fatty logistics

Most people wear the same outfit from start (swim) to finish (run). If you already have a tri top, you want to invest in a pair of triathlon shorts as well. They have a pad like cycling shorts, but the padding is a bit thinner, and designed to drain quickly so it won't hold water. These are fine - and in fact designed for - swimming, biking, and running in.

You won't be able to change completely out of a bathing suit into something else in transition, so you'll need to be wear whatever you swim in for the rest of the race.

If you're not going to be able to get tri shorts before your race, the simplest option might be to wear a sports bra (a nylon one, NOT COTTON!) underneath your bathing suit, and just pull on a pair of cycling shorts on top of them when you finish the swim. Try a short bike and run in the whole get-up before the race to make sure it's comfortable and there are no chaffing issues for you. If you find the cycling pad uncomfortable to run in, you could always take off the cycling shorts and pull on running shorts in T2. Of course that will add a bit to your transition time, but for most of us, the goal of our first race is just to finish, have fun, and not suffer TOO much! So don't worry too much about your T times!

Good luck with your race! Let us know how it goes!!!

If you're worried about jiggle... I suggest something that has good compression to it. I've raced in a few things but I like using a Tri top and Capri running pants (Danskin ones that have compression to them) which help cut down "movement" of flab. They cover my entire upper leg. I wear both under my wetsuit and when I get to the bike/run I might throw a shirt on over the tri top depending on how I'm feeling. (I usually do because my arms are still flabby)



Edited by IdealMuse 2009-07-25 1:36 PM

I have jiggled my way through a number of triathlons.  I usually do the entire thing in a regular sports bra and longish bike short and put on a shirt for the bike and run.  I know tri shorts are designed to dry fast after the swim, but it has never been an issue with regular bike shorts.  I also run just fine in bike shorts.  If I was aiming for the podium, I might get different clothes to help me shave a few seconds off the bike or run, but since I am not, I go with what I have.  For me the jiggle issue was all in the legs and the longish (my usual) bike short did the trick.  My tummy or upper arm jiggling just gets ignored.  Oh yeah, I also don't wory about whether or not I look like a fashion-plate.  (I don't and a wearing cool tri clothes probably wouldn't change that.) 

yeah long bike shorts are as good as capris for movement control. Personally i don't wear them because of the "squish" of fat that comes from the bottom hem especially when they have elastic there.

If anyone knows of good tri/bike shorts that don't squish fat out the bottom of the leg for us athenas please point me in the right direction!

Thanks for all your input! I did end up wearing a bathing suit and switching to shorts & shirt on T1. It may have taken a bit of time, but it was worth it...except I grossly underestimated the amount of sand that would land in my special area...there's a little chaffing. I think for future races, I'll save up and invest in some tri shorts 

You should be able to buy a pair for around $40-$50.  Just stop buying regular clothes like me, and you'll have plenty of money for all of the tri-clothes that your little heart desires.  (I am still wearing pants that are 3-4" too big in the waist).

I just did my first tri today and am really glad I wore the same thing the entire time. I was worried about the sausage-leg look of the tri shorts, but quickly realized it's like the beach -- there is ALWAYS someone way larger than you who thinks they can wear a bikini.

Then I wore a top with built in sports bra. It's not a tri top, but a running top. It probably created more drag in the water due to the cut and material, but the swim was so slow for me I doubt a tri top would have helped much. 

I'd have been slightly more comfortable with a sports bra during the run, but I think it would have been really bulky for the swim and I coul deal with 3 miles in a medium support bra-top.

The wierdest thing for me was this was the first time I did this so the first time I rode a bike all wet, and it felt so wierd because the wind cooled the wet clothes and I totally felt naked!

good luck! 

CONGRATS to misfitc and chasing3 on your first tri finish!!!