Hello,
Brand new to this forum - and everyone seems polite and has alot of good advice from what I have read.
I have been planning/training for a Tri for 4 years - I have a pretty serious Medical Condition that is now under control - so it has been a slow road. Have walked/run 3 half marathons, and alot of 5k's -
The plan has been to do a relay Tri with my husband and daughter, that way I could see how everything works - be in it - and not have to worry about transitions. In addition it was going to be a family event for us, as our daughter is 17 and I wanted to do this with her before she becomes an adult and is off to who knows where. Plus I don't have a bike, and because of my medical condition have only been recently able to ride since I was 17 - (39 now...)
My daughter is a competitive swimmer - so she is swimming, husband biking, and I am running the 5K - (which have only been able to run a full 5K without walking since June...)
Unfortunatly my husband is now working 7 hours away - and most likely will not make it - (there is a slight chance)...We asked all of our friends, but that weekend everyone is busy - must be the busiest day of the summer or something...So I decided yesterday I would at least try. Got out his bike - and went for a ride. I was able to ride 10.5 miles and it actually wasn't too bad - took me an hour, but that was uphill and alot of wind - and we couldn't get the seat down so it was a little high. Then I went for a 2 mile run - which felt fine as well....So I think I can do this...
Took the bike in today to get road tires put on and a basic tuneup - and the seat lowered. My friend is loaning me gloves, helmet, shirt, shorts - so that is good.
I am in pretty good shape, I work out daily doing an hour bootcamp class, plus running 30 to 45 mins every other day and 6+ miles on the weekend. I can do 75 pushups :) Real pushups - lol....
So my questions are, what would you recommend for training over the next 12 days!!?? - Should I put most of my focus on the biking? And long distance or short distance - Bricks? Running?? - I don't want to overtrain, however I want to TRAIN!!!
Also, what is an mph to shoot for - I don't care if I am last - plus its a sprint combined with an Olympic, so I wouldn't necessarily be last -
This is my first one, and because of my illness I am just happy to be able to do this!!!-and at least I won't have to worry about the swim part - any advice would be highly appreciated. I am pretty tough because of what I have endured - however - I am slow and I don't have a problem with that!! LOL...
One last question - my friend knows someone who could do the ride portion - but I don't know this person, and it is really important that this is a "family" thing - and now "mother - daughter" thing - so I don't really want to have someone I don't know riding - BUT - do I sound out of my mind for thinking I can pull this together in less than two weeks....hahaha :) - My daughter prob won't ever do another one with me.....
There are a lot of unknowns
There are a lot of unknowns here, but I'll will take a shot. Is this a sprint distance or an Olympic. Sounds like maybe a 15-30mile bike and 5k run?
Well with 12 days to go, there's only so much you can do to get in shape. So, no need to go "Rocky" and wear yourself out before the race starts.
Since you're already doing daily hour long boot camps, try swapping out some of those sessions with a 30-60 min session on the bike. Again, no need to go hard, just go at a nice conversation pace. Maybe once or twice in the next 12 days, add a 10-15 min run afterwards, but just nice and easy.(Also, stay hydrated/with electrolytes).
Since you know you can already run the 5k, think about how fresh you want your legs to be when you start this portion of the race. Some folks will be really flying on the bike, so don't worry about that. Just maintain nice and easy conversation pace like your daughter is right next to you. If you have some gas left in the tank, use it for the run.
You've got this!
You already rode ten miles,
You already rode ten miles, and you can run walk a 5K? As Jeff said, you've got this.
I think Jeff nailed it.
Don't try and go too hard.
Substitute some 30-60 minute rides in. I'd recommend going back and forth between riding and running each day. Definitely run a few minutes after a couple of your rides. Just a few minutes. A lot of beginners freak out when their legs feel like lead after the bike. It only lasts for a few minutes, so don't hit the panic button.
The biggest mistakes I see from beginners:
- Riding too hard on the bike, then they blow up on the run. Just take it easy.
- Jumping off the bike and trying to run too fast in the first half mile.
This sounds like it's about accomplishing a little something for your self, and spending some quality time with your daughter. Just stay focused on those, instead of some pre-defined "race goals" and you'll be great.
Thanks so much!!! Your
Thanks so much!!! Your replies are exactly what I needed to hear :) I really feel like my mind/plan is on the correct path...
It is a sprint - 750m swim (daughter) - only 12 Mile Bike (thought 14, so 12 seems so much easier)- and 5K - Its a fairly flat course around the lake - supposed to be one of the most scenic Tri's out there and a fairly easy course - (I think its funny that I am calling a Tri course easy at all - when so many people think we are crazy for even attempting one). In addition a fairly limited number of people. That was one of the reasons we thought this would fit us well.
Thanks for the tip on people "flying by" as last night I went for a ride and that was exactly how it was. I was on a low gear and trying to spin quickly as I read thats a good way to get your legs to move faster when in a higher gear - Does that sound right?? -
Getting new tires put on this week because it is a mountain bike with nobbies, so hopefully that will help a little bit. Its a really nice Cannondale - but its just that, a mountain bike, not the best road bike.
I will prep my mind for the "fly bys" as I have a feeling I will be a little ahead on the beginning of the bike portion, only because my daughter is a competitive swimmer, and I won't have a transition - so I will definitely have to remember to find my own "pace" as I am PASSED!!!
Thanks for letting me know about the "lead" feeling. That is how I use to feel - I started walking 4 years ago, and could only walk 5 minutes at a time. Good to know that it subsides fairly quickly.
My plan on the run portion is to take it easy the first mile and see how I feel, and allow my legs to relax from the biking - and then push through on the last two miles. I would rather be 10 minutes slower on the 5K portion instead of risking cramping up or injury and not finishing at all....
One more question though - since I have not rode for so many years, do you have any tips on how to get past the pain in my sit bones right now? I have been taking ice baths after riding, and sitting on ice packs throughout the day - I talked to the guy at the bike shop and he said the seat on the bike is a good seat, however everyone is different and there are hundreds of different seats for different bodies - I'm praying that they will toughen up in the next week - but my oh my - the "fitness" part is nothing compared to the pain in my "arse" -
Thanks again!! You guys rock :)
you haven't trained and you
you haven't trained and you have a condition that requires care in exercise
listen to your body and keep your ego in check
12 days is not enough time to train for anything, sitbones or biking, so take it easy