The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
All packed up and ready for my first sprint triathlon tomorrow. First time I've done anything like this before so I'm mixed with both excitement and anxious nerves.
I've read loads of various posts on here and its been great for little pointers so thanks all for those. Just fingers crossed the weather holds out
I've read loads of various posts on here and its been great for little pointers so thanks all for those. Just fingers crossed the weather holds out
All done and dusted. What brilliant fun it was too. A bit of chaos at the start as wasn't sure I would make registration and get everything before my swim time but some people let me skip the line. When I registered I hadn't actually timed myself over a 400m swim so I couldn't give them a swim time. This lead to them putting me in the very first start session. Turned out I was with a few people who could only just swim the distance so I found myself way ahead of everyone in my time group.
Really nice 20k ride, gradual up hills and good fast down hill sprints on roads that were drying out quickly so really enjoyed that.
Nice scenic 5k run too. This was and has always been my weak point but I found a pace i was happy with and just got on round.
Was the first over the line too which was a nice feeling, think I caught a few of the marshals by surprise too. Finished with a time just over 1 hour 24. No idea yet how I placed in the field yet as its still running.
Really great morning out and really enjoyed it. Learned lots and defiantly like to do it again. Already have a list of things to get to help me improve like a race belt. Had to arse around pinning my number to myself after the swim and it kept coming loose!!
Really nice 20k ride, gradual up hills and good fast down hill sprints on roads that were drying out quickly so really enjoyed that.
Nice scenic 5k run too. This was and has always been my weak point but I found a pace i was happy with and just got on round.
Was the first over the line too which was a nice feeling, think I caught a few of the marshals by surprise too. Finished with a time just over 1 hour 24. No idea yet how I placed in the field yet as its still running.
Really great morning out and really enjoyed it. Learned lots and defiantly like to do it again. Already have a list of things to get to help me improve like a race belt. Had to arse around pinning my number to myself after the swim and it kept coming loose!!
dave0010 said:
All done and dusted. What brilliant fun it was too. A bit of chaos at the start as wasn't sure I would make registration and get everything before my swim time but some people let me skip the line. When I registered I hadn't actually timed myself over a 400m swim so I couldn't give them a swim time. This lead to them putting me in the very first start session. Turned out I was with a few people who could only just swim the distance so I found myself way ahead of everyone in my time group.
Really nice 20k ride, gradual up hills and good fast down hill sprints on roads that were drying out quickly so really enjoyed that.
Nice scenic 5k run too. This was and has always been my weak point but I found a pace i was happy with and just got on round.
Was the first over the line too which was a nice feeling, think I caught a few of the marshals by surprise too. Finished with a time just over 1 hour 24. No idea yet how I placed in the field yet as its still running.
Really great morning out and really enjoyed it. Learned lots and defiantly like to do it again. Already have a list of things to get to help me improve like a race belt. Had to arse around pinning my number to myself after the swim and it kept coming loose!!
And now you're hooked Really nice 20k ride, gradual up hills and good fast down hill sprints on roads that were drying out quickly so really enjoyed that.
Nice scenic 5k run too. This was and has always been my weak point but I found a pace i was happy with and just got on round.
Was the first over the line too which was a nice feeling, think I caught a few of the marshals by surprise too. Finished with a time just over 1 hour 24. No idea yet how I placed in the field yet as its still running.
Really great morning out and really enjoyed it. Learned lots and defiantly like to do it again. Already have a list of things to get to help me improve like a race belt. Had to arse around pinning my number to myself after the swim and it kept coming loose!!
Prepare to give up all your free cash and ALL your spare time to training and recovery.
Funny enough when i rang the other half to tell her how I got on she had a similar impression 
I feel the best way to get away with the impending time and money addiction will be to get her hooked too!! I've got her signed up for a 40 mile ride next weekend and 10k run the week after. Then I'l sign her up for the next sprint tri.
I feel the best way to get away with the impending time and money addiction will be to get her hooked too!! I've got her signed up for a 40 mile ride next weekend and 10k run the week after. Then I'l sign her up for the next sprint tri.
To be fair. You don't HAVE to spend loads of money to do well.
Obviously initial start up costs Wetsuit, trisuit and bike if you haven't got them are the big ones. But after that I find it's just "cheaper" stuff. So energy foods/drinks new trainers every few months, odds and sods for the bike. Though this year (4th year) I'll be expecting to get a new wetsuit, but obviously that's not an every year thing.
I always look at the Brownlees, they don't even wear sunglasses or hats when racing. Granted they are sponsored but you get the impression they eschew all that additional stuff. Can't see them in compression guards when racing for example.
