First Tri in 10 days YIKES
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tsilcyc posted 20 weeks ago.
You're going to be fine. Try to get in the pool a few times between now and then. Work on completing the distance... go as slow as you need to. I look forward to reading the race report.
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401 days
ChunkyB posted 20 weeks ago.
First of all, pretty much everyone's goal in their first tri is to finish. And, as long as you can move your body, no matter how slow, you will finish.
Second of all, just take your time on the swim and stay inside yourself. Don't worry about being at the back, or about people in other waves passing you. Just keep moving. I definitely couldn't swim the entire distance freestyle without stopping or whatever. If you have to side stroke or frog stroke or whatever, don't worry about.
My first tri (sprint) went a little bit like this. I finished the swim in exactly 32 minutes, which is pretty much deplorable, but I didn't care a bit. I wasn't the last in my wave, and who really cares if you beat anyone anyways. The bike was going great until I got 3 flats and eventually dropped out because I ended up walking/running half the bike course. That may have been a bad example to make you less nervous, but the moral of the story is that no matter how slow you go on the swim, you will eventually finish.
So, in a nutshell, don't worry about going fast. Make sure you know how to change a flat, and carry everything you need to do so. And, most of all, HAVE FUN. Don't worry about speed or placing or anything. Just go out, have fun, and make it something to remember.
Good luck and make sure to give us a race report.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
464
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141 days
trigirltina2 posted 20 weeks ago.
My first time was SD International sprint ('94 or '95). I missed that it was in in the water swim. There was no way I was going to run in just a bathing suit. I put my bike shorts on for the bike and left them on. I finished, but I missed any training on hills and the race has the prettiest hill climb. Thank goodness I was just doing the sprint.
My advice: know the course and preview the course prior to race day. Pre race night lay everything out you are going to use and go over it as you would your tranistion area. If you have not practiced with any of the items do not use it on race day. The Golden Rule: Nothing new on race day. Be the first one into the transition area. You want a good spot. Get set up, get marked and warm up. The next biggest advice is warm up in the water to prior to your group starting. Be wet and good to go at the start of the gun.
Remember to have fun and you will! You are hooked now. The full time work, school and mothering you are not alone, but don't let it hold you from doing a great thing for yourself!
You are not alone.
All the best. Let me kow how you do!
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140 days
di4tri posted 20 weeks ago.
wow. you all are fast to respond. thanks so much!! THREE FLATS?!?!?! I am hyperventilating just thinking about it. learning to change a flat is on my to do list for this week.
I like the advice to learn the course before race day. I will actually be in the area of the event tomorrow and planned on taking my bike. It's about 2 hours from my house. I wonder if I should do the swim too. hmmmmm.
Any advice about training too much or too little on the week before. now that it is getting closer I am anxious about picking up the training and am trying to keep myself at a minimum so I don't wear myself down the week before... what do you all think?
ChunkyB - I think I'm coming it at your time. It takes my 11 minutes to do about 300 meters. I think as long as I am ahead of at least one person I can stay motivated.
I have Dori's "just keep swimming" song in my head. :)
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truely want, and all that is left is a compromise. ~ Robert Fritz
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401 days
ChunkyB posted 20 weeks ago.
di4tri wrote:
ChunkyB - I think I'm coming it at your time. It takes my 11 minutes to do about 300 meters. I think as long as I am ahead of at least one person I can stay motivated.
I have Dori's "just keep swimming" song in my head. :)
That's the thing though. Even if you do come out of the water last, that just means that you'll pass more people on the bike.
And, don't worry too much about the flat thing. The reason I got flats is because I overinflated my tires before the race when it was cold. So when all 250+ pounds of me climbed on when it was warmer and stuff, they basically exploded. Just inflate them how you normally would and you'll be fine.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
4480
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1633 days
kylie posted 20 weeks ago.
The "Just keep swimming" often gets stuck in my head during endurance stuff :)
464
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141 days
trigirltina2 posted 20 weeks ago.
di4tri wrote:
wow. you all are fast to respond. thanks so much!! THREE FLATS?!?!?! I am hyperventilating just thinking about it. learning to change a flat is on my to do list for this week.I like the advice to learn the course before race day. I will actually be in the area of the event tomorrow and planned on taking my bike. It's about 2 hours from my house. I wonder if I should do the swim too. hmmmmm.
