The Triathlon thread - Ironman, 70.3, Olympic, Sprint

[johnwilliams77]

Rich_W said:

Well I took them for 3 months (1 a day) whilst training for an IronMan. And I didn't get ill. Which was why I did it. When you ramp up your training volume, inevitably you are more susceptible to colds and the like.

As ever, your mileage may vary.

I ramped up my training and changed my diet for a couple of weeks to try and strip a little bodyfat. I was going to bed hungry and I couldn't sleep well. I was reading that bad sleep is very likely to damage the immune system along with increased training and calorie defecit it was all too much and I got sick. That's my theory anyway.

I took multi vitimans before i got the cold but not regularly enough.

[ED209]

johnwilliams77 said:

Rich_W said:

Well I took them for 3 months (1 a day) whilst training for an IronMan. And I didn't get ill. Which was why I did it. When you ramp up your training volume, inevitably you are more susceptible to colds and the like.

As ever, your mileage may vary.

I ramped up my training and changed my diet for a couple of weeks to try and strip a little bodyfat. I was going to bed hungry and I couldn't sleep well. I was reading that bad sleep is very likely to damage the immune system along with increased training and calorie defecit it was all too much and I got sick. That's my theory anyway.

I took multi vitimans before i got the cold but not regularly enough.

I agree with the bad sleep bit, i always had colds and sniffles when i was working 24/7 shift pattern and my sleep was poor.

I don't work past 1am now and I'm still tired a lot but i haven't been ill yet.

[craig r]

I've wanted to do a triathlon for ages. Originally I wanted to do one before I turned 30 - didn't happen, I'm 32 - so the target moved to 40. This thread has given me the kick up the arse I needed to do something and today I took the plunge so to speak, and entered one, 21st August in Wellingborough. It is more like an Early Learning Centre My First Tri type thing than an actual sprint Tri with really, really short distances, (200m pool swim / 8km bike / 1.4k run) but everyone has to start somewhere! I've borrowed a bike off a friend and bought a cheapo tri suit from eBay.

So far my training has consisted of downloading a training plan from the internet, ignoring it, and just doing my usual HIIT / 5x5 / Parkrun routine. I can swim, but it's not a clean or efficient stroke so I will struggle with that without some coaching to sort it out, which I might look into later.

I know I can ride 8km in less than 20 minutes easily, and the run should take about 8 minutes (dividing my Parkrun PB by 3) so I'm aiming for a sub 40 minute event.

We'll see how I get on!

[ED209]

craig r said:

I've wanted to do a triathlon for ages. Originally I wanted to do one before I turned 30 - didn't happen, I'm 32 - so the target moved to 40. This thread has given me the kick up the arse I needed to do something and today I took the plunge so to speak, and entered one, 21st August in Wellingborough. It is more like an Early Learning Centre My First Tri type thing than an actual sprint Tri with really, really short distances, (200m pool swim / 8km bike / 1.4k run) but everyone has to start somewhere! I've borrowed a bike off a friend and bought a cheapo tri suit from eBay.

So far my training has consisted of downloading a training plan from the internet, ignoring it, and just doing my usual HIIT / 5x5 / Parkrun routine. I can swim, but it's not a clean or efficient stroke so I will struggle with that without some coaching to sort it out, which I might look into later.

I know I can ride 8km in less than 20 minutes easily, and the run should take about 8 minutes (dividing my Parkrun PB by 3) so I'm aiming for a sub 40 minute event.

We'll see how I get on!

That is how it all begins.

We did one of these "go-tri" events last year.

Now done a std distance, got a sprint distance this weekend, a half iron distance on 3rd September and a full iron distance next year.

my wallet is also quite a bit emptier than when i entered go-tri for £5 after a few beers one sunday afternoon.

[craig r]

ED209 said:

my wallet is also quite a bit emptier than when i entered go-tri for £5 after a few beers one sunday afternoon.