IMO too many people spend thousands on stuff, they'd be better off spending half that on some swim squad work and an online (but personalised) training plan from somewhere.
Obviously initial start up costs Wetsuit, trisuit and bike if you haven't got them are the big ones. But after that I find it's just "cheaper" stuff. So energy foods/drinks new trainers every few months, odds and sods for the bike. Though this year (4th year) I'll be expecting to get a new wetsuit, but obviously that's not an every year thing.
I always look at the Brownlees, they don't even wear sunglasses or hats when racing. Granted they are sponsored but you get the impression they eschew all that additional stuff. Can't see them in compression guards when racing for example.
IMO too many people spend thousands on stuff, they'd be better off spending half that on some swim squad work and an online (but personalised) training plan from somewhere.
Rich_W said:
dave0010 said:
All done and dusted. What brilliant fun it was too. A bit of chaos at the start as wasn't sure I would make registration and get everything before my swim time but some people let me skip the line. When I registered I hadn't actually timed myself over a 400m swim so I couldn't give them a swim time. This lead to them putting me in the very first start session. Turned out I was with a few people who could only just swim the distance so I found myself way ahead of everyone in my time group.
Really nice 20k ride, gradual up hills and good fast down hill sprints on roads that were drying out quickly so really enjoyed that.
Nice scenic 5k run too. This was and has always been my weak point but I found a pace i was happy with and just got on round.
Was the first over the line too which was a nice feeling, think I caught a few of the marshals by surprise too. Finished with a time just over 1 hour 24. No idea yet how I placed in the field yet as its still running.
Really great morning out and really enjoyed it. Learned lots and defiantly like to do it again. Already have a list of things to get to help me improve like a race belt. Had to arse around pinning my number to myself after the swim and it kept coming loose!!
And now you're hooked Really nice 20k ride, gradual up hills and good fast down hill sprints on roads that were drying out quickly so really enjoyed that.
Nice scenic 5k run too. This was and has always been my weak point but I found a pace i was happy with and just got on round.
Was the first over the line too which was a nice feeling, think I caught a few of the marshals by surprise too. Finished with a time just over 1 hour 24. No idea yet how I placed in the field yet as its still running.
Really great morning out and really enjoyed it. Learned lots and defiantly like to do it again. Already have a list of things to get to help me improve like a race belt. Had to arse around pinning my number to myself after the swim and it kept coming loose!!
Prepare to give up all your free cash and ALL your spare time to training and recovery.
What Rich said!!! That's it, you're on the slippery slope now!!!
One question actually guys that you can probably help me with. What the best way to reduce running pain. By this I mean when ever I run i get knots in my calfs after the run. I now find unless I run first thing in the morning and use the rest of the day to stretch out my legs my legs are ruined for days. I no longer because of this run in the evening as I don't want to wake the next day with ruined legs. I always stretch before and after running but this never gets rid of the knots I suffer from.
madbadger said:
Are race belts much of a muchness or is one recommended? I'm thinking I might save myself a bit of hassle and take some advice before my first triathlon, rather than getting one for the second. 
Much of a muchness. I bought a Blue70 one as that's what Sigma Sport were selling at the time. So long as it's got a big chunky plastic clip and preferably cords to attach the number to. It makes no odds. TriUK have their own. Most shops will sell them. dave0010 said:
One question actually guys that you can probably help me with. What the best way to reduce running pain. By this I mean when ever I run i get knots in my calfs after the run. I now find unless I run first thing in the morning and use the rest of the day to stretch out my legs my legs are ruined for days. I no longer because of this run in the evening as I don't want to wake the next day with ruined legs. I always stretch before and after running but this never gets rid of the knots I suffer from.
Foam Roller.66Fit do good ones and are available from eBay / Amazon et al
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQb-TE5esg0
Embrace the pain of ITB rollering
(It does get easier after a few attempts)Be aware that it may be shin splints which require different treatments than just sore muscles.
Also for me, I found stretching BEFORE running wasn't helping. Muscles are cold, so you increase the stresses on them. Light stretching better. but better still just to warm up a bit better before running (or at least go easy for the first k or so) And don't forget strength work for your legs can also stop your calves doing all the work the whole time and over stressing them
Rich_W said:
madbadger said:
Are race belts much of a muchness or is one recommended? I'm thinking I might save myself a bit of hassle and take some advice before my first triathlon, rather than getting one for the second.
Much of a muchness. I bought a Blue70 one as that's what Sigma Sport were selling at the time. So long as it's got a big chunky plastic clip and preferably cords to attach the number to. It makes no odds. TriUK have their own. Most shops will sell them. One is in the post from Wiggle.
