Feeling a little unsure
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TryScott posted 13 weeks ago.
Let me tell you about my brother last year. He wanted to do a triathlon, and I told him "you can't just put on a Wal-Mart swimsuit, then jump on a borrowed 10 year old mountain bike, and then run to the finish line." Well, he proved me wrong. He took over 20 minutes to swim 750m in baggy shorts that came down to his knees. He got on my mountain bike that wouldn't sell for $2 at my garage sale the year before (I didn't make that up) and averaged 14.4 MPH for 14 miles. And he just ran the 5k like any other 5k.
No fuel belt. No nutrition practice. No bricks. No swim lessons. His preperation consisted on going to Wal-Wart to buy a bike helmet on the way to the triathlon.
It inspired me enough to do my own triathlon a month later, and then we did one together. Just sign up and have fun. You won't regret it.
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Captain Mal posted 13 weeks ago.
+1
My wife and I did our first sprint three years ago or so. We did train according to a plan we pulled off the internet, but we showed up with old mountain bikes, pool-side swim suits, cotton t-shirts, baseball caps and good attitudes. We did the whole race together and had a great time. Of course, we didn't break any records (except that it was our PR up to that point!) but we had a fun time.
We still do races together and separate and we now have road bikes and biking shorts, but I still wear my baggy swim trunks, my totally non-aero mountain helmet and my mountain shoes.
You will be fine. Sign up and train on your plan and don't take yourself too seriously come race day. You won't be alone and it will only make you want to come back for more.
"Faster would be better!" -Captain Mal, Serenity-
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stewarba posted 13 weeks ago.
Great story TryScott and so very true! Just get out there and do it. There are people of all types. I saw a guy on a beach cruiser at my last Tri. I swear, I kept taking a double take, but you couldn't NOT see the tri number affixed to his beach cruiser. It was funny, but there were people riding high dollar bikes behind him.
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines – Brian Tracy
2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
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kylie posted 13 weeks ago.
Yeah, you'll be fine. Just go for it, and enjoy the day :) After you get addicted *then* you can invest all the $$ ;)
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
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chekmarks posted 13 weeks ago.
the people who finish last are still in bed when you finish.
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gfd posted 13 weeks ago.
No need to worry about how you look or where you finish. Look up some of the posts about "1st time experiences" and you will find that most of us were just as unsure of ourselves. It is a very supportive community, unlike any other sport I have ever been a part of. If you start with just the basics you are set. If you fall in love with the sport, you will really appreciate adding all the extra stuff that adds a little bit of speed and comfort.
+1 to Anton - Money can buy you anything you want, except for all the things that money can't buy.
I just heard that and liked it. Can't remember where.
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KrisTri posted 13 weeks ago.
I know exactly how you feel! I am doing my first sprint this weekend and I feel a little intimidated by all the gear (especially the yankz). But I know it will be fun! Good luck to you!
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ChunkyB posted 13 weeks ago.
KrisTri wrote:
I know exactly how you feel! I am doing my first sprint this weekend and I feel a little intimidated by all the gear (especially the yankz). But I know it will be fun! Good luck to you!
I actually just got some yanks, and I love them. I don't worry too much about transitions, but I got them so I wasn't constantly adjusting the tension in my shoelaces. I could never get both shoes to feel the same.
Anyways, just go with you have. I did 3 sprint tris last year, 2 on a mountain bike, and I'm doing 2 more this year. I don't have anything aero, and I still swim in my wal-mart swimsuit (you know, the kind where the pockets come out and it looks like you have dog ears hanging out the side of your hips). Don't worry at all about those things and just try to finish the race.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
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Anton posted 13 weeks ago.
All the tri specific stuff that people praise and companies sell and you feel compelled to buy is just that...stuff.
You can do without it and have a great time....maybe even a better time than than someone who finished behind you who's grumping about all the money they spent for all the "stuff!"
What you can't do with out:
The courage to sign up.
The will to show up.
The heart to finish.
The desire to have fun.
Last time I checked...you couldn't buy those things!
Best of luck...and let us know how it goes!
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
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JamieM posted 13 weeks ago.
I think Anton pretty much summed it up. Triathlon isn't about stuff. After the race the guy on the $10,000 tt bike is happy to share race stories and tips with the guy who was coming into T2 as others were packing up after the finish. Triathlon is a wonderful community. You've picked a great sport to be a part of.
Just enjoy the experience. And welcome to the addiction.