This is the bit I'm worried about. It looks like a hobby that could get very expensive very quickly if you let it. I'm already having to buy a new pair of goggles because I left my last pair at the pool!

[944fan]

craig r said:

ED209 said:

my wallet is also quite a bit emptier than when i entered go-tri for £5 after a few beers one sunday afternoon.

This is the bit I'm worried about. It looks like a hobby that could get very expensive very quickly if you let it. I'm already having to buy a new pair of goggles because I left my last pair at the pool!

I stay in a job I hate because the pay is really good and it funds my Triathlon habit. First it will be a new road bike, then a tri bike, then garmin, then power meter, now a new wet suite, tri suit, aero kit. Soon you will be broke, but have loads of shiny st to play with.

[Rich_W]

craig r said:

I've wanted to do a triathlon for ages. Originally I wanted to do one before I turned 30 - didn't happen, I'm 32 - so the target moved to 40. This thread has given me the kick up the arse I needed to do something and today I took the plunge so to speak, and entered one, 21st August in Wellingborough. It is more like an Early Learning Centre My First Tri type thing than an actual sprint Tri with really, really short distances, (200m pool swim / 8km bike / 1.4k run) but everyone has to start somewhere! I've borrowed a bike off a friend and bought a cheapo tri suit from eBay.

So far my training has consisted of downloading a training plan from the internet, ignoring it, and just doing my usual HIIT / 5x5 / Parkrun routine. I can swim, but it's not a clean or efficient stroke so I will struggle with that without some coaching to sort it out, which I might look into later.

I know I can ride 8km in less than 20 minutes easily, and the run should take about 8 minutes (dividing my Parkrun PB by 3) so I'm aiming for a sub 40 minute event.

We'll see how I get on!

Good Luck.

Whilst it's not likely to be a massive problem cause the distances are very small. Between then and now. Ride a little way. Then put the bike somewhere suitable, jump off and put your running trainers on then go for a little run. It's called a "brick session" (I have no idea why ) But what it will do is let you know what it is like when you get off a bike and run on the day.

Also on the same vein. As you get near the end of the swim. Kick like mad. It will help get the blood back into your legs as effectively you're laying down for a while and help you get your "land legs" back a bit quicker.

Let us know how it went. My first was London Triathlon in Docklands for a sprint event in 2010. I had no designs on doing more than 1 And certainly never go long distance, but then you get carried away...

[SHutchinson]

Did my first sea swim training session with Tri4u at Newbiggin yesterday. One of the drills was a practice Tri start from the beach. I got punched in the face as soon as we were in the water, pretty realistic then I guess?

[esuuv]

Very, although there is zero reason for it - most people that punch you out of the way at the start are flagging by 200m and just encouraging you to return the favour on your way past.......

[bigandclever]

SHutchinson said:

Did my first sea swim training session with Tri4u at Newbiggin yesterday. One of the drills was a practice Tri start from the beach. I got punched in the face as soon as we were in the water, pretty realistic then I guess?

train the way you race

[944fan]

esuuv said:

Very, although there is zero reason for it - most people that punch you out of the way at the start are flagging by 200m and just encouraging you to return the favour on your way past.......

My HIM some tt swam on to my legs and just wouldn't fk off no matter how hard I kicked him. Couldn't understand why he was doing it, it was achieving nothing for him. Had to speed away from him in the end.

[944fan]

Anyone racing this weekend?

I have the Stewartby Lake Standard tomorrow. Very flat course by the looks of it, bike course is 4 laps with 36m elevation each lap and a 2% grade the biggest. Run course is pan flat.

Should suit me well. I am about 8 lbs lighter than when I did the HIM. I have put the double chaining back on the TT bike.

Feel in good shape, hoping for a sub 25:20 swim, 1:15 bike and around 54 mins on the run.

[ED209]

944fan said:

Anyone racing this weekend?

I have the Stewartby Lake Standard tomorrow. Very flat course by the looks of it, bike course is 4 laps with 36m elevation each lap and a 2% grade the biggest. Run course is pan flat.

