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Asking your advice: to tri or to wait?
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 2009-07-20 1:10 PM |
Member  12 |  Subject: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait?I am very new to the triathlon world. My first experience with it was this past May. I did the swim portion (1/2 mile) of a relay team at the Danskin tri in Orlando. And I caught the fever. I wanted to do the whole thing after that. The last local tri of the season is 8/8 (less than 3 weeks). It is a short sprint: 1/4 mile ocean swim, 10 mile bike, 3 mile run. I have already swam 1/2 mile in OWS, so doing half of that shouldn’t be a problem. I am slow, but I am comfortable in the water. I got a bike and have no trouble with 10 - 12 miles. I may not be fast but I don’t struggle with it. (Red Flag Area): I can’t run a 5k yet. I have been working on the C25K program since the Danskin tri and can probably run 1/2 of it as of today. Running has been a life long struggle, so to be where I am now is huge for me. The atmosphere at Danskin was great. The range of abilities was huge. There were the elite and there were the women who were just happy to finish. I really felt from that experience that I would be happy being in the latter category for my first tri, even if it meant walking part of my run. Then I went to cheer on a friend at a local and much smaller tri this weekend. It was put on by the same group that will host the 8/8 tri. There were not very many athletes in the “just happy to cross the finish line” category. It seemed quite competitive and very intimidating. So, what do you think? Am I being too ambitious and naive to think I can participate in 3 weeks? Should I wait until I can run an entire 5k before I consider giving it a try? |
| 2009-07-20 1:21 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Member 195   Akron, OH | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Go for it. Do the best you can do and you will have an idea of what to expect going forward. Sounds like the worst that can happen is you take some walk breaks during your run. I've done that even when finishing in the middle of the pack. This is a competition, but for most of us we are competing against ourselves. Until you do your first one, you won't have anyone to compete against. The only people I tend to tell wait are the ones uncomfortable in the swim, due to the inherent higher risk in the water. You seem to have that covered so... No time like the present to get that first one under your belt. |
| 2009-07-20 1:34 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
| 354 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? karatejen - 2009-07-20 1:10 PM I am very new to the triathlon world. My first experience with it was this past May. I did the swim portion (1/2 mile) of a relay team at the Danskin tri in Orlando. And I caught the fever. I wanted to do the whole thing after that. Then I went to cheer on a friend at a local and much smaller tri this weekend. It was put on by the same group that will host the 8/8 tri. There were not very many athletes in the “just happy to cross the finish line” category. It seemed quite competitive and very intimidating. So, what do you think? Am I being too ambitious and naive to think I can participate in 3 weeks? Should I wait until I can run an entire 5k before I consider giving it a try? Jen, I think you want to do this and just want someone to tell you, you can. You CAN do this. You can run/walk the run portion. It's up to you. I would consider giving it a try, because you said yourself you have the fever and sound like you really want to! It's up to you how much you CHOOSE to let the intimidation or competitiveness bother you. You will get a lot of support and encouragement and advice here on BT! Nichi |
| 2009-07-20 1:38 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Extreme Veteran 660 Texas | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? I agree, you CAN do it! So what if you have to walk on the run, you will be a triathlete when you cross the finish line just like everyone else! |
| 2009-07-20 2:03 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Master 2571 Tiger's Den | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Do it!! If you are not able to run the whole thing, walk some. Run as much as you can, walk when you need to. Heck, I've done a lot of running and I still sometimes need a walk break. |
| 2009-07-20 2:03 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Master 2571 Tiger's Den | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Do it!! If you are not able to run the whole thing, walk some. Run as much as you can, walk when you need to. Heck, I've done a lot of running and I still sometimes need a walk break. |
| 2009-07-20 2:07 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Elite 3471 Evergreen, CO | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? You should definitely do the tri. It's normal to be nervous beforehand and question whether you can do it -- you'll never know til you do it. Like everyone else said, the worst thing is you may have to walk some of the run -- so what? Best of luck to you!! |
| 2009-07-20 2:42 PM in reply to: #2296598 |
Member 103 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? skarl - 2009-07-20 3:07 PM You should definitely do the tri. It's normal to be nervous beforehand and question whether you can do it -- you'll never know til you do it. Like everyone else said, the worst thing is you may have to walk some of the run -- so what? Best of luck to you!! +1  they are a lot of fun |
| 2009-07-20 2:46 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Extreme Veteran 3177 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Like said above, the only one you are competing against is yourself. Who cares about anyone else there. If you are out there to have fun, then do that. Smile, thank the volunteers, chat with other athletes, whatever makes you happy. Before you know it you will be across the finish line and happy as a clam AND a triathlete. |
| 2009-07-20 2:52 PM in reply to: #2296440 |
