The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
I'm doing a half IM at Dorney - so just down the road.
I did Windsor last year - the swim made me really sick for about a week afterwards, so don't drink the river!! Also remember unlike I did that the downhill leg of the swim is way way shorter than the uphill................
I liked the cycle but the run way less so - the slog up the hill infront of the castle - just no!!
Also they make you pay a tenner to park - that just annoys me, why dont they just add it to the entry fee.............
did I do a good job at selling it? :-)
I did Windsor last year - the swim made me really sick for about a week afterwards, so don't drink the river!! Also remember unlike I did that the downhill leg of the swim is way way shorter than the uphill................
I liked the cycle but the run way less so - the slog up the hill infront of the castle - just no!!
Also they make you pay a tenner to park - that just annoys me, why dont they just add it to the entry fee.............
did I do a good job at selling it? :-)
esuuv said:
I did Windsor last year - the swim made me really sick for about a week afterwards, so don't drink the river!!
Interesting. I spent 5 minutes in the river at Windsor ahead of the river swim last week (before having a panic attack and getting out). Had Montezuma's revenge for two days after. Still fell odd now.esuuv said:
Also they make you pay a tenner to park - that just annoys me, why dont they just add it to the entry fee.............
Don't forget the extra £6 for the Brit Tri Licence as well. So it's getting on for nearly £100 all in. But you do get a really cheap and nasty, sponsor branded water bottle to help make up for it...I actually looked at the car park next to the park. It's £1 per hour. But doesn't open until 9am on Sunday, and the majority of local roads are all residents permit only. So you are kinda stuck.
Random Thoughts from Windsor
1) Too many people think it's a Duathlon! I really believe anyone walking along the riverbed on the far side should be DQ'd. It was a joke!
2) Current was a bit strong today
3) Saw a bit of drafting on the bike, but much better than previous years. Marshals as ever completely uninterested.
4) Whoever was in charge of the roundabout on the way back in was an idiot. You don't stop a group of 40-50 riders and tell them to wait (30s-1min) whilst the Elite men come through. Then NOT let them go because there "MIGHT" be some more coming.
5) Why did they move the dismount line out of the park?
6) That hill to the castle is still a bugger
(Queen was in too judging from the Royal Standard)
7) Support on the run is still epic
8) Destroyed my PB.
9) I appear to have picked up a bug that's given me a constant running nose.
10) Same time next year
1) Too many people think it's a Duathlon! I really believe anyone walking along the riverbed on the far side should be DQ'd. It was a joke!
2) Current was a bit strong today
3) Saw a bit of drafting on the bike, but much better than previous years. Marshals as ever completely uninterested.
4) Whoever was in charge of the roundabout on the way back in was an idiot. You don't stop a group of 40-50 riders and tell them to wait (30s-1min) whilst the Elite men come through. Then NOT let them go because there "MIGHT" be some more coming.
5) Why did they move the dismount line out of the park?
6) That hill to the castle is still a bugger
(Queen was in too judging from the Royal Standard)7) Support on the run is still epic
8) Destroyed my PB.
9) I appear to have picked up a bug that's given me a constant running nose.
10) Same time next year
Windsor: well, I sure ballsed that one up.
Current was strong as Rich_W says. So strong that at the start you had to swim to hold position. Like in and Endless Pool. Anyway, once off the start it seemed less taxing. Except it wasn't, it seems, if like me you decided (although being s
te and sighting and I now suspect unable to swim in a straight line means "decided" may not be accurate) to swim straight up the middle of the Thames. Where the current is strongest. I realised how badly off line I was when I swam into one of the canoes and got told, very firmly, to get back over to the bank. So despite being a reasonably strong swimmer, by the time I rejoined my wave I was passing the breaststrokers. Bugger. I ended up taking 32 mins for the swim, 6-8 more than I should have and only one less than I did 1900 in Mallorca, which itself wasn't a good swim. And it wasn't as if everyone was slow - looking at the times it seems that a fast time was possible, presumably if one took a better line.
After that my classic silk set in. I rode ok, but couldn't get myself out of fourth gear into top. Same with the run. Proof is in the pudding: right now I feel like I've done nothing more strenuous that a regular weekend ride or run. I guess the sulk is very good at eclipsing the rage that I find really fires me into top gear... Oh well. Might try Dorney in September. I need to sort my lower back out too, because it is not sitting properly and is affecting my right hip, I think.
Current was strong as Rich_W says. So strong that at the start you had to swim to hold position. Like in and Endless Pool. Anyway, once off the start it seemed less taxing. Except it wasn't, it seems, if like me you decided (although being s
te and sighting and I now suspect unable to swim in a straight line means "decided" may not be accurate) to swim straight up the middle of the Thames. Where the current is strongest. I realised how badly off line I was when I swam into one of the canoes and got told, very firmly, to get back over to the bank. So despite being a reasonably strong swimmer, by the time I rejoined my wave I was passing the breaststrokers. Bugger. I ended up taking 32 mins for the swim, 6-8 more than I should have and only one less than I did 1900 in Mallorca, which itself wasn't a good swim. And it wasn't as if everyone was slow - looking at the times it seems that a fast time was possible, presumably if one took a better line. After that my classic silk set in. I rode ok, but couldn't get myself out of fourth gear into top. Same with the run. Proof is in the pudding: right now I feel like I've done nothing more strenuous that a regular weekend ride or run. I guess the sulk is very good at eclipsing the rage that I find really fires me into top gear... Oh well. Might try Dorney in September. I need to sort my lower back out too, because it is not sitting properly and is affecting my right hip, I think.
