I tried a triathlon!! (pics)

[johnny senna]

I've been on here before asking about bikes and got lots of good advice. Well, I'been cycling for about a year (Trek Madone 5.2) and have gone onto triathlons!! I did my first on Sunday, the Stockton sprint triathlon.
The open water (river Tees) swim was one of the hardest things I have done. It was real rough and tumble at the mass start, I got my goggles kicked off my face for a start. My wetsuit (fairly cheap, hired) was too small and choked me. I will buy a dear one with those floaty legs.
But I felt good on the bike and my run was limited by stomach cramps due to dehydration (it was too hot for me). I hit my target time of 1 hour 20 but I think I can get down to 1 hour 10 in about a year (sprint triathlon).
My wife won the standard (aka Olympic) distance race and got a cheque for £500 presented by the mayor. Very proud of her. She is getting really fast on the bike especially. She's in the age group word championships (for GB) in Hungary next month which is a bit out of my league really.
Here's some pics:

Me waiting to get in the water at the start:



Me finally in the water, stting myself, about to get beaten up:



On the bike:





Wife on the bike:



Wife on the run. The lass in 2nd place was closing in, but couldn't beat wor lass:



Wife receiving 500 quid cheque for the win from mayor:

[johnny senna]

Thanks fellas.
The bit of river we were in was near the Diana (yes really) Bridge, basically in the middle of Stockton town centre. The water was simply black when you put your goggles under the surface. At the briefing the organiser said, "don't worry about the black water, it's just due to peat that comes in off the hills further up stream". OK then. Better than turds I guess.

[johnny senna]

Rich_W said:

So whens the next one? I will add that having a Mrs that is failry useful means I don't count you as a novice.

Swim wetsuits always feel tight around the neck. Use Bodyglide (or a MUCH cheaper alternative) to help with the chaffing

I don't know about the next one, it's a bit late in the year to find decent events in the north really and the one at Newbiggin is sold out.

I had a ton of vaseline around my neck and so I did avoid chafing. The problem was simple strangulation because I think the body of the wetsuits was a bit short. Seriously, the veins on my neck were distended and my head went purple. My wife's suit doesn't do that to her! I'm after a Blue Seventy Axis to buy next time.

[johnny senna]

Rich_W said:

I've got a B70 Fusion. I love it. Lets in a bit of water through the zip. But I gather this is normal. And I feel faster in it as it keeps my balance better as it has good buoyancy in the legs.

EDIT TO ADD

Doesn't Vaseline damage wetsuits?

Edited by Rich_W on Tuesday 24th August 21:49

Oops, does it? I think I heard that somewhere come to think of it. Missus says that the triathlon mags say it's OK, but I had heard that you need that glide stuff. Which product do you use please?

[johnny senna]

Rich_W said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywrXQUvUkbU&fea...

or

http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q...



It's anything petroleum based that's the issue. I use bodyglide. Though I do think it's too expensive for what it is! I've seen a OW swimming instructor use Baby oil as an alternative.

I liked the Gatorade video, thank you. I have an OW DVD I need to watch as well.

[johnny senna]

Muzzlehatch said:

Good result - well done!

Bodyglide should also be rubbed around your ankes, heels and wrists, so that your wetsult slips off nice and quickly in transition.

My cousin(e) is also going to Hungary in September for the Age Group Worlds. Bloody women eh, being better than us blokes!

Thanks mate and good luck to your cousin.

[johnny senna]

Nick_F said:

I use Bodyglide - a much more experienced and capable friend of mine doesn't and rubs his neck raw every time.

You probably know this, but entry-level wetsuits will generally provide more bouyancy than high-end ones, so more expensive may not mean more useful unless your swimming is strong.

The wetsuit I have my eye on is the Blue Seventy Axis which is supposed to float your legs and get you into a streamlined position. It aint cheap at £350. I'll get one in the sales. But I want to spend a bit more cash so that I get good flexibility at the shoulder, something my hired suit didn't really have but my wife's £400 2XU suit certainly does have.

[johnny senna]

walm said:

Good work.
One thing on the goggles.
I always go for two hats.
You put one on, then the goggles, then the second hat on top.
Much harder for someone to kick them off.
I can't imagine anything worse than losing goggles in an open water swim.
Plus your head stays extra toasty warm.

On wetsuits I would say that ANY wetsuit will float your legs much more than no wetsuit.
But, the fastest swimmers in the world don't wear wetsuits.

i.e. if you MTFU and build strength in your arms your legs will cease to be a problem.

I would find one that both fits you (no strangulation preferred) and your budget rather than worry about gimmicky "leg float" BS.

All good advice, much appreciated.
Will make sure wet suit is perfect fit, otherwise send it back.
My wife does the double hat thing, I will try this.

Edited by johnny senna on Thursday 26th August 09:46

[johnny senna]

All good stuff guys, thanks.

[johnny senna]

Rich_W said:

dubbs said:

I, for one, still find being able to exhale properly to not get into hyperventilating a problem (lungs not fully exhaled will not pull enough oxygen in to keep things going non-stop, race pace, when also constricted by a wetsuit)

I'm sure you've heard the "bubble bubble bubble" thing. The basic premise seems to work for me, though I don't actual say anything. I found it gives your breathing more rhythm. As your body then takes your intake naturally. I find something similar when running, if I "think" about my breathing. I do it crap. if I don't think about it. It works

On the subject of wetsuit constriction. Are you 100% you have the right size. I'm 6'1 80ish KG and use a B70 Fusion, in Medium Tall. Technically I could fit into about 4 between Medium or even Large suits. But the MT although tight, doesn't seem to constrict my lungs or arms excessively. I would guess that other manufacturer suits could be better or worse for the same size.

Though I can think of nothing worse than spending a couple hours trying on more than 4 different suits in a tiny changing room in a shop!

The size thing is strange. According to the charts I should be medium tall (6 foot one and a half, 78 kg) but the 2XU I tried in that size was very short in the body and the legs were half mast. That was the 135 quid 2XU, whatever that's called.
I'm going to try the Blue Seventy Axis in medium tall next and see what that feels like.

[johnny senna]

Rich_W said:

I've heard that some Pro's cut the legs even shorter to facilitate fast removal.

Aye, that's what I heard, but I would rather mine be as long as possible to aid floating ze legs.

[johnny senna]

Rich_W said:

johnny senna said:

Rich_W said:

I've heard that some Pro's cut the legs even shorter to facilitate fast removal.

Aye, that's what I heard, but I would rather mine be as long as possible to aid floating ze legs.

Isn't most of the leg buoyancy in the thigh area?

Yes, but any buoyancy on your calves is going to worth relatively more (even though the neoprene is thinner on the calves), see-saw style.