Any advice about training too much or too little on the week before. now that it is getting closer I am anxious about picking up the training and am trying to keep myself at a minimum so I don't wear myself down the week before... what do you all think?
ChunkyB - I think I'm coming it at your time. It takes my 11 minutes to do about 300 meters. I think as long as I am ahead of at least one person I can stay motivated.
I have Dori's "just keep swimming" song in my head. :)
If you can swim, please do. Normal to want to pick up training, but please do not. Extra time think about doing this:
A practice tri. Set up your transition area. Swim, come out like you are going to bike, transition and go out on your bike a small dsitance, come back and run transition and run out. Think of what you are going to do race day. Do not sucked into a new shirt, socks or whatever to use on race day.
The swim everyone finds hard and anxious at the start. Stay clam, relax and glide through the water.
464
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141 days
trigirltina2 posted 20 weeks ago.
Flats were not my friend. However, the Amatuer Endurance site does have a video to show you how quick it is to change a tire.
http://www.amateurendurance.com
Be prepared to change a flat doesn' t mean you'll have one. Practice with CO2 prior to race day.
10
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154 days
AlwaysTri posted 20 weeks ago.
Hi and welcome. I just did my first tri a few weeks ago. I won't tell you all problems but its going to be okay. The swim was my weakest point too. Just get in the pool and feel comfortable being in the water and take your time. Most important enjoy it. Even with all my problems I still had a blast and I learned from it.
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140 days
di4tri posted 19 weeks ago.
Hi everyone. thanks so much for your responses. I did make it to the race area today...after getting lost for over an hour........THEN I GOT A FLAT AFTER TWO MILES!!!!!! HAHAHAHHAHA. I did say it was on my to-do list to learn to change a flat this week didn't I. I thought it was so hysterical.....so, I'll have to try again another day. the area is pretty though so it was nice to see it.
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truely want, and all that is left is a compromise. ~ Robert Fritz
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141 days
trigirltina2 posted 19 weeks ago.
I have learned over the years better to over prepare!
I had a flat at Pac Grove. Not much room on the side. It was before I was a believer in CO2 or the thought of actually changing the tire! I got the tire off (the back), got the tube in, the bike feel over the water spilled, got the tube in and went to blow it up... Guess what wrong stem size and I couldn't get the pump on. Change the tire again. Put everything away and go to click in and my shoe won't click in. I have speed play pedals and the dirt in my shoes sucked. Total bummed I hear another hiss, but it wasn't a tire. It was the pro men pack coming at me! I figured the women would be there shortly. Sure enough I finished the race on the run with the pros and maybe 8 other late people. I had the best seat in the house! and the Pros were so nice. I knew who Pink and Katja, but the other faces not to sure.
See.. Now you know how to get to the site race morning. You did get in the water?
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140 days
di4tri posted 19 weeks ago.
nah. didn't get in the water. I was too scared. If I'm going to drown I want someone to witness it. I have the hottest pink swim cap just to make sure I can be seen. I made my husband go to the lake by our house to watch me the first time I swam in open water.....funny because he can't swim!!!! glad I didn't drown. I swim there now because I learned there are always a few people doing the same thing as me. I am going to go back to the race area the day before with a friend. I honestly couldn't figure out where I was even supposed to start things I even had maps! I will be one of those confused first timers that run the wrong way. haha
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truely want, and all that is left is a compromise. ~ Robert Fritz
464
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141 days
trigirltina2 posted 19 weeks ago.
You won't be confused, becuase you will follow the crowd. Try to relax. Promise race day is so great and different then practice. Open water swim is faster then the pool too!
Amazing what our husbands willd o for us. Scott training once on vacation-we got out pretty far and he tells me he thinks that he won't make it back-I yell turn around, becuase I'm not sure I can drag you back! (he only has done three laps in a pool with his head above water)
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140 days
di4tri posted 19 weeks ago.