Well I did the half IM at Dorney on Saturday.
Swim seemed long - or maybe I was just going slow, I definately lost the ability to swim in a straight line. Cycle was OK - lots of people getting punctures though - run I felt like death and didnt go as well as I'd have liked but I made it. 5.02.28 in total which is a PB by Miles - 5 weeks to go until the big one!!
Swim seemed long - or maybe I was just going slow, I definately lost the ability to swim in a straight line. Cycle was OK - lots of people getting punctures though - run I felt like death and didnt go as well as I'd have liked but I made it. 5.02.28 in total which is a PB by Miles - 5 weeks to go until the big one!!
Greg66 said:
PS. Whoever came up with the bike racking system deserves to be taken out back and beaten to death with a heavy piece of iron. That is all I have to say on that subject.
It's not what they usually do, but it's no different to how IMG events (Blenheim and Docklands) are run. Here's the rack for the wave. Park where you want.I got in Sunday morning and found my "neighbour" had left me literally no room for anything. But he was there so he moved up a few feet and all was OK. I still don't get why people bring plastic boxes full of stuff into transition though. Leave it all in the car. Bare minimum on the bright towel.
esuuv said:
Well I did the half IM at Dorney on Saturday.
Swim seemed long - or maybe I was just going slow, I definately lost the ability to swim in a straight line. Cycle was OK - lots of people getting punctures though - run I felt like death and didnt go as well as I'd have liked but I made it. 5.02.28 in total which is a PB by Miles - 5 weeks to go until the big one!!
Jeez. I am bored of Dorney after one of the supersprints. Can't imagine how soul crushing 90K worth of laps (18?!?!) on the bike must be. Let alone the boredom of 4 more laps run. You must have the patience of a saint!Swim seemed long - or maybe I was just going slow, I definately lost the ability to swim in a straight line. Cycle was OK - lots of people getting punctures though - run I felt like death and didnt go as well as I'd have liked but I made it. 5.02.28 in total which is a PB by Miles - 5 weeks to go until the big one!!
I'd rather do that training as a brick. So in my case. Long ride to Brighton then run along the seafront. 5K out and back then 5K out and back the other way.
Evenin' all sounds like a busy weekend all around, I'm now a week away from my first tri at wicksteed park in kettering and feeling very under-prepared. The 10 weeks or so since I decided to go for it seem to have flown by and I've cycled and swam less than ever due to a slight mis-calculation on just how long it will take me to learn to run whilst still being able to cycle and swim inbetween. It's looking like I'm going to come in a little over 3hrs; 35minute swim, 1hr 20 cycle and about an hour for the run although I haven't done any brick sessions so could be much worse is there a good chance I'm going to be the last one back? I don't mind coming last so much just don't fancy everyone else finishing and me running in half hour later so much, either way I plan to book up the bala triathlon in september and try and get my times down to <30minutes <1hr 15 & <50minutes respectively obviously these times are assuming light wind conditions and not hilly but not flat either bike route.
snowdude2910 said:
Evenin' all sounds like a busy weekend all around, I'm now a week away from my first tri at wicksteed park in kettering and feeling very under-prepared. The 10 weeks or so since I decided to go for it seem to have flown by and I've cycled and swam less than ever due to a slight mis-calculation on just how long it will take me to learn to run whilst still being able to cycle and swim inbetween. It's looking like I'm going to come in a little over 3hrs; 35minute swim, 1hr 20 cycle and about an hour for the run although I haven't done any brick sessions so could be much worse is there a good chance I'm going to be the last one back? I don't mind coming last so much just don't fancy everyone else finishing and me running in half hour later so much, either way I plan to book up the bala triathlon in september and try and get my times down to <30minutes <1hr 15 & <50minutes respectively obviously these times are assuming light wind conditions and not hilly but not flat either bike route.
Those times for an OD, will not leave you last. Not by a long way.First Tri is always a new experience, so just aim to complete and enjoy it along the way.
Timed my OW 1500 on monday and was quite pleased with a sub 27min. That is about 6 minutes less than my pool time.
Still really slow running after riding. I'm thinking because I have spent too much time on running as it my weakest but have neglected riding.
Three weeks to go to my first tri. Looking forward to it now particularly as I know I can complete it.
Still really slow running after riding. I'm thinking because I have spent too much time on running as it my weakest but have neglected riding.
Three weeks to go to my first tri. Looking forward to it now particularly as I know I can complete it.
madbadger said:
Timed my OW 1500 on monday and was quite pleased with a sub 27min. That is about 6 minutes less than my pool time.
Still really slow running after riding. I'm thinking because I have spent too much time on running as it my weakest but have neglected riding.
