My Tri is Run, Bike, Swim, do I need to train differently?

That's a pretty short distance, but I wonder why they would put really tired people into the water.  I would think that you would want to practice swimming while very tired.  You would probably also want to adjust your run and bike pace so you're not completely spent for the swim.

that doesn't sound too bad with the distances.  You may have to practice your transitions differently, noteably T2 where you've got to take anything not waterproof off (garmin, socks, etc).

With a 150m swim it should be over in less than 5 minutes at most... not sure of your ability.

I always kind of thought that the swim was 1st in triathlon so that you didn't have a bunch of fatigued people trying to race their brains out in a pretty dangerous area to be fatigued.

Also what is the finish line like?  Do you get out of the water and run through a chute of some sort?

x2 why is it backwards?
x2 better think about T2 you basically have to wear your bathing suit during the run and the ride.

This is pretty much the same as my first (so far only) tri. I started training in March and was talked into doing this tri the end of April (5K, 10m bike, 150 yd. pool swim). It was just a blast, and I'm slow at everything, but the dip in the pool after running and biking was refreshing as hell.  I left feeling like it was a great way to start my day.  Really, I am new to running, biking and swimming and it was nothing but a good time. In fact, I had not been able to even run an entire 5K until I did this triathlon, determined to not walk at all. So, for the three weeks before I followed a couch25k program I'd downloaded to my Ipod and that was enough to get me there.  Yes, I was tired for the swim, especially since the run from transition to the pool was long, but it was six zig-zagging laps in a pool and pretty hard to get into too much trouble. If you can practice swimming immediately after running, that would probably get you ready just fine.

That sounds awesome! I've never heard of a backwards tri, but i'm definitely going to have to see if i can find one. I'm used to swimming after hard workouts and it doesn't bother me in the least once i get my muscles warmed up. Too bad it's not a longer swim though...

Do they enforce any kind of showering before getting into the pool after the run & bike? I can just imagine someone wiping out and dragging sweat, dirt, and blood into the pool. It'd be nice if it were one of those pools where you have to wade through ankle-deep water and under a waterfall. Or perhaps they are doing the annual cleaning right after?

(My outdoor pool allows dogs on the very last day it's open -- lots of fun. No, I'm not saying triathletes are dogs.)

Thanks for the advice, everyone!  I ran 3 miles without stopping for the first time in more than 6 years today!  I am really slow, but determined to go the distance.  Now I feel more confident. After reading the posts, I am thinking of  incorporating a 1/3 distance(of the race) workout of the bike, run, swim, one day this week.   That would only be 1 mile run, 3.3 miles bike and 50 meters swim, just to get the feel of it.  That will mean two days in a row swimming, but I haven't been doing much for a swim workout, because the distance is so short.  Then I will take a day off after the brick.  I am excited to see how it goes!  Hoping I don't die on the swim...
I am encouraged by your comments!
Thank you,
Nichi 

not sure why they are doing the race backwards-the pool is fairly small and maybe they are thinking the amount of people in the pool at one time would be less if they do it that way?It's been going on for about 10 years, I think, so should be well organized.
 

yeah, the tri is held on August 22nd. I am thinking they will be done for the year and can clean up all the sweat and grime, etc. once the event is done.Nichi

Does that mean you have to swim backstroke?

EWWW!!! I didn't even think about that!  I sure hope it's not in a pool.

IT IS!!! I will need to work on the T2 if I have to fit a shower in! 

now I have to worry about cramping in the water, too?!!!  This is CRAZY!  JK!  I am thinking right after the run, maybe.  Something else to ponder...What would you do? 

Ha! Ha! 

golfer17,

If it was any longer, I probably wouldn't have taken the plunge into the tri world! 

Nichi
 

at most give yourself an energy gel.  A race that length doesn't really require any copious amounts of calories.  Make sure you drink plenty of fluids but DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES drink the pool water.