The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint
Discussion
Nice one Matt, great result. I expect the swim will be a little calmer for the Celtman. In sprint races the mass start swim can be like a washing machine and by the time you settle into open space and get some rhythm its all but finished.
Have you tried any drafting? Will save a lot of energy on the swim if you can find a fast pair of feet to hold onto. You basically swim as close as you can to the person in front. Some say it can save 30% energy expenditure which makes a big difference.
You just need to be careful who you follow! Make sure they are going the right way.
Have you tried any drafting? Will save a lot of energy on the swim if you can find a fast pair of feet to hold onto. You basically swim as close as you can to the person in front. Some say it can save 30% energy expenditure which makes a big difference.
You just need to be careful who you follow! Make sure they are going the right way.
I went for a ride yesterday. 75km in the upper side of power zone 2. The profile of the ride was similar to what I will face in the HIM.
My average speed was 16 mph. According to Joe Friel I should be pacing my bike split in power zone 3 ish. Would that increase be enough to bring my average up to 18 mph? Just trying to workout a rough finish time for the wave placings. I know my swim and run times but never done a race pace on the bike over that distance. 18 mph average gives me a 3 hour ish bike split
My average speed was 16 mph. According to Joe Friel I should be pacing my bike split in power zone 3 ish. Would that increase be enough to bring my average up to 18 mph? Just trying to workout a rough finish time for the wave placings. I know my swim and run times but never done a race pace on the bike over that distance. 18 mph average gives me a 3 hour ish bike split
No, I didn't try slipstreaming, it seemed to take an age for me to get settled. The first few hundred meters I was struggling for breath. It wasn't until the final few hundred meters that I felt like I was swimming well and started to pass people.
Hoping to fit a standard distance event in this Sunday, this time a sea swim which would be good.
Hoping to fit a standard distance event in this Sunday, this time a sea swim which would be good.
1 week on, jumped up to Standard distance at Porthcawl triathlon.
1500/40/10.
Sea swim, water was 13 degrees. Perfect training for Celtman. It was really cold at first, luckily they let us acclimatise a bit before bringing us back out for a beach start. A bit choppy, but I coped OK, 24min and 21st fastest split.
A little disapointed with bike, although 4th fastest with a 1:06 - my legs just didn't have the usual power.
Run was decent considering, 41min.
Finished 10th individual, so a decent improvement and still feel like I'll be better on a longer distance. I'm hooked!
Baby due on Tuesday, so can't see me competing in another event before Celtman.
1500/40/10.
Sea swim, water was 13 degrees. Perfect training for Celtman. It was really cold at first, luckily they let us acclimatise a bit before bringing us back out for a beach start. A bit choppy, but I coped OK, 24min and 21st fastest split.
A little disapointed with bike, although 4th fastest with a 1:06 - my legs just didn't have the usual power.
Run was decent considering, 41min.
Finished 10th individual, so a decent improvement and still feel like I'll be better on a longer distance. I'm hooked!
Baby due on Tuesday, so can't see me competing in another event before Celtman.
matt-ITR said:
1 week on, jumped up to Standard distance at Porthcawl triathlon.
1500/40/10.
Sea swim, water was 13 degrees. Perfect training for Celtman. It was really cold at first, luckily they let us acclimatise a bit before bringing us back out for a beach start. A bit choppy, but I coped OK, 24min and 21st fastest split.
A little disapointed with bike, although 4th fastest with a 1:06 - my legs just didn't have the usual power.
Run was decent considering, 41min.
Finished 10th individual, so a decent improvement and still feel like I'll be better on a longer distance. I'm hooked!
Baby due on Tuesday, so can't see me competing in another event before Celtman.
Because the Celtman alone isn't a big enough challenge? :-)1500/40/10.
Sea swim, water was 13 degrees. Perfect training for Celtman. It was really cold at first, luckily they let us acclimatise a bit before bringing us back out for a beach start. A bit choppy, but I coped OK, 24min and 21st fastest split.
A little disapointed with bike, although 4th fastest with a 1:06 - my legs just didn't have the usual power.
Run was decent considering, 41min.
Finished 10th individual, so a decent improvement and still feel like I'll be better on a longer distance. I'm hooked!
Baby due on Tuesday, so can't see me competing in another event before Celtman.
Nice work on the Porthcawl tri. My bats
t crazy in laws live in Porthawl so I know the area well, can't imagine the swim was easy at all. Second highest tidal range in the world I believe. Good to get some proper cold water immersion. 24 min is a great time. Swimming is my best area by far and I would be very happy with a time like that.Was the bike course lumpy? I know when I have stayed and taken the bike out you don't have to venture far to find some pretty tasty valleys to cycle up
944fan said:
Was the bike course lumpy? I know when I have stayed and taken the bike out you don't have to venture far to find some pretty tasty valleys to cycle up
The bike course was pretty flat. Only one significant hill (per lap), but a few horrible draggy 2-3% climbs that I such at.Looking at doing a HIM on June 5th (baby dependant) at either Bala or Llanelli. I'm put off the flat, boring run at Llanelli, but it does have a hilly bike, which would suit me.
I've blogged about it - here
Less than 6 weeks to go till my HIM. 
Got my bike fit finished. Unfortunately I had basically bought the wrong bike. Planet X bikes are not that big compared to others and have a low stack height. I have had to change the stem, flip it and change the aerobars to ones with more adjustment, also got a new saddle to push me forward a bit more. I do now have a nice comfortable position on the bike though.
My weight loss has stalled annoyingly. Would really like to trim another stone but finding it hard. My training has reached a high intensity now and trying not to eat everything in sight is hard.
