My First Tri is in 10 weeks..
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UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.
One of my roommates was in a situation very much like yours a few months ago. He runs in the low 15s, but he can't swim at all. It's not too big of a deal, though, since swimming is the least important of the three disciplines. You're going to need to make up at least a little ground on the bike, though, if you want to be in a position to run people down for the 5k. Just ease into the first mile on the bike, then go (slightly) harder than you think you should be going on the bike. You'll be surprised how long you can hold a fast pace on the bike. Ease into the first 1/2 mile of the run (running off the bike is a lot different than running an open 5k, I promise) then book it. All in all, you can go really hard the whole time during a sprint tri.
It also looked like the swim was a bit long from the 2004 race. Unless they were timing the end of the swim after a long run up the beach to transition, there should have been several people under 5 min. Just FYI.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
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Jstyle posted 1 year ago.
Definately practice a brick or two and that will help you on your run...
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northmiler89 posted 1 year ago.
Thanks for the comments so far. I have read through nearly every Triathlon Training and Features article and understand how to transition properly into each discipline.
I think the times were taken from the start/ run in to run out. I took those results because last years had people swimming 0.25 in around 2:30 so I have no idea what was going on with that.
I definitally think that I will be able to reel people in on the bike. I plan on buying a race specific bike. I figure if I am going to do this for the next 20 years, I might as well invest now, while I have no debts and nothing to pay for. Ive read a lot on how you dont need a tri bike, but if you want to compete you will need one. And everyone that I have heard picked one up has been estatic.
One thing I really dont understand is the BRICK. Can someone do just a mock example for someone that would be training for a sprint tri, or just post a link for me please?
Thanks.
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Jstyle posted 1 year ago.
A good example would be a 15mile ride and as soon as you get off the bike lace up and run another 3-4 miles (depending on the tri distance.) There are two different types of Bricks, ones where you go pretty hard on the bike and do a recovery run. The other is the one I like more go at a decent pace on the bike and all in on the run.
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Kristy78 posted 1 year ago.
Just did my first tri w/ Firm Racing. Swimming turned out to be my strength. Here's my tips for a quick swim: Pratice in open water (the difference is like running on a treadmil vs on a trail). Get a wetsuit (or rent one). Learn how to sight (items in the water as opposed to the shore line which allways feels to far away) and stay with the pack - follow the bubbles. In my hunt for open water I ended up slightly off course which can make a 1/4 mile swim actually much longer. Finally, wear the cap FIRM provides, if the start is in waves, the cap indicates when you start. Granted being the only one in a bright orange cap amoung a sea of blue does make it easy for your fans to see you. If your bike and run is strong you can make up the time. For your first one - just have fun.
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UFTriGator posted 1 year ago.
northmiler89;70400 wrote:
One thing I really dont understand is the BRICK. Can someone do just a mock example for someone that would be training for a sprint tri, or just post a link for me please?
Brick = Bike, Run....ick! Anyway, I do 2-3 each week. Start them out going easier (at least for one of them), but after a couple weeks and your body is used to it, you can go harder. These are my main workouts for the week....one tempo and one interval. My tempo day is 1.5 hours on the bike with 45 min tempo (pretty much as hard as I can go for 45 min) then a 4-5 mile tempo run. The interval day is usually 1.3 hrs w/4x8 min on the bike with 4 min easy between. Then 5x1k on the track at 5k pace with 200 jog between. Both days hurt like hell, but I leave enough left to swim 1.5 hrs after. Don't jump right into that, or you might get hurt, but after a couple weeks when your body has adjusted a bit, going hard for both will get you into fantastic tri shape.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
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azstinger11 posted 1 year ago.
We use the term Brick to mean any combining of the discplines into a single workout, generally its a swim+bike or a bike+run, but we have done a swim+run or done then backwards of the actual order in a real race.
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northmiler89 posted 1 year ago.
Cool. Thanks guys. I guess I just WAY over analized the Brick.. In my training I just consider a Brick a transition day. Hop off the bike and onto the run.
I have been to the pool twice now.. and tonight there was a, probally 8yr +, swimming team there. WOW, those little punks are good. I talked with the coach a bit, he was a young guy and explained my situation to him. He hooked me up with access to all their training stuff: fins, paddles, boards, floaties, etc. --But he told me a pool at a boarding school, 2 bridges and a $2 toll away from me offers a masters swimming class. He told me I should enter it. It is twice a week and hopefully at evenings.
I just need to relax while swimming. I just swim too fast because I dont know how to kick well enough, to float.. so I can work on my stroke.. I have about 9 weeks now and I am going to get into the Masters program. I just want to be able to relax and get through the swim with confidence and know that I have strong form.
After this one Tri, on August 18th, I am going to do a Duathlon around mid September. That will be all of my racing for this season. I am going to take swim classes and train all through the fall, winter, spring trying to get more endurance in my swim and get my biking stronger.
And I am having tons of fun, even trying not to drown in the pool brings a smile to my face each time I get back to the other side. I am loving it and it is just something I didnt have while only running now.
CHEERS!:D
Oh and I am going to try and pick up a nicely fit, quality Tri bike before the first race. Just soo excited, I can defintially see myself doing this the rest of my life. I just hope my financial and job situation will always allow me to keep progressing.. maybe in a year or two it can become my job... If I dont drown by then.:rolleyes:
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oztrigal posted 1 year ago.
Definitely join the masters group.. I've been going for about 8 weeks now and i've improved 2 mins off my 1km time already... Looking forward to getting even better through the rest of the Australian Winter..
I am trying to figure out how competitive I will end up being.. I have a MAJOR running background as I just graduated HS and have run around 9:00 for 2 miles and can go sub 16 for 5k on the road pretty much anyday.
I have done a ok amount of biking, cross training for XC running. I have a decent road bike and will probally end up picking up either one of the new Specialized Transition Expert or a Trek Equinox 9 a week or two before the race.
Swimming... Never done it. Have always swam better.. under water..:rolleyes: It is my weakness by far but I think I pick up enough conditioning and form in 10 weeks to not lose any more than 2 1/2 minutes behind the race contenders and 3 1/2 behind the real swimmers (0.25m swim).
My swim training is starting with 8x25 before every swim and spending a few weeks doing 4x100 after and eventually working to 6x100 after the warmup 8x25. Some of it calls for a 600m straight swim for some endurance, etc.
I am currently running 13/14 days, swimming 5/14 days and biking 5/14 days. Pretty much it goes: Just a running day then a bike/run day, then a swim/ run day, then start all over. The one day I dont run is spent swimming and biking.
I am taking 10 weeks to train for one triathlon on August 18th this season and then will really work on my swimming and biking HARD all winter. I think I can do really well in this sport because running has just become boring. I KNOW I will make some huge improvements over the winter and Spring but want a baseline race.
Here are the results from last year: http://www.firm-racing.com/results04/result_report.asp?RID=461&type=1 The course will be similar but in a different location. I feel, worse case scenario I will be just below 10:00 for the swim.. hopefully a lot faster but who knows. I can hold my own in the bike and know I can go sub 16:30 even after the swim and bike. So if I am 2-3 minutes down after the swim and maintain during the bike I should be able to reel most everyone back in on the run. I know that I recover really really fast from hard efforts and am just real excited to get my first race under my belt.
Pretty much just thinking out loud, but anyone have any opinions/suggestions/ comments?