Master 1420 Victoria, BC | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Yup - what they said.  You sound like you have more training than I did when I did my first tri (a sprint - a few years ago) ... and I had a blast! I was horribly unprepared and finished about 3rd from last - but it still remains one of the best experiences of my life. Go out there with no expectations but to finish and to have fun. Thank the volunteers. Smile and pump your fist as you cross the finish line. You'll be awesome. |
| 2009-07-20 3:03 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Member 12 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Seriously, you guys and gals are the greatest!!! I'm going to send my money and form into tomorrow! I just needed to hear that walking on some of the run is ok. I have heard horror stories from a friend at how rude people have been to her when she started doing some running races. She was once told that if she couldn't run the entire thing, she didn't need to be there. |
| 2009-07-20 11:40 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Master 2426 Central Indiana | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Go for it. Better to be a decent swimmer walking a bit on the run than a great cyclist &/or runner needing rescue during OWS |
| 2009-07-21 3:19 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Regular 75 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Ehmm...a bit of a cliché maybe but here it comes; LiveSTRONG and do it...just because YOU can! |
| 2009-07-21 3:45 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Expert 790 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? I have no chance at a podium, so should I compete? Of course I should and so should you! Did you send in the money yet? |
| 2009-07-21 3:54 PM in reply to: #2296805 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? karatejen - 2009-07-20 3:03 PM Seriously, you guys and gals are the greatest!!! I'm going to send my money and form into tomorrow! I just needed to hear that walking on some of the run is ok. I have heard horror stories from a friend at how rude people have been to her when she started doing some running races. She was once told that if she couldn't run the entire thing, she didn't need to be there. Good! You go do that race! WOW! If someone told me I wasn't allowed to walk... they would get a whole lot of 4-letter words from me on the course. I have been known to do a walk/run combo.... speed walk at a 12 minute mile for 3 minutes... run a 9:30 minute mile for 2 minutes. If they don't like it, they can just scr@w off. Good luck and have fun!!!!! |
| 2009-07-21 3:54 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Regular 102 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Definitely go for it. Heading into my first tri I was in the same situation: could do the swim and bike but not the run. The farthest I went before the race was 2 miles. The adrenaline plus the "give it all you have" spirit of the race got me through the last 1.1 miles. The best advice I could give you is to chart out the course and figure out were you will likely struggle (2 mile mark for me) If you have people cheering you on (family, kids, friends, co-workers, etc.) tell them to cheer from that spot or general area. The cheering will help you pull through. |
| 2009-07-21 4:03 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Elite 2998 Fishers, Indiana | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Good for you! Have a blast, do what you can, run as much as you can, and then finish however you are able! Don't underestimate adrenaline either--you may find it helps you jog the entire 5k!! |
| 2009-07-21 4:52 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Champion 7558 Albuquerque, New Mexico | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Shhhhh... (Here's a little triathlon secret...almost nobody "runs" the whole run and many plan to walk some or even all of it. One of our local triathletes can't run due to a heel problem so he puts on a cat-in-the-hat outfit, hiking boots, and he WALKS the entire run. He finished IMmoo in about 14 hours doing this. Someone want to tell him he shouldn't have shown up? ) The biggest reason to not do a race is if there is a potential for injury or re-aggravating an injury. |
| 2009-07-21 7:33 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
| Member 16 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? If you can finish the swim you are already ahead of some people! Just cruise on the bike and walk on the run if you have to and have fun! |
| 2009-07-21 8:04 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
| Regular 86 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? As everyone has said, definitely go out there and earn the title of triathlete. I think once you're out there you'll pleasantly surprise yourself because as you already experienced the race atmosphere has the tendency to give people a little more than they knew they had. Best of Luck! |
| 2009-07-21 8:48 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Expert 749 Oakland, Fl | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? Go for it!!!!! I did the Disney Danskin and I walked the whole run section due to shin splints and b/c I stink at running. My next tri is the Orlando Women's one....same course as the Danskin race. I want to see how much I have improved. |
| 2009-07-22 7:52 AM in reply to: #2296410 |
Regular 194 Ruckersville | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? It looks like you've already decided to register. Good for you! There's no reason not to give this a try and just do the best you can. Good luck! |
| 2009-07-22 12:13 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Member 45 | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? I think registering sounds like the way to go! Be sure to let us know how you do. I know I personally walked at the aid stations. Something about drinking and running do not mix well for me (mostly because the water ends up everywhere except my mouth!) |
| 2009-07-22 12:18 PM in reply to: #2296410 |
Pro 5169 Burbs | Subject: RE: Asking your advice: to tri or to wait? I'll just chime in and ask if you registered yet ?!  |
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