I use Rubino pro tyres on my bike usually. I bought a power meter which was built into some wheels which came with Conti Grand Prix 4000s II. The Rubinos have never punctured. Are the Contis good for puncture protection? They are a lot lighter and slicker than the rubinos so wonder what to race with.
Got my bike fit finished. Unfortunately I had basically bought the wrong bike. Planet X bikes are not that big compared to others and have a low stack height. I have had to change the stem, flip it and change the aerobars to ones with more adjustment, also got a new saddle to push me forward a bit more. I do now have a nice comfortable position on the bike though.
My weight loss has stalled annoyingly. Would really like to trim another stone but finding it hard. My training has reached a high intensity now and trying not to eat everything in sight is hard.
I use Rubino pro tyres on my bike usually. I bought a power meter which was built into some wheels which came with Conti Grand Prix 4000s II. The Rubinos have never punctured. Are the Contis good for puncture protection? They are a lot lighter and slicker than the rubinos so wonder what to race with.
matt-ITR said:
You would be mad NOT to carry a spare tube & kit - regardless of distance.
Puncture takes all of 2 minutes to fix if you are quick. Not carrying a fix = DNF.
Yeah that's what I thought. I haven't bothered in the past as I have only done short races and also the Rubinos have never punctured in 2000 miles. Will take a tube and pump and some levers. Puncture takes all of 2 minutes to fix if you are quick. Not carrying a fix = DNF.
I have still only ever completed a short "go tri" event but i am now entered in a Standard distance try with open water lake swim in July, a sprint try with pool swim in August and a 70.3 distance tri with sea swim in Sept.
i think i had better buy a wetsuit!
i think i had better buy a wetsuit!
Edited by ED209 on Saturday 28th May 00:47
ED209 said:
I have still only ever completed a short "go tri" event but i am now entered in a Standard distance try with open water lake swim in July, a sprint try with pool swim in August and a 70.3 distance tri with sea swim in Sept.
i think i had better buy a wetsuit!
Many OW swim places have wetsuits where you can try before you buy. Would recommend that. The Huub wetsuits are highly regarded as well. I am looking at getting a Snugg wetsuit soon, they are custom made and being the shape I am (6'5'' and broad) its hard to find wetsuits that fit.i think i had better buy a wetsuit!
Edited by ED209 on Saturday 28th May 00:47
Have you done much sea swimming? I recommend you get at least a couple of sea swims in before your event in Sept. I am a good swimmer and I found sea swims to be a lot more challenging than lakes, mostly because I hadn't been in the sea for about 20 years (downside to living in MK)
944fan said:
Many OW swim places have wetsuits where you can try before you buy. Would recommend that. The Huub wetsuits are highly regarded as well. I am looking at getting a Snugg wetsuit soon, they are custom made and being the shape I am (6'5'' and broad) its hard to find wetsuits that fit.
Have you done much sea swimming? I recommend you get at least a couple of sea swims in before your event in Sept. I am a good swimmer and I found sea swims to be a lot more challenging than lakes, mostly because I hadn't been in the sea for about 20 years (downside to living in MK)
Too late the Mrs has already ordered me an Orca suit from wiggle. Have you done much sea swimming? I recommend you get at least a couple of sea swims in before your event in Sept. I am a good swimmer and I found sea swims to be a lot more challenging than lakes, mostly because I hadn't been in the sea for about 20 years (downside to living in MK)
Nope not done any sea swims, other than the ones i have done on holiday whilst relaxing, the North sea at Bamburgh might be a bit different but i will have a go before the race, even if its the day before.
On my last RnR week before 3 weeks of peak phase training and then 2 week taper.
Had 60km ride with a brick run after for today. I used the ride as a chance to test the TT bike after my bike fit in race trim (with the slicker tyres) and also tested my race nutrition. Got off to a bad start where I must have pinched the inner tube swapping the tyres. Rode 100 feet down the road then BANG front tube explodes. st my bibs nearly. Also I have lost part of the top to my profile design aqua cell, every time I went over a bump I got a face full of water
Interesting to compare the data. Did almost identical course as to my last long ride. On the TT bike my average power was 20 W less but my average speed was 0.8 mph faster. Average HR was higher but then it is about 8 degrees hotter than last time. I also had to stop for about 5 minutes to let a bike race through. Anyone know what that was? British Cycling one with support cars, motorbike outriders the lot.
Had 60km ride with a brick run after for today. I used the ride as a chance to test the TT bike after my bike fit in race trim (with the slicker tyres) and also tested my race nutrition. Got off to a bad start where I must have pinched the inner tube swapping the tyres. Rode 100 feet down the road then BANG front tube explodes. s
t my bibs nearly. Also I have lost part of the top to my profile design aqua cell, every time I went over a bump I got a face full of waterInteresting to compare the data. Did almost identical course as to my last long ride. On the TT bike my average power was 20 W less but my average speed was 0.8 mph faster. Average HR was higher but then it is about 8 degrees hotter than last time. I also had to stop for about 5 minutes to let a bike race through. Anyone know what that was? British Cycling one with support cars, motorbike outriders the lot.
Kids brought home some kind of stomach bug from school which I have picked up. Spent considerable amount of my time in the last two days on the pot.
Not trained for 2 days, climbing the walls. Might try a gentle run tonight, will need some tight undies as I can't fully trust a fart at the minute.
Hows everyone else's training going?
Not trained for 2 days, climbing the walls. Might try a gentle run tonight, will need some tight undies as I can't fully trust a fart at the minute.
Hows everyone else's training going?
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