So Liege-Bastogne-Liege: box ticked. Or, more accurately, Liege-somewhere-Liege ticked. To get to Bastogne, you have to do the full route - a mere 278km. With a ride to the start, and a "neutral zone" of 13km before the official start line, and a ride home on top. So closer to 300km. That wasn't on my bucket list, so I settled for the mere 167km and 2647m (8684 feet) of elevation. Plus the ridiculous 12% hill to the start line!
Some of it is very, very pretty - reminding me of the Yorkshire Dales. Some of it is pretty damned ugly. Most of it is OK. The road surfaces are generally poor. We had a couple of patches of new tarmac, but far too much broken/bad surface. And cobbles. Little, square, shiny cobbles. With tyre-width gaps between them, some of which weren't filled in. But then, some of the cobbles weren't there either.
Frankly, the whole cobbles thing was a fun novelty for about, ohh, 15 seconds. After that you wonder whether you have tightened all the bolts on you bike enough - the cobbles will shake anything loose clean off. Then you start wondering whether the frame, or the steerer, or the wheels will hold up (they do, but the doubt persists). Then you just thank feck that it is dry. I can say in all honesty that having ridden the course now, were it raining, I would not go near it again. The risk of a broken collar bone or scrapped frame is too high for my tastes.
All that aside, it is a good, tough ride. The climbs are little and often. The "nasties" are generally 1.5-3km long, with gradients north of 10%. The steepest - La Redoute - opens at 11, kicks to 14, then 16, then 20, then 16 before the finish. It is a lungburner. The others have little patches of 16-17% to keep you on your toes. The longer (5k) climbs at 5-6% don't make it onto the toptube milestones sticker!
Somewhat disappointingly there are no start/finish timing arches. You have a timing chip, but only for timing you up some of the climbs. And without a start arch, it was quite hard to work out whether we had started or were in the neutral zone ride. In fact the "official" start line for us was an innocuous sign by the side of the road at the foot of the first climb. Blink and you'd miss it.
Still, happy to have done it, and happy to have had the weather Gods on my side.
Next stop, Mallorca!
Some of it is very, very pretty - reminding me of the Yorkshire Dales. Some of it is pretty damned ugly. Most of it is OK. The road surfaces are generally poor. We had a couple of patches of new tarmac, but far too much broken/bad surface. And cobbles. Little, square, shiny cobbles. With tyre-width gaps between them, some of which weren't filled in. But then, some of the cobbles weren't there either.
Frankly, the whole cobbles thing was a fun novelty for about, ohh, 15 seconds. After that you wonder whether you have tightened all the bolts on you bike enough - the cobbles will shake anything loose clean off. Then you start wondering whether the frame, or the steerer, or the wheels will hold up (they do, but the doubt persists). Then you just thank feck that it is dry. I can say in all honesty that having ridden the course now, were it raining, I would not go near it again. The risk of a broken collar bone or scrapped frame is too high for my tastes.
All that aside, it is a good, tough ride. The climbs are little and often. The "nasties" are generally 1.5-3km long, with gradients north of 10%. The steepest - La Redoute - opens at 11, kicks to 14, then 16, then 20, then 16 before the finish. It is a lungburner. The others have little patches of 16-17% to keep you on your toes. The longer (5k) climbs at 5-6% don't make it onto the toptube milestones sticker!
Somewhat disappointingly there are no start/finish timing arches. You have a timing chip, but only for timing you up some of the climbs. And without a start arch, it was quite hard to work out whether we had started or were in the neutral zone ride. In fact the "official" start line for us was an innocuous sign by the side of the road at the foot of the first climb. Blink and you'd miss it.
Still, happy to have done it, and happy to have had the weather Gods on my side.
Next stop, Mallorca!
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 28th April 12:14
I'm off to do my first triathlon in 12 days time (it's a sprint with indoor swim) - does anyone have any useful hints or tips?
As a result of Dave's post earlier I've already ordered a Race Belt off Ebay.
Are speed laces a worthwhile investment - both my running shoes and cycles shoes are lace ups and as I'm too tight to buy new pairs I thought speed laces might be a cheap upgrade. Any recommendations for decent ones?
Cheers
As a result of Dave's post earlier I've already ordered a Race Belt off Ebay.
Are speed laces a worthwhile investment - both my running shoes and cycles shoes are lace ups and as I'm too tight to buy new pairs I thought speed laces might be a cheap upgrade. Any recommendations for decent ones?
Cheers
I can only give you my very limited advice from the things I experienced this weekend.
Place all your gear in transition in order. Have you helmet upside down with straps open so you can put it on your head straight away. Place any glasses your going to wear inside the helmet so you put them on first.
