considering a sprint...

3 days away with no swim training- don't do race. Bad idea. The swim is where most people have a lot of issues unless they were a competitive swimmer at some point. Not to mention, it's also the one portion that you can easily die doing.

Pick a race further out.

What's the worst that could happen???  Oh wait... right.... drown.  Not cool.  I suppose if you could head down to the pool today and knock out a non-stop 800m swim without any struggles, then you may be able to pull of a race in three days.  But my suggestion is find a duathlon in your area in the near future to at least try out a race.  During that time, get in some pool time, possibly go to an OWS clinic, and then plan on racing a sprint later in the season.

No don'd do it.

You should go ... as a volunteer.  Watch and learn.  But don't get in the water cold.

Thanks everybody. I will sit this one out.

NO.....  DO IT!  There will be lifeguards, and kayaks and stuff, right... just take it easy on the swim.  Backstroke if you have to.  Side stroke, whatever... you can stop and tread water, hang on a kayak if needed, float on your back, stand up... anything.   

Seriously, if you can do the bike and run, you can SURVIVE the swim.   1/3 mile swim is 22 lengths (11 laps) in a 25 yard pool.  

I say if you are in shape to start with, you can do it.  Just go E A S Y on the swim, and make up time in the run.   You said you just want to finish, so why not try... as long as you have more air than water in your lungs you 'll float anyway.  : 0 ) 

 

Edited by chandy14ski 2009-08-06 3:29 PM

WOW! Talk about bad advice right there.

Do you read BT much? Have you SEEN the HUNDREDS of threads about people:

1) Having issues with swimming - the stroke, breathing, etc.

2) Freaking out in open water?

3) Dying on the swim portion of a tri?

If this race were 2 months out I think all of us would have told the OP to get in the pool, swim laps and to do the race. But it's in two weeks. In two weeks the OP, if he/she has not been swimming at all, will be a liability to the RD and the other participants.

People need to stop seeing the swim portion of the tri as something they SURVIVE. It's dangerous and you can drown. If you can't do the distance in the water- DO NOT DO THE TRI.

Sorry to be so harsh, but people tend to take swimmin way too lightly, when it's the most dangerous part of the race. It's worriesome.

NAH... get outtahere!  If your that slow, you will be BOP right, so presumably visable to the lifeguards etc right?  If you can tread water for 20-25 minutes, you can cover 1/3 of a mile using a doggy paddle, underwater swim, breast stroke etc...  I'v seen aqua joggers move faster than some swimmers at my pool....there are no points for style, its just A-B. 

Given all of the postings about bike crashes, deaths from car vs bike, shootings etc, I'd be more afraid on the bike. 

It may be bad advice, sure.  it's just an opinion.  I do not claim to be an expert.  I have only done one sprint, and the swim was only 1/4 mile... all Im saying is I think he could do it.  I really doubt that if he swam .5 miles a few years back and has the stamina to run and ride like he does, he is a candidate for drowning... maybe DFL out of the water, but thats still living. 

Voluteer or do the duathalon option RUN-BIKE-RUN if they have one.

Agree.  Bad advice to try an OW swim with no training.  Not worth dying over.  Lifeguards aren't a guarantee.  WOW, is right.  Did you see the recent article on Tri's and the deaths associated with them.  Several times higher death rate than running or bike races and vast majority of issues were on the swim. 

I think it's unwise and reckless to encourage people with little to no swim training to attempt this.   

Edited by dscottmd 2009-08-06 3:52 PM

Little to no swim training? He swam .5 miles a few years ago and runs and bikes now.  That tells me he has some experience/ technique in the water, and an above average general level of fitness. 

Hey you guys, all Im saying is that I don't think the 1/3 of a mile swim is as dangerous as you are saying.  Im not advocating for all beginners to jump in and do a tri with no swim training.  This guy strikes me as more than an average beginner though...  I agree that the BEST Advice is to train a little and get into another one later on... but lets face it, do you always heed the advice of others?  I would not be married if my wife listened to her friends : 0 )   Im just offering an alternate perspective. 

I apologize if my differing opinion strikes you as irresponsible. 

I get a ton of great advice from you all, and it is great.  That does not mean I have to agree all the time though. 

How about this as an amended opinion to my origional response? Jump in the pool or the lake or whatever you have nearest.  If you can swim steady, with any number of strokes, or forward advancement of any kind for 30 minutes straight, you could probably survive the swim portion of this tri.  Then, stay steady, but easy on the bike, and then hammer the run!   

DLF>DNF>>DNS


Heck my first sprint tri I had a swim of 23 min, next to last out of the water but I did it, backstroked, side stroked and all.  Swam once before I attempted it.  The rest of the tri was a blast!

I like your amended response A LOT better.  Basically now saying what some others have said which is you need to assess your swim fitness and ensure that you can safely complete the swim before just jumping in and going for it.  I think there has been a definite shift on this issue with all the recent negative publicity about deaths during the swim portion of tri's.  As a group of people others are looking to as "experts" or at least "experienced" people or at least advocates, I think the responsible thing is to ensure safety first.  The swim is clearly the most dangerous portion of the triathon.  Simply drowning from lack of swim ability is only one.  It is the most anxiety producing and can result is extreme cardiac stress due to the exertion + anxiety, so anyone with underlying undiagnosed heart problems could get into trouble here.  Unfortunately, it may not be noticed quickly that someone is in trouble, plus, the whole logistical nightmare of getting an unconscious victim to shore quickly.  Precious time is lost and deaths happen. 

My point is we all want to encourage everyone that "You can do it!"  and we certainly want to grow the sport.  We simply need to be responsible and let people know that they need to assess their ability, especially on the swim, before attempting.  Again, my .02.  It's OK to disagree.  Sorry to call you irresponsible, but I feel pationately about not having someone's death blamed on our anonymous (or maybe not anonymous) encouragement to try something they weren't prepared for.

Edited by dscottmd 2009-08-06 4:17 PM

.

I say...go for it!  Get one or two swims in before the race just to feel a little comfortable in the water but if you're looking to finish, and just enjoy the day, you can make the distance.  Stay out of the 'actual' racers way (i.e. don't start front, or even middle, of the pack, start out at the very back), just know that you're gonna be BOP all day and enjoy it.  I think most every adult in 'decent' shape--someone who runs a few times a week, maybe hits the gym a bit--can 'suffer' through a sprint tri. 

And if you do it, remember to ENJOY it...before long you'll be hooked and looking to break records every time out.  You don't often have the first-timers mentality of doing the race just to 'do' it (this coming from someone who's only finished one sprint and am DYING for my next one in two weeks).

Can somebody define "BOP" for me please? Thanks.

Just to provide a little more info...I grew up on a lake. Swimming in (relatively) chilly water that is over my head does not freak me out. Just in case that changes anybody's opinion...

BOP= Back of the pack