The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
Tenby could well be on the cards for me too next year as it's pretty local to me and a lot of mates have done it. Swimming is a major week point for me though so need to spend a lot of time on that and hope for better conditions than this year.
For those who have done Ironmans I've had 2 differing opinions on run training for the event. One (a runner) says that you need to get in at least 1 longish run a week whilst the other (a cyclist but perhaps a bit more involved with Ironman and other Ironmen) doesn't run more than 8 miles and suggests 5 or 6 milers are fine.
Personally having run only a half marathon before and not after a swim and a bike I'm more on the side of the runner where long distance runs are a must as you use different muscles on the run and acclimatising your body to long distance too.
Thoughts?
For those who have done Ironmans I've had 2 differing opinions on run training for the event. One (a runner) says that you need to get in at least 1 longish run a week whilst the other (a cyclist but perhaps a bit more involved with Ironman and other Ironmen) doesn't run more than 8 miles and suggests 5 or 6 milers are fine.
Personally having run only a half marathon before and not after a swim and a bike I'm more on the side of the runner where long distance runs are a must as you use different muscles on the run and acclimatising your body to long distance too.
Thoughts?
drinks said:
Great race reports, thoroughly enjoyed reading them. I have been dwelling on the idle thought that I should enter a long distant event next year. Now that I am doing the Outlaw half (my first middle distance) it doesn't seem that daunting to book the next step. I've been looking at the available IM options for next year and it seems Wales or Zurich are my main choices, I don't do warm weather well.
The cost of Zurich was a hard sell to Mrs. Drinks, though the thought of swimming in the lake is much more appealing than the swim described above.
Going to give it some thought over the weekend and probably push the button next week more than likely for Tenby. Any advice or pointers will be appreciated.
Has to be Wales, whatever the weather and conditions bring it's one hell of a tough day, last year it was wind and rain this year it was wind and waves, you can't control that. A 2.4 mile sea swim in any conditions is still 2.4 miles in the sea, 112 miles round Pembrokeshire is lumpy, around 2000 metres of climb and the marathon at Tenby should not be underestimated, half of it is uphill. What makes Wales really special is the tough course but more so the support which is is fast becoming legendary, at times I was glad I was wearing sunglasses it was astonishing and right where you needed it most. Enter Wales, you will not regret it.The cost of Zurich was a hard sell to Mrs. Drinks, though the thought of swimming in the lake is much more appealing than the swim described above.
Going to give it some thought over the weekend and probably push the button next week more than likely for Tenby. Any advice or pointers will be appreciated.
briangriffin said:
Tenby could well be on the cards for me too next year as it's pretty local to me and a lot of mates have done it. Swimming is a major week point for me though so need to spend a lot of time on that and hope for better conditions than this year.
For those who have done Ironmans I've had 2 differing opinions on run training for the event. One (a runner) says that you need to get in at least 1 longish run a week whilst the other (a cyclist but perhaps a bit more involved with Ironman and other Ironmen) doesn't run more than 8 miles and suggests 5 or 6 milers are fine.
Personally having run only a half marathon before and not after a swim and a bike I'm more on the side of the runner where long distance runs are a must as you use different muscles on the run and acclimatising your body to long distance too.
Thoughts?
Longest run I've done for Ironman distance races was 20 miles and that was straight off a 20 mile ride, 5 or 6 milers are midweek brick sessions, long run Sundays need to be just that, long.For those who have done Ironmans I've had 2 differing opinions on run training for the event. One (a runner) says that you need to get in at least 1 longish run a week whilst the other (a cyclist but perhaps a bit more involved with Ironman and other Ironmen) doesn't run more than 8 miles and suggests 5 or 6 milers are fine.
Personally having run only a half marathon before and not after a swim and a bike I'm more on the side of the runner where long distance runs are a must as you use different muscles on the run and acclimatising your body to long distance too.
Thoughts?
croftsj said:
Has to be Wales, whatever the weather and conditions bring it's one hell of a tough day, last year it was wind and rain this year it was wind and waves, you can't control that. A 2.4 mile sea swim in any conditions is still 2.4 miles in the sea, 112 miles round Pembrokeshire is lumpy, around 2000 metres of climb and the marathon at Tenby should not be underestimated, half of it is uphill. What makes Wales really special is the tough course but more so the support which is is fast becoming legendary, at times I was glad I was wearing sunglasses it was astonishing and right where you needed it most. Enter Wales, you will not regret it.
