General Discussion Triathlon Talk » My first triathlon is this Saturday Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2013-09-05 4:09 PM

User image


2

Subject: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Hi! I'm new to the world of triathlons and I'm participating in my first one this Saturday. It's a sprint distance (kind of) with a 1/2 mile swim, 20 mile bike and 4 mile run. We've done 2 mock tris so far with my tri training group and my times are around 1:20 for a 1/3 mile swim, 10 mile bike and 3 mile run. I am stronger in swimming and cycling than I am running, even though I just started the swimming and hopped on a road bike for the first time in my life about 2 months ago (I've been running for about 2 years except for the 4 months I was injured and had subsequent knee surgery). My conundrum is this....I have two wetsuits. A full sleeves/full length one and a sleeveless, short length one. I cannot decide if I should wear the long one since that's the one I've done most of our OWS in (I live near Lake Tahoe, which is quite chilly). I feel like I am a faster swimmer in the full length one vs. the short length one. The water temps are expected to be around 70-72 degrees and wetsuits are allowed. What is everyone's suggestions regarding this? I'm such a newbie and some of the girls I've been training with aren't even wearing wetsuits at all. Help! :-)



Edited by melaniemiller2002 2013-09-05 4:11 PM


2013-09-05 4:53 PM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image

Master
7712
50002000500100100
Orlando
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Sorry, I am in Florida and wetsuits aren't really something I know anything about.  Just wanted to say good luck and have fun!
2013-09-05 5:14 PM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image

Regular
866
5001001001002525
Central Coast, CA
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Wear what you have been practicing in!  As the saying goes: "Nothing new on race day".
2013-09-05 5:17 PM
in reply to: amd723

User image

Expert
1263
10001001002525
Wendell, NC
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Buoyancy of the suit makes you faster. You've been training in the full. Wear the full.
Rule #1: NEVER DO ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY
'nuff said.
2013-09-05 6:23 PM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image

New user
29
25
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
What the others have said - wear the full since you've been training in it.
That being said - have fun and enjoy your first tri!!
2013-09-05 7:02 PM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

Regular
226
10010025
Saint Petersburg, FL
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Gooooooooooo! Remember to enjoy it, all of it. Setting up transition, getting there early, all the athletes and finishing. Run your race at your pace. don't worry about what pace everyone else is going.

Have a great time and you are now a TRIATHLETE.


2013-09-05 7:38 PM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image

Regular
585
500252525
Pueblo, Colorado
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
+1 on wearing what you've been training in. Good luck on your race! My guess is that after you finish this one you'll have many more oppy's to try the other wetsuit.
2013-09-05 9:26 PM
in reply to: tedjohn

User image

Expert
4269
200020001001002525
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Wear the suit. Ditto about nothing new on race day but it the buoyancy and reduced friction will make you faster.

Enjoy every minute!
2013-09-05 10:41 PM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image


1300
1000100100100
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Full sleeve just like everyone else said. Have fun because it is FUN!
2013-09-06 1:39 AM
in reply to: MLPFS

User image

Veteran
512
500
Tempe, Arizona
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Yup, go with the full-sleeved.

Good luck, have fun, and remember to smile the whole way round
2013-09-06 6:54 AM
in reply to: wartho

User image

Master
1526
100050025
Bolivia, NC
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
I wish I could wear my full suit tomorrow in my sprint but the water here in South Carolina is still around 80.  Wear your full suit and enjoy the day.  It's going to be in the mid 60s here tomorrow morning and should be perfect racing weather.


2013-09-06 10:29 AM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image


2

Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Thanks, everyone! I will wear the full wetsuit and not worry what others may think or how many are not wearing a wetsuit at all. I am one of the faster girls in my group, right behind my coach and a girl who swam competitively. I suck at running so I make up as much time as a I can on the bike because I KNOW I will get passed during my running (I average 10-10:30 per mile). It's nice to finally be in the middle of the pack as opposed to the bottom so I am thinking more triathlons are in my future. I can only get better in the swimming and cycling since I've only been doing both for about 2 months. I'm looking at an Olympic Distance next May and there is a women only Half Ironman distance in July over in Napa Valley that I'm eyeballing. I love, love, love being on my bike and can see myself doing many more miles on it than 20. And I've done 7 half marathons so I know I can muddle my way through 13.1. The hard part will be putting it all together! This board is great and thank you again for all your responses!
2013-09-06 10:36 AM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image

Master
3195
20001000100252525
Just South of Boston
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
above all -- HAVE FUN!!!
2013-09-06 11:12 AM
in reply to: melaniemiller2002

User image

Master
2759
20005001001002525
Los Angeles, CA
Subject: RE: My first triathlon is this Saturday
Enjoy every minute! :D
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » My first triathlon is this Saturday Rss Feed  
RELATED POSTS

First Triathlon I am stoked

Started by Longhorn1981
Views: 1262 Posts: 4

2013-04-28 4:18 PM Longhorn1981

First Sprint This Saturday - First time Nerves

Started by PESawyer
Views: 1696 Posts: 21

2012-07-05 1:24 PM PESawyer

"I am racing in West Virginia on Saturday"

Started by pga_mike
Views: 933 Posts: 7

2010-06-25 8:05 AM franktheguard

I signed up for my first triathlon................any good advice.............I am looking at the 16

Started by newadventures
Views: 1345 Posts: 9

2006-06-08 7:59 PM newadventures

Last Saturday I finished my first tri and I am hooked

Started by jnarenki
Views: 1496 Posts: 5

2003-10-04 2:48 PM Michael
RELATED ARTICLES
date : September 27, 2012
author : davey m
comments : 3
Deciding on an Ironman as my first venture into triathlon was greeted with incredulity and astonishment combined with a hint of, "well, you're full of yourself aren't you?" and, "a bit ambitious?"
 
date : July 18, 2012
author : Khorwohock
comments : 14
I have always wanted to do a triathlon to keep myself fit, and now I had my chance.
date : August 8, 2011
author : Gina60
comments : 16
I can't run a seven-minute mile anymore, but that doesn't take away from the joy of finishing
 
date : June 27, 2011
author : FlashBang
comments : 1
Feeling confident and cocky, after finally losing some weight, I got off my back side and into triathlon.
date : April 27, 2011
author : brumby11
comments : 5
An impending baby inspires a father to become fit, along the way discovering world of triathlon
 
date : May 5, 2008
author : TriPainter
comments : 1
I went into the pool area (as this was a pool swim) and got body marked. That's when it hit me that I was there to race - this was not a clinic.
date : October 9, 2007
author : She-Ra
comments : 12
I never imagined that 350 yards broken down into 7 REALLY long lanes would be so big! I gasped out loud and told Grady that maybe I had underestimated the swim.
 
date : February 7, 2007
author : Angie M
comments : 4
In the past 18 months, I have delivered two babies, had meningitis, broken my pelvis, had two surgeries, worked full time, AND completed my first triathlon!