Three weeks to go to my first tri. Looking forward to it now particularly as I know I can complete it.
Yes. Something I am coming to realise: if you're not running as well in races as your training suggests you should be able to, it's probably because you're not riding enough in training. Still really slow running after riding. I'm thinking because I have spent too much time on running as it my weakest but have neglected riding.
Three weeks to go to my first tri. Looking forward to it now particularly as I know I can complete it.
Likewise with biking not well enough in races: you're probably not swimming enough in training.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 18th June 19:06
Completed Bude triathlon yesterday. Really good course with great support and brilliant marshalls. Only small gripe was there wasn't enough space for everyone to rack their bikes because people took too much space, so I had to leave my bike lent up against a fence (which worked out for the best, as it was right next to the exit of transition).
It was my second tri, and first mass start/sea swim. Swim was hard, I panicked a bit at the start because I couldn't see a thing and swallowed a load of sea water, and I'd never swam directly into waves before. I had to breaststroke a couple of times to get my bearings, and by the time I got out I was already knackared due to the pull of the waves of the way back. As they draw in you can swim as hard as you like but you don't get anywhere! Good exp though.
Then came the longish run up the sandy beach to T1 to collect my bike. T1 itself took over a minute because my wetsuit got stuck on my timing chip then I had to wash my feet of sand (I had bought a bowl to fill with water to dip my feet it). Once I had done that I jumped onto the bike and cracked on. I felt the bike leg was really good, I managed to take 3/4 people and it seemed I was a lot quicker on the downhills than others and was able to carry that speed up the hills (And being cornwall, there were a lot of them).
After the bike leg, I swapped shoes, left my bike and tried to gun it for the run which never really happened. Now I'm not one for excuses (Usually :P) but I'd stupidly done a bodyweight routine on the day before, and my legs had quite bad DOMS making them quite stiff. They were ok after about half a mile but I then got a terrible stich which slowed me to a crawling pace, from which I could never quite recover. I managed to drag my was round the course but got overtaken by about 6 people which was frustrating.
Enjoyable overall, and I'd recommend the event to anyone down in the west country. It took me 1:18 for 500m/11miles/3miles. My goal was to get it down to as near to 1 hour as possible, aiming for around 1:05 (I could certainly do it if each event was separate), but it's all about the learning curve. Aside from swimming confidence, I've identified my main weaknesses as bike speed and maintaining a solid running pace off the bike, so plenty of cycling and brick training will be on my agenda from now on
It was my second tri, and first mass start/sea swim. Swim was hard, I panicked a bit at the start because I couldn't see a thing and swallowed a load of sea water, and I'd never swam directly into waves before. I had to breaststroke a couple of times to get my bearings, and by the time I got out I was already knackared due to the pull of the waves of the way back. As they draw in you can swim as hard as you like but you don't get anywhere! Good exp though.
Then came the longish run up the sandy beach to T1 to collect my bike. T1 itself took over a minute because my wetsuit got stuck on my timing chip then I had to wash my feet of sand (I had bought a bowl to fill with water to dip my feet it). Once I had done that I jumped onto the bike and cracked on. I felt the bike leg was really good, I managed to take 3/4 people and it seemed I was a lot quicker on the downhills than others and was able to carry that speed up the hills (And being cornwall, there were a lot of them).
After the bike leg, I swapped shoes, left my bike and tried to gun it for the run which never really happened. Now I'm not one for excuses (Usually :P) but I'd stupidly done a bodyweight routine on the day before, and my legs had quite bad DOMS making them quite stiff. They were ok after about half a mile but I then got a terrible stich which slowed me to a crawling pace, from which I could never quite recover. I managed to drag my was round the course but got overtaken by about 6 people which was frustrating.
Enjoyable overall, and I'd recommend the event to anyone down in the west country. It took me 1:18 for 500m/11miles/3miles. My goal was to get it down to as near to 1 hour as possible, aiming for around 1:05 (I could certainly do it if each event was separate), but it's all about the learning curve. Aside from swimming confidence, I've identified my main weaknesses as bike speed and maintaining a solid running pace off the bike, so plenty of cycling and brick training will be on my agenda from now on
Did my first triathlon yesterday at wicksteed and it seems my 3hr target was massively over ambitious. The swim took me 50minutes of which I swam non stop so I've got a serious technique problem I need to figure out, I came into T1 after a run up the hill feeling like I was going to pass out and it took me the first 8miles or so on the bike to get my breath back and crack on over the very hilly course, just over a mile short of the the front tyre gave up, as it had a big hole in the sidewall and I was so close to the end I walked it back resulting in a 1hr53min bike. I set off on the run absolutely knackered in a run a bit walk a bit pattern resulting in a 1hr12min run and a final time of 3:57 so even knocking a generous 20minutes off for the puncture walk I'm still 40minutes shy of my target time and feeling pretty pissed off at myself at how under prepared I was. Next triathlon planned is bala in September I reckon so aim to be down to sub 3hrs by then, I'm going to order the swim smooth training plan and follow that as well as doing a lot more swim to bike and bike to run sessions.
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