1. After the swim, am I changing clothes or just putting on socks and shoes? are you wearing a red thong to race ? just kidding ... that my standard reply to newbies :)
I suggest if you wear socks in training wear socks in the race till you are comfortable racing without them. wear what ever will make you comfortable on the bike .... check out some tri outfits you may find one you like.

2. Do I need a seperate pair of shoes for biking and running? well if you are riding your bike with your running shoes then you just need one pair , if you have upgraded to clipless shoes for your bike ... you'll need both sets. I suggest getting a pair of clipless pedals and the bike shoes if you can get them into your budget.

3. When do I place my belongings at the transition site? When/ how do I pick them up? before the race rack your bike and bring a small bag ... you will only need what you need for the race in the transition area. maybe a towel. I see people with buckets to sit on and wash there feet off but the only thing you need is a towel.

4. In the beginning, should I be training for a certain length of time or should I try to complete the race distances? well depends on the race distance and where you are in your training.

5. I am already doing 2 events per day, but with rest breaks. How soon should I start doing bricks? You'll feel it when you are ready.

I'm considering swimming lessons for technique at my gym. Do I have time for this, or should I just train for endurance on my own? OK, I'm babbling... you talk. Its never to late to join a masters program and Hook up some local tri athletes

[QUOTE=trianything]A few more: Do I need to complete the actual course in the weeks before the race?[/QUOTE] IF the course is nearby, it is certainly to your benefit to scout the course. Learn the turns and landmarks so you know when you are getting close to the transition areas and finish line. It is not absolutely necessary, tho.

[QUOTE=trianything]How much rest should I get before the race/ When do I stop training? [/QUOTE] Never stop the activity. We call it a "taper" My personal thing is all HARD and LONG stuff is stopped exactly one week from the race... with the exception of the run. Three days before the race, i do a run of half the distance at race pace. You want to stay on the bike and int he pool, as well. I think the bike is critically important to stay active on, to retain the "feel" Just dont do anything too hard or too long the week before.

1.unless the rules state that you have to wear somethng besides your baithning suit..only put on socks..and you dont even have to do that depending on how tough ur feet are

2. if you have straps on your pedals then you can just wear ur running shoes. But if you have clips for your bike then ofcouse you need 2 pairs of shoes.

3.You should be able to go on to the race site even now and they will tell you when the transition area opens in the moring. usually about 2 hours before race start. You can usually get your things out when the last biker has come though the t area

4 and 5.base training is the most important thing of all. your still 3.5 months away and dont do any elevated heart rate training till about 2 months left. Bricks in my opinion can wait till the last 2 months..or u can do some longer slower ones.

you should do some swim lessons. they will help you alot learn the right stroke and they will get you going on some great workouts. I currently and hooked up with a trainer at the y and she is amazing. She swam for 16 years and has helped me somuch. get in the pool now though. with you being 29 it will take some more time to get the techneques back or there.

its good to go out and ride and run the course so u know what r u doing and everythig isnt new. u know when to brake into corners, when to get off the aerobars to climb or break. When to put the move on the run course...etc...

I usually go out and ride the course the day before...but a 12 mile bike(usual spint) is nuthn for me..idk where ur levels are at. But i do a nice easy spin on the course, or if i cant ride it, then i drive it.

since its your first race you could taper some the end of the 2nd week before and the week prior to the race. Back off of ur traing about 1/3 to 1/2 the normal distance so your muscles can recover before hand. Every day of the week before hand, up your normal water intake to up by about 20-40 more ounces becuase the body can only retain so much water at a time. and dont worry, you will gain some weight, but its allwater weight.

You could take a day off or 2 righ tbefore hand, but dont let yourself tighten up..still stretch.

I hope you are eating right too. I konw for me, if i dont eat nutritiously, then everythng is hell for me. there are pleaunty of threads about nutrition and thats what i live by.

hope this helped

ok..in the 25 min it took me to write all that, i had 2 ppl write before me