Amazing what our husbands willd o for us. Scott training once on vacation-we got out pretty far and he tells me he thinks that he won't make it back-I yell turn around, becuase I'm not sure I can drag you back! (he only has done three laps in a pool with his head above water)
ha. that's hysterical!! Hubby tells me he wil learn to swim when I take our 1-year-old to swim lessons. she can already swim....hmmmmm
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truely want, and all that is left is a compromise. ~ Robert Fritz
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TryScott posted 19 weeks ago.
If you've never seen a triathlon, you'll be shocked at the number of people with the same swimming ability as yourself. My wife must of thought that everyone that does a tri is a good swimmer. When she was watching one of my races, she saw all the people struggling and asked why people that aren't strong swimmers don't just do the duathlon. I can't speak for everyone, but I told her that if it was easy, there wouldn't be the same feeling of accomplishment.
If you have to hang out with the lifeguard for a while, go ahead. As long as you don't make forward progress while hanging on, it's legal. If you can change your strokes or float on your back for a while to rest, do it.
Have fun.
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141 days
trigirltina2 posted 18 weeks ago.
We have people on previoius teams that get through the swim like this:
One on her back-head never in the water!
One who could barely swim-but used the surfboard stop to get through the distance!
One forward and never put her head in the water!
One just glide and happy to report will do his first IM in Nov! (we are doing Vineman together)
Me- Just try to get everyone through the waves or their fears of the ocean.
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140 days
di4tri posted 18 weeks ago.
leaving now to get to the hotel. YIKES!!! for better or worse I will be back tomorrow. thanks for all of your feedback. I may just turn over and back stroke it the whole way. I am much faster that way....of course seeing where Iam going might be a problem. i'll figure it out. thanks again everyone very much!
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truely want, and all that is left is a compromise. ~ Robert Fritz
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Socket posted 18 weeks ago.
Good luck!
Don't worry about backstroking it, I did for my first and part of my second. My goal for Sunday (my third) is no backstroke. If you're faster that way, go for it! :-)
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140 days
di4tri posted 18 weeks ago.
I did it!!!!! WHAWHOO!!!!!!!
I got bit by the tribug and now I want to do it again and again and again. Boy that was fun!
Socket - I did backstroke it. I went off course twice but hey, I could move faster with my windmill arms. why put my face in the water :)
and thank God for wetsuits!!! I had no idea I had to tread water for 2 minutes before the swim began. that was a shocker. but the wet suit helped for that.
no flat tires! Whew! it did take be 4 miles to get my feet clipped and 5 to get my gears figured out.
the run I was really needing to go pee (this was cooking since I zipped up my wetsuit...go figure). It was hard to run and so I walked a good bit...I saw a portapot along the run so ran to it...it was locked from the inside....I started banking ...there was no one in there AHHH I nearly knocked the thing over trying to get in.. it didn't work... so I had to go the entire run like it was a fartlek. run walk run walk...boy was that painful. I couldn't bring myself to go in the wetsuit, or on the bike but boy was I thinking about it. going on the run was out of the question.
so, maybe I will practice the peeing options so that next time I can do it. haha. kinda gross....especially if I think that the person infront of me probably did it. BLAH!
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truely want, and all that is left is a compromise. ~ Robert Fritz
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trigirltina2 posted 18 weeks ago.
You are so the newbie! COngrads on the finish.
The big tip is Know the race course prior to the event. The treading water should not of been a surprise and did contribute to the cramps on the bike. It usually takes time to get the run under you after the bike, but training with bricks will also help. When you are in severe pain a doctor can be a friend...
Glad you are hooked to do another one! Ask lots of questions. 3rd in age group is HUGE:)
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trigirltina2 posted 18 weeks ago.
Oh and you do practice peeing on the swim, bike and run. It is normal.
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2396 days
Joe_H posted 18 weeks ago.
congratulations triathlete! well you got you hydration figured out that good :)
I'm freaking out. I have 10 days until my first tri. It's a sprint tri so not that bad. I really didn't have a lot of time to work out given full time work, full time school, and full time marrage and mothering. Please someone tell me it is okay. haha. I can do all events separately but struggle with the swim. I can only go about half the length without stopping. Is this the common experience for most first timers? I see the times for former races and the first timers times are insaine. Is it really their first tri or just their first time at that particular triathlon? I would benefit from your "first time stories".
If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truely want, and all that is left is a compromise. ~ Robert Fritz