Should suit me well. I am about 8 lbs lighter than when I did the HIM. I have put the double chaining back on the TT bike.

Feel in good shape, hoping for a sub 25:20 swim, 1:15 bike and around 54 mins on the run.

Weardale sprint at Stanhope tomorrow.

[Dimski]

Good Luck fellas!

Also, like this!

bigandclever said:

train the way you race

[ED209]

ED209 said:

Weardale sprint at Stanhope tomorrow.

1:19:47 according to my garmin. Really happy to go under 1:20 as i had thought 12:20 to 1:30 having never done a sprint tri before. I beat the wife too which was nice after she beat me last time out.

[944fan]

Nice work Ed209.

I did 2:15 at my standard distance. Overall I had a great race, only one slight downer. They bks'd up the run and it was 2k short. Which normally wouldn't bother me but somewhere out of nowhere (must be the Olympics effect) I found pace I have never seen before. I was on for a sub 50 min 10k (which I know is crap) which for me is a huge, I am still a good 2-3 stone over weight. The last time I did a stand alone 10k it was 56 something.

Got punched in the head twice by some tt in the swim. Got my own back though, drafted him for about 800m then went full Phelps about 200m out and dropped him.

Swim was 25:37 which included a 150 m jog to T1. I think I was 8th overall in the swim (there was one pro in the field too whose name escapes me). Bike was a looped TT course, fairly flat which was good except for the fact there was no respite. It was full on 95% FTP the whole way, bit of a wind in places.

Bike was 1:08:30. I was spot on my pacing but I wonder if my FTP needs a retest as it felt quite easy going and as I said above I was well in PB territory on the 10K so I had plenty in the tank.

[ED209]

ED209 said:

1:19:47 according to my garmin. Really happy to go under 1:20 as i had thought 12:20 to 1:30 having never done a sprint tri before. I beat the wife too which was nice after she beat me last time out.

Full results out, confirmed time 1:19:47 and 17th place out of 103 finishers. Really happy with that to be honest. Swim went a bit better than i thought, i was going to be happy with getting out of the water in anything under 10 mins, my mate timed me at 8 mins 40 so really good for me! Also had 6th fastest run out of the whole field and the ride was my tastes average speed ever.

Hopefully i can translate this to the 70.3 distance in three weeks time although i think the swim in the north sea might be a bit more challenging than a 26 degree outdoor pool.

[SHutchinson]

ED209 said:

Full results out, confirmed time 1:19:47 and 17th place out of 103 finishers. Really happy with that to be honest. Swim went a bit better than i thought, i was going to be happy with getting out of the water in anything under 10 mins, my mate timed me at 8 mins 40 so really good for me! Also had 6th fastest run out of the whole field and the ride was my tastes average speed ever.

Hopefully i can translate this to the 70.3 distance in three weeks time although i think the swim in the north sea might be a bit more challenging than a 26 degree outdoor pool.

I had a splash in the outdoor pool at Stanhope 2 weeks ago. It was great, perfect thing to recover from a monster hangover and a run up Crawleyside Bank!

I'm going to go back and run up that bank sober to see how much I can knock off my time, I considered using the defibrillator half way up!

[944fan]

Looking for another Standard distance this year. I have a few other races (runs/swims) lined up so the only weekend I can do is 18th September. I have found the HSBC Tri and Dorney lake but its £75 to enter which is a a bit steep.

Anyone know of any others not miles away from Milton Keynes?

[944fan]

Further to above? Has anyone done an Tri at Eton Dorney? Bike course looks flat and closed roads, yet last years times don't look that sharp. I know its slightly over 40km but only be a couple of km. Fastest bike split was 1:08 in my AG. Would expect times a lot closer to 1:02 for a flat closed road course.

Run looks flat as a pancake, my kind of run. Could lose another stone by then maybe and wallop my 10km time!