 mins of increasing resistance , 10-10-15-10, 10 mins warm down)
Saturday - 85Km Bike ride (3hrs 10mins) , Swim (2hrs after finishing bike) (600m using same 6BS,2FS again better technique on FS, cramp cut short session)
Sunday - 4Km jog followed by Rest, Rest, Rest
This weeks improvement - breathing and swimming FreeStyle at the same time.
Lessons learnt, swimming after bike ride not good !!!
Lesson to learn ---- relax when swimming
I recommend the Cannons St. Albans Tri taking place in June. It was my first tri last year and its a sprint distance. The facilities are great as the swim is in the Cannons health club. The bike and run course is good as its reasonably traffic free. The roads aren't closed but they are pretty quiet on a sunday morning. All in all I though it was a really well run race. Its also fairly close to Romford so the travelling shouldn't be too bad.
I'm doing London for the first time and will use St. Albans as part of the training.
http://www.humanrace.co.uk/
(Eton super sprint)
http://www.crystalpalace-tri.co.uk/race/2007-race/2007-race.htm
Good luck with the Sprint are you doing any others before ?? -- I have signed up to a couple of local events (to get used to the swim start , I think thats the most scary part, before London)
This is my first year too in triathlon.. I thought that the London Oly distance would be a challenge ( I want to do a 70.3 or IM [:D] - there is a dream)
. The thought process was , I could swim 20 years ago, I currently ride more that 100 miles a week, I can walk the 10K if need be. Therefore, if I get out the water OK I will finish [:)] , after my first couple of swim sessions that looked highly unlikely... I couldn't remember how to swim 50m of FS - let alone 1500m. I seemed to thrash about like a fish in a net whilst drinking the pool!! Happily 4 weeks later I am up to 800m mixing Breast Stroke and Free Style (100 BS , 50 FS) without drinking the pool [;)], head down & breathing to the left and right on alternate 50 m, bilateral breathing will have to wait !!
As I have said before I am no racing snake, my previous sporting life was rugby (No.8) and Offshore yachting - I just love a challenge, the thought of crossing the finish line in London and the sense of pride I will have in myself keeps me going ( I really dislike running) when I want to stop and not bother with that training session.
Good Luck to all.
R
Fingers crossed that there will be spaces left. Anyone else entered?