Okay well button pressed, Ironman Wales entered, no going back now. A year seems enough time to prepare but I'm sure it'll be race day before I know it. croftsj said:
Good man, seriously you won't regret it, Wales is an outstanding event.
What was your swimming like prior to doing any ironman mate? Mine is pretty much non existent although after 2 lessons I've found my technique has improved 10 fold and I can swim a good few lengths at a comfortable pace already but I'm still going to need massive work on this prior to any ironman let alone conditions like wales this year, Thanks for the advice on running too, it was mates with running background that did well at this years ironman and luckily i quite enjoy longish runs more so than long cycles but at least they won't feel like a chore.m
briangriffin said:
What was your swimming like prior to doing any ironman mate? Mine is pretty much non existent although after 2 lessons I've found my technique has improved 10 fold and I can swim a good few lengths at a comfortable pace already but I'm still going to need massive work on this prior to any ironman let alone conditions like wales this year,
Thanks for the advice on running too, it was mates with running background that did well at this years ironman and luckily i quite enjoy longish runs more so than long cycles but at least they won't feel like a chore.m
You'll be fine, lessons are a great idea, get some open water practice done next year, once you have reasonable technique the swim should be like a steady jog (in that it doesn't take much out of you). I was an ok swimmer but technique was rubbish, I managed to improve with coaching to get to a 80min swim last year, probably could have done 75min but no point in going hard that early in the day. Our swim in Weymouth was in similar conditions to Wales but without the crowding (nice, but long video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8iWueT1YG0 go to about 10min to get an idea of the swim, my other half & her Mum are just before 11min with their GO BRENDAN ! flag !!) & even in those condidtions if you have some decent technique it won't cause you any problem.Thanks for the advice on running too, it was mates with running background that did well at this years ironman and luckily i quite enjoy longish runs more so than long cycles but at least they won't feel like a chore.m
Listen to croftsj on running - after a 4.09 marathon in Tenby he must know his stuff !
As I've failed again to get into the London marathon I'm going to have a go at a middle distance triathlon. I've not done any sort of tri before and have only owned my bike for two months but I've got until next summer to build up to my event of choice (Cotswold Classic or 113). Having just done my first bike-run (50km followed by 10km run), which was interesting, I'm now going to get some swimming lessons and sort myself out for some early season novice, then standard distance events.
briangriffin said:
croftsj said:
Good man, seriously you won't regret it, Wales is an outstanding event.
What was your swimming like prior to doing any ironman mate? Mine is pretty much non existent although after 2 lessons I've found my technique has improved 10 fold and I can swim a good few lengths at a comfortable pace already but I'm still going to need massive work on this prior to any ironman let alone conditions like wales this year, Thanks for the advice on running too, it was mates with running background that did well at this years ironman and luckily i quite enjoy longish runs more so than long cycles but at least they won't feel like a chore.m
I worked on technique over the winter and in Spring 2013 started training for IM Wales in the September, along the way I did Windsor Olympic and did the 1500m swim in 26 minutes, I also did a half iron distance race at Marlow and did the 1900 in 34 mins, IM Wales 2013 swim time was 1:09 if I remember right, not spectacular, this year it was 1:15 but I will claim mitigating circumstances on that one! It's important to build up stamina and during your training for IM do the full distance at least twice in open water, the Fink Competitive plan if I remember rightly has you doing at least 3 straight 2500 metre swims in weeks 1-10 at least 3 straight 3000 metre swims in weeks 11-20 and at least 3 straight 3500 metre swims in weeks 21-30, just add a few hundred on to a couple of these and do them in open water. Over the 30 weeks of that plan you'll swim about 120 miles so getting the distance in won't be an issue.
Yeah just getting my training in the pool for now. Going from someone who had no technique and couldn't really swim (never had lessons before even in school) to someone who can probably do 150-200m after a few lesson at present.
