General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Any advice or tips for a first timer headed for disaster? Rss Feed  
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2014-09-07 7:25 AM


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Subject: Any advice or tips for a first timer headed for disaster?
Hi! First post. I've been lurking a bit but now felt like I should post and send out the feelers for tips and advice since my race is getting close.

I am a man, getting closer to 40. I ran x-country in high school, then got distracted by life. Never sedentary, but never an athlete. Smoking, eating wrong, you know the deal.

Around 2008 I got roped into one of those 24 hour running relays by a work group, and loved it! I had recently quit smoking, so continuing to run seemed like a good way to stay quit. A couple weeks later I was running local 5 k's, and had signed up for my first full marathon in Las Vegas. I trained for a few months and completed my first marathon, dressed as Elvis, in Vegas, in just over four hours.

I give you this background so you'll understand everything I do I jump into with both feet, impulsively, and usually take the path of most resistance. It works out surprisingly well most times.

Since that time I've completed 15 or 20 races of marathon distance or longer. A few ultras up to sixty miles. My tolerance to boredom and discomfort is high. I can grind out endless miles at moderate intensity for a long, long time. I have a good understanding of what I need for hydration and nutrition, although in a trail ultra that is usually boiled potatoes, PBJ's, and dill pickles.

It seemed natural that the next big challenge for me should be an Ironman. In February I registered for Ironman Cozumel. It's in the end of November.

I had never competed in a triathlon. I learned to swim as a kid, but as long as I could backstroke out to the raft in the middle of the lake that was good enough. I've never learned a freestyle stroke, or swam laps. I owned a crappy Fuji mountain bike and a steel frame, single speed, "track" bike I bought on Amazon for a hundred bucks. A guy at work who races, and has completed a Half Iron race was like "Dude, you're nuts."

Since Feb. I've been swimming at the Y, I took a few lessons with Cam, the pool stud. The 20 something lifeguard at the Y. I have a rudimentary freestyle stroke and have gone from one length in the pool, and hanging off the wall like a wheezing asthmatic to swimming as long as I need to, until I get bored.

I bought a bike. I went into the LBS and told them my plans. I told them I didn't need the CF $10000 bike, and what did they have that was cheap, but would get the job done? They showed me a $800 aluminum road bike. "You can add a forward seat post, $100, a better seat $75, pedals, shoes $150, aerobars $100, custom fit $300."

"Wait a minute, $300 to adjust the seat? No effing way!"

I peeled out of there, went home, jumped on the computer and bought a $450 Motobecane bike from that website. The one where the big brown truck brings it "direct" in a big brown box and you put it together yourself. The bike is a couple steps above a Huffy and is by far the lightest and fastest bike I've ever owned. I did outfit it with appropriate pedals, a fast forward seatpost, a decent profile designs tri-seat, it came with simple aerobars, I added an aero drinker.

I already own running shoes.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster so far doesn't it?

I have been training. I am loosely following some training guides but usually wake up on my day off and Ask myself "What haven't I done in a couple days? Swimming, biking or running? Should I go easy or long? I guess I'll just ride my bike to the pool and swim for a while."

I have finished a sprint and Olympic distance race. They went really well and I had a lot of fun. I think I have a good handle on nutrition. I am using Infinit with good results on my long rides and runs. I haven't had any injuries, and at the volume I'm training I don't think "overuse" or "overtraining" are going to be a problem. My long rides are in the 80 mile range, my long runs are at 11 miles right now. A "brick" consists of a 30-40 mile ride with a 10k run to follow, and it usually sucks. But I guess it's supposed to, right?

I've noted that most triathletes are very type-A with OCD tendencies. They seem to enjoy throwing more money at whatever problem presents itself. I'm sure you can tell from my wordy diatribe, I don't fit that profile, and will never spend $200 on a carbon fiber, aero jockstrap to make T2 5 seconds faster.

Yesterday I had a humbling experience. I participated in the "Swim for Life". A 1.4 mile open water swim across Provincetown harbor. I thought this would be a good test, and good experience for Ironman. There were 400 of us, a mass start just like IM. It was not as violent I'm sure, because it wasn't really a "race" but lots of splashing and contact just the same.

I found a space for myself quickly and found my rhythm. I swam a few strokes, sighted, swam, sighted. Things were going good. I swam some more, popped my head up to look for the next buoy, and "Why is that lighthouse there?" and "Why did everyone turn around and start swimming back toward me?" "WTF?"

Somehow the current and chop had turned me 180 and I was swimming back the way I came from. This was early in the swim but a sign of the way it would go. I fought the waves and wind for an hour but I finished. It was MUCH harder than I expected. I was in a wetsuit. There is no wetsuit allowed at the Ironman. When I finished I was anxious, panicky and disoriented. I had a sore throat and cramps from swallowing so much seawater. I just wanted out of my wetsuit NOW. I wanted to be away from the crowd of finishers and spectators NOW. I'm not sure I could have jumped on a bike at that time. The swim for IM is a full mile longer. I am beginning to get a little worried?

So...

Any tips to make me a stronger open water swimmer in 2 months???




2014-09-07 11:24 AM
in reply to: silas99

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Subject: RE: Any advice or tips for a first timer headed for disaster?
My advice would be to do more OWS. Between currents, weather, chop and potentially 2500+ people mass start it is very much a different experience than a lot of the swimming it sounds like you have done. Were your previous tris OWS or pool swims? I think overall the important thing with OWS is that you are safe. I've never done Cozumel but as an ocean OWS its possible you could have similar water conditions unless the swim is in a very secluded bay. Maybe someone who has done Cozumel will be able to give some advice on that swim or you could look at RR and look and see what people thought the swim was like.

2014-10-04 8:58 PM
in reply to: silas99

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Subject: RE: Any advice or tips for a first timer headed for disaster?
I have done Cozumel. I did it last year. You cannot predict the Ocean, and last year the harbor was closed to all boats except the cruise ships. No swimming in the Ocean the days prior.
The day of the race the Ocean had calmed down some, but still for precautionary reasons, they changed the swim start and took all of us by bus to the new starting point. There was a strong current wanting to pull you out into the Ocean.
I am not saying this to scare you, but be prepared. Overall, it is a very easy swim in the Ocean.
I did not think it was bad at all. I live in WI, no chance to swim in oceans etc. I have done numerous Ironman and multiple ones each year. I train the same for each Ironman no matter Ocean, Lake etc.

Cozumel is a bit unorganized, so go with the flow.
It is a beautiful course as some of the ride you have an Ocean view. The wind and heat on the bike make it fun since the course is so flat.

Enjoy the Island, and have fun.



2014-10-05 7:40 PM
in reply to: silas99

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Subject: RE: Any advice or tips for a first timer headed for disaster?
You're WAY TOO stressed! The best advice I ever got from a multi-finisher before my first Ironman was that "you don't finish an Ironman on the day of the race. You finish an Ironman in all of the training leading up to it."

Reading your experience in endurance racing you're more than ready to tackle this thing. Wait a bit to let the crowd thin at the start of the swim and use them to sight. There will be plenty of experienced swimmers ahead of you and you can use them as your personal escort.

Enjoy the day.
2014-10-06 9:26 AM
in reply to: Fatboy32

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Subject: RE: Any advice or tips for a first timer headed for disaster?

I don't think you are heading for disaster. Get in open water and swim more. You will be fine. Good luck! Have fun at the race and soak it all up! 

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