I placed a small towel next to my gear. This was because I was riding and running with socks on so wanted to quickly dry my feet before putting them on.
Have a open kit bag to hand. This can then be used to throw goggle's and used gear into to keep it all in place.
Have a good look around if you have time for the in's and out's of the transition area. Be clear which way you have to go for the cycle/run and at which points you mount and dismount the bike.
Have your bike in the right gear from the start. You don't want to wasting time spinning it up to the right gear.
Don't be afraid to ask questions to the people around you. I found loads of people were also first timers and this helped calm my nerves down.
I hope you enjoy it, Don't forget to post to say how you got on.
Place all your gear in transition in order. Have you helmet upside down with straps open so you can put it on your head straight away. Place any glasses your going to wear inside the helmet so you put them on first.
I placed a small towel next to my gear. This was because I was riding and running with socks on so wanted to quickly dry my feet before putting them on.
Have a open kit bag to hand. This can then be used to throw goggle's and used gear into to keep it all in place.
Have a good look around if you have time for the in's and out's of the transition area. Be clear which way you have to go for the cycle/run and at which points you mount and dismount the bike.
Have your bike in the right gear from the start. You don't want to wasting time spinning it up to the right gear.
Don't be afraid to ask questions to the people around you. I found loads of people were also first timers and this helped calm my nerves down.
I hope you enjoy it, Don't forget to post to say how you got on.
JQ said:
I'm off to do my first triathlon in 12 days time (it's a sprint with indoor swim) - does anyone have any useful hints or tips?
As a result of Dave's post earlier I've already ordered a Race Belt off Ebay.
Are speed laces a worthwhile investment - both my running shoes and cycles shoes are lace ups and as I'm too tight to buy new pairs I thought speed laces might be a cheap upgrade. Any recommendations for decent ones?
Cheers
Greeper LacesAs a result of Dave's post earlier I've already ordered a Race Belt off Ebay.
Are speed laces a worthwhile investment - both my running shoes and cycles shoes are lace ups and as I'm too tight to buy new pairs I thought speed laces might be a cheap upgrade. Any recommendations for decent ones?
Cheers
http://www.greeper.com/index.php
tips?
Remember where you've racked. Get a distinctive towel on the floor to help. Yellow/Green etc
And maybe consider walking from exit of the water/pool to where you'll be coming in to Transition. so you can find your way easily. As above, check mount/dismount lines. At the Age Group level. You "probably" won't be penalised for a minor infraction, but don't take the piss
Wedge sunglasses in helmet vents.
Helmet upside down on floor
Number with belt open and number side down.
If you haven't already. Do a dry run of a Transition. Can help.
Also remember that Transition is space limited. All the newbies bring boxes and all sorts (I know I did) try and only bring the essentials in.
Oh, and this is a biggie.
DO NOT TOUCH ANYBODIES STUFF
Did the Jenson Button Tri the first year ('12) came into T1 and some
had moved my bike up a place, so he could squeeze in between and had moved all my shoes/helmet to the OTHER side of my bike. 
It was a ignorant fest that event, so wouldn't recommend it to anyone! Ultimately, just enjoy it. You'll probably cock something up, so just don't let it worry you.
Edited by Rich_W on Tuesday 29th April 19:28
JQ said:
As a result of Dave's post earlier I've already ordered a Race Belt off Ebay.
Are speed laces a worthwhile investment - both my running shoes and cycles shoes are lace ups and as I'm too tight to buy new pairs I thought speed laces might be a cheap upgrade. Any recommendations for decent ones?
Cheers
Race belt defo worth it. They only cost about a fiver. However, if you get one the most important second thing you need to take in your kit bag is a hole punch! The belts have a bit of cord and a toggle to attach the number too and the numbers are usually made out something like tyvek which is really tear resistant and really hard to make a hole in.Are speed laces a worthwhile investment - both my running shoes and cycles shoes are lace ups and as I'm too tight to buy new pairs I thought speed laces might be a cheap upgrade. Any recommendations for decent ones?
Cheers
Elastic laces with save a few second but again they only cost buttons so why not. Thing how hard you have to work to shave 30-60 seconds of any of the other disciplines, that can easily be lost farting around with laces and numbers in T1/T2.
Brilliant, cheers for all the tips. I'll definitely try to familiarise myself with the routes in and out of transition - I'm the kind of person to spend 5 mins trying to find my bike after not thinking to do this. As a result of the tip above I've already picked out a particularly garish towel.
Really looking forward to it now, just wish I'd done a bit more training.
Really looking forward to it now, just wish I'd done a bit more training.
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