Technique improved after first lesson, it's just my breathing that is a major problem, mess up one breath and it ruins a whole length. I think you mentioned it should feel like a steady jog but at present i'm still gasping for air at times and heart pounding at the end. lol
All about practice but the swim is what worries me most.
Technique improved after first lesson, it's just my breathing that is a major problem, mess up one breath and it ruins a whole length. I think you mentioned it should feel like a steady jog but at present i'm still gasping for air at times and heart pounding at the end. lol
All about practice but the swim is what worries me most.
The breathing thing comes with practice, lots and lots of practice..........it'll come, and then you get to some choppy open water with a couple of hundred others and thats where the fun really starts - you'll so badly want to be back in the pool !!
Anyone do Hever castle at the weekend? i had my first ever Tri DNF.........I wasn't in the mood at the start, smashed my hand off a submerged wall / rock during the narrow river bit of the swim and really didn't like the bike course - was rattling my bike to bits, getting properly held up by cars / slow people on the climbs (of which there are many) and was getting a lot of pain in my hand - so I pulled up after 28 miles on the bike - meh.
Anyone do Hever castle at the weekend? i had my first ever Tri DNF.........I wasn't in the mood at the start, smashed my hand off a submerged wall / rock during the narrow river bit of the swim and really didn't like the bike course - was rattling my bike to bits, getting properly held up by cars / slow people on the climbs (of which there are many) and was getting a lot of pain in my hand - so I pulled up after 28 miles on the bike - meh.
What distance were you racing? I'm guessing the half iron distance.
Have you raced at 70.3 or 140.6 before? If not then overcoming pain, setbacks and having the mental strength to get through what gets thrown at you is all part of the learning, don't just shrug it off as a meh moment, learn from it and come back stronger.
Have you raced at 70.3 or 140.6 before? If not then overcoming pain, setbacks and having the mental strength to get through what gets thrown at you is all part of the learning, don't just shrug it off as a meh moment, learn from it and come back stronger.
Back from IM Mallorca at the beginning of the week and for the second time running, I've managed to contract a cracking post-race chest infection . . . fortunately on this occasion I've been able to intervene before it got to pneumonia - unlike last time!!
I'm almost over it (feels more like a heavy cold now), but spent the vast majority of this week with what felt like a hypersensitive upper respiratory tract - every time I took a remotely large breath it would send me off into long bouts of hacking coughs. You could have been forgiven for thinking I'd been away for a week smoking 40 fags a day rather than on IM duty!
Anyway, race report to come shortly, but just wondered whether I'm on my own with this or have any of you IM competitors have ever suffered (or heard of) similar post-race ailments?
I'm almost over it (feels more like a heavy cold now), but spent the vast majority of this week with what felt like a hypersensitive upper respiratory tract - every time I took a remotely large breath it would send me off into long bouts of hacking coughs. You could have been forgiven for thinking I'd been away for a week smoking 40 fags a day rather than on IM duty!
Anyway, race report to come shortly, but just wondered whether I'm on my own with this or have any of you IM competitors have ever suffered (or heard of) similar post-race ailments?
dangerousB said:
Back from IM Mallorca at the beginning of the week and for the second time running, I've managed to contract a cracking post-race chest infection . . . fortunately on this occasion I've been able to intervene before it got to pneumonia - unlike last time!!
I'm almost over it (feels more like a heavy cold now), but spent the vast majority of this week with what felt like a hypersensitive upper respiratory tract - every time I took a remotely large breath it would send me off into long bouts of hacking coughs. You could have been forgiven for thinking I'd been away for a week smoking 40 fags a day rather than on IM duty!
Anyway, race report to come shortly, but just wondered whether I'm on my own with this or have any of you IM competitors have ever suffered (or heard of) similar post-race ailments?
Nope, never had that before thank goodness - sounds horrible!I'm almost over it (feels more like a heavy cold now), but spent the vast majority of this week with what felt like a hypersensitive upper respiratory tract - every time I took a remotely large breath it would send me off into long bouts of hacking coughs. You could have been forgiven for thinking I'd been away for a week smoking 40 fags a day rather than on IM duty!
Anyway, race report to come shortly, but just wondered whether I'm on my own with this or have any of you IM competitors have ever suffered (or heard of) similar post-race ailments?
How was the race in the end? Looking forward to your report.
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