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tsilcyc posted 13 weeks ago.
seaduspx wrote:
I guess I read things on this forum and other tri forums and people are talking about tri suits, aero bars on their bikes, etc... that they have been running and swimming for 10 years and all this comes from people who are doing their first sprint triathlon this year as well. Just feeling a little intimidated I guess.I'm 42 and in good shape. I have a plan, but I feel that 10 weeks won't be enough for me to finish the race without making a complete a$$ of myself. Sorry for the rambling. Just had to get it off of my mind.
Stick with the plan and you'll be fine.
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azmojo804 posted 13 weeks ago.
seaduspx, just do it! :) I know it sounds easy said that way, but just go for it. But, make sure not to plan on being in 1st place. Know that you'll get passed, but just go out for the fun!
The first one is always a learning experience, even for the pros. Before buying the expensive gear that is just "stuff" make sure you'll continue on with the sport. I did my first 2 with my old mountain bike because I didn't want to spend the money on a nice race bike unless I was going to stick with it. Now, I'm in love with Tri's. Can't wait until my next one at the beginning on July, and even more until the next one in October!
If you have the right attitude, you won't make a complete a$$ of yourself, as you mentioned. Just go into it open minded and willing to learn. I learned a TON on my first one, and learned more on each additional one.
People are REALLY positive and helpful. I dropped my waterbottle in my last race, stopped to pick it up, and in that 15 seconds, I was asked by 3 other racers if I was okay as they road by. To me, it's comforting knowing that everyone else there has experienced the same things. If I were to have had a flat, I'm sure I would have had some help if needed. It feels like a nice big, sweaty, exercising family. :)
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cjhoffmn posted 13 weeks ago.
+1 on all of the above. I did my first sprint last Sept and I've found the Tri community is in general incredibly supportive and very accepting of all types, spandex monkey or not. You'll be surprised how fast a great attitude and strong spirit can go!
To tri or not to tri - that's not a question at all!
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longhair posted 13 weeks ago.
A comment about the stuff...I have blown past guys on their Cervelo P3C with Zipps, and I have had passed like I was standing still by guys on their 20 year old cannondale with boxed rims.
It is really about your enjoyment of the training and the enjoyment of the sport. It is a great community, as the posters on this site will attest.
No one who give triathlon is an a$$, regardless of what other a$$es might say.
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Triguy98 posted 13 weeks ago.
I trained for 8 weeks for my first tri, never having seriously swam before that. I did the race on a rented roadie, having done all my training on a MTB. I use MTB shoes, pedals, no aerobars, etc. Just go out, do it, and have fun.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
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diva_mom posted 13 weeks ago.
Please go, and have a great time. Enjoy the moment - you only get one first time.
Don't be so easy on yourself 'cause this one might be all that you have left
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catwood posted 13 weeks ago.
I'd swim for 7 years before doing my first tri, but I'd bought my first road bike 3 days before the race and done about 3 15 minute runs.... I think it took me about 5 miles to get my feet clipped in and about 30 minutes to run 5k but I love it.
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FlashRedGLS1.8T posted 13 weeks ago.
Do it. Have fun. Then get serious about the "stuff" if you want to keep doing them.
You will not make an a$$ of yourself...you just won't.
TryScott's anecdote was spot on. Just do it.
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SueR posted 13 weeks ago.
This sport is not about the gear, it's about the fight you have in you. I swam once (since my red cross swim lessons in grade 4) before the first tri I did. Luckily the water was low enough I could stop and stand periodically...made it easier to talk to the guys in the canoe who seemed to be assigned just to me. I know that fighting thorugh that first experience not only made me love the sport, but to feel better about myself and to push myself further. Just go for it and remember that everyone has done their first one in interesting gear...we all have fond memories of it too and that is what will earn you the other racers respect but also your own self respect.
Let us know how it goes!
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seaduspx posted 13 weeks ago.
Thanks for the support and encouragement everyone!
I'm making this Day 1 towards my goal.
I will keep you updated on my progress and if you don't mind, ask any questions that I may have a long the way.
Thanks again!
Paul
I wanted to try my first tri last year. It never happened. Too many things got in the way - personal as well as professional things.
However, this year I want to do it! The race is on July 20 - a sprint. And I'm starting to feel a little apprehensive.
I guess I read things on this forum and other tri forums and people are talking about tri suits, aero bars on their bikes, etc... that they have been running and swimming for 10 years and all this comes from people who are doing their first sprint triathlon this year as well. Just feeling a little intimidated I guess.
I'm 42 and in good shape. I have a plan, but I feel that 10 weeks won't be enough for me to finish the race without making a complete a$$ of myself. Sorry for the rambling. Just had to get it off of my mind.