Triatlhon

[Sampa]

Triathlon...

Hello everyone,
I was curious to know the different ways some of you faced a triathlon...
See, I just signed up for my first one and am very excited about it, the problem is that the people that I am training with are exercise maniacs and they just think everything is soooo easy...give me your 0.02 on this one...strategies and all...
I also think it would be a really good way to train for the Academy (I am pretty close!!!).

[Eagl5]

If your close to attending the Academy, it is probably not a good idea to put your body through the stress of training for a triahlon. You get hurt, then you lose your spot to the Academy, or you get hurt try to suck it up and get hurt at the Academy. Stick to running and calesthenics and wait for the triathlon until you graduate.

[Sampa]

Thank you!

[stunt362]

I would have to agree. I ran a marathon about 3 1/2 years ago. I trained for almost a year and was doing awesome, but towards the end of my training I got really bad shin splints which turned into hairline fractures in both of my shins! I ended up having to stick to the elliptical for the last month of my training (and I did physical therapy for the last 2-3 months). I still did the marathon, and luckily had no problems, but to this day I can't run more than 1/4 mile or so before my shins start killing me (and that was 3 1/2 years ago!).

[greenhorn]

I have completed a few triathlons. I would have to agree with Eagl5 on this one. Its not worth getting hurt and giving up your space at the academy. However I must admit they are alot of fun. Especially when all you see is white water and getting your goggles kicked off your face. :doh: Good times!! Good times!!

[pupdog]

Learn to sight in open water!!!!! Have your bike waiting in the correct gear!!!!

I'm a weak swimmer who did Catalina a few years ago. The swim goes out along 1 side of the pier, about twice the length of the pier into the bay, and straight back along the other side. Backstroke is a weak swimmer's friend. So I swam away from shore along the pier, out to the trunaround buoy, happily swimming away from shore. I went around the buoy, and swam straight away from it. Lah tee dah...until one of the kayakers came & asked if I was in the race or just out for a swim. Why? I turn around & see I'm over by the dock, way off course! The good part about being the 2nd to last person out of the water is it's really easy to find your bike!

The bike started steep immediatly, and my gears were set for flat. Dropped the chain just after mounting. Embarassing!!

[HeliKid]

I dont think a Sprint distance Tri would be out of the question or particularly any more risky than swimming, running and biking to stay in shape. A marathon would be a little much. Is the Tri sprint, half-iron, iron, or Olympic?

[Sampa]

It's Sprint and I am really looking forward to it, because it's my first one and I am having a lot of fun training...I never spent so much time in the water as I do now, and I figured that since I have to run to train for Camp Snoopy I may as well get something from it...besides surviving Academy...

[LadyVol@330]

I admire all of you who can master a triathlon. Wow! Just the word reminds me of a couple of people: my brother-in-law who used to do about one every other year or so, and he always had a problem in the doctor's office with the treadmill because it wore out the staff trying to get his heart rate up there!

The other is CHP Ironman Tony Pedeferri. He inspired so many people, and he still does. God bless him and his family.

[Sampa]

Learn to sight in open water!!!!! Have your bike waiting in the correct gear!!!!

I'm a weak swimmer who did Catalina a few years ago. The swim goes out along 1 side of the pier, about twice the length of the pier into the bay, and straight back along the other side. Backstroke is a weak swimmer's friend. So I swam away from shore along the pier, out to the trunaround buoy, happily swimming away from shore. I went around the buoy, and swam straight away from it. Lah tee dah...until one of the kayakers came & asked if I was in the race or just out for a swim. Why? I turn around & see I'm over by the dock, way off course! The good part about being the 2nd to last person out of the water is it's really easy to find your bike!

The bike started steep immediatly, and my gears were set for flat. Dropped the chain just after mounting. Embarassing!!

The other thing I just learned is to tie some balloons to my bike so it's easy to spot, I just hope the other people won't have the same great idea!!!

Regarding the swimming....you sounded really funny about it and looks like you had fun...I am swimming any style ever created...so I don't get bored and I hope to use some of it ...all people tell me is to relax and enjoy the race and at this point it's going to be a good way to see how my training is going....I will keep y'all posted.:wink:

[pupdog]

Which tri? One other thing I just thought of...if transition is on sand, one of the 1st post-race things to do is to clean your cleats & pedals with WD-40. The catalina transition was on dry sand, but the salt still did a number on them & they rusted.

[dw]

I was curious to know the different ways some of you faced a triathlon...The opposite direction!

Seriously though, I've watched the finish line of a marathon a couple times and was thoroughly worn out.

[Sampa]

The opposite direction!

Seriously though, I've watched the finish line of a marathon a couple times and was thoroughly worn out.

Very funny!!!:tape:

[pinkrocks]

Having recently graduated the academy, I have to agree with the other Chippies' advice of waiting on the triathalon. I ran and did calisthenics before the academy, but I really hit it hard in preparation. I did fine in PT, but I ended up with a bad case of patellar tendonitis that could have sent me home if I wasn't willing to keep running through it.
The best advice I can give you is this: Make sure you are physically in good shape. Be able to run 8-9 minute miles for a few consecutive miles. Be familiar with the feeling of turning your 'pain sensations' off and working through it, whether that is on the runs or with more pushups than anyone sane wants to do. But don't go to the academy already stressed. They will provide that part. The best preparation is in your mind.

Good luck!

[Sampa]

Thank you....for all of you that helped and I must say that I learned some good things about it...I am still on for the triathlon but it's more for fun than to compete...it''s my way of checking to see how prepared I am I guess...it's just sprint so it's not like I will be running 30 miles and biking 100...it's a fun thing to do...I will be running and biking with or without the triathlon, right?

Thank again to all.

[Bearbait]

I did my first triathlon this year in San Jose, it was an Olympic distance and it beat up my body more than the marathon I ran. The mistake I made was not training enough for the swim, I swam the distance in a pool several times, but I did not do any open water swims.

The second mistake I made was not eating enough before the race and I did not carry many energy gels with me. My leg completly cramped up at mile four of the run. I prepared the same way I would run a half-marathon with the pre-race meal and race supplements, but I was not prepared for how much the race drained my body.

Having said that I am looking forward to my next tri.

Sampa, if you do the tri, let us know how you did. Good luck!

[530hopeful]

My TRI philosophy.... Survive the swim.... hammer on the bike... suffer on the run :cool:

I've done 5 or 6 sprint distance tri's and they do a really good job of keeping me motivated! Make sure you have a good base in each of the disciplines... and try and do a couple of brick work outs (bike work out followed by a run) in the last month before the TRI. For my first couple of sprint TRI's the goal was to make it through the run to the finish without stopping/walking... after that you can worry about PRs :cool:

[Sampa]

Glad to report that I did the Tri last weekend...the results were not as inspiring as I expected, but I had fun and finished pretty good, I trained hard prior to it and my only mistake was no training my swim in the ocean...well let's say that I absolute do not like the ocean not even a bit ( I like to look at it and that is about it!), I got out there and started swimming with everyone else, the fog was intense and I could not see anything and my first thought was "If I can not see them while they have the bright yellow jackets on (the life guards), I am pretty positive they can not see me either", I then turned around and went back to shore, hopped on my bike and did everything else...oh well...I know I suck, but at least I wasn't one of the people that got lost swimming because as I said you could not see a soul out there.

Thank all for your advices and support.

Next time I will look for a pool triathlon!