SWBKRUN- Miles and Miles ahead!!!! CLOSED (Page 107)

Hello dear MG - hope everyone is having a great evening.

I have a few more questions:

1. What kind of bike computer should I buy for my new road bike? My bike has clips...should I get some bike shoes, or just wear my running shoes for the bike portion of the race?

2. I'm still confused as what to wear come race time. There are so many options. I do know that I want a wet suit for OWS's, but what do I wear under the wet suit? My bike clothes, my swimsuit, a tri suit, commando??? I'm still at a loss as to whether I need a one piece tri suit, or a two piece. (A special shout-out to kkcbelle for getting me hooked on Skirtsports clothing - adorable and now I want to spend $500 on all the cool stuff I've found there.

3. My swimming is going great - endurance-wise. I really don't feel the need to rest very often at all...I'm hardly ever out of breath, and I'm now up to 1500 yards. Should I try to add more distance to my swims, or should I stay where I'm at until I don't need to rest between sets at all? Or....should I try to increase speed to my existing swim plan?

4. Regarding my run - I can comfortably run 2 miles without stopping to walk now (yay!). Should I continue to keep running this distance for a while, or should I add maybe .5 mile on the run? Or should I add a .5 mile walk? Or should I try to run another mile?

I know that my BT training plan tells me what I need to do, but since I'm laying off cycling right now, I figured my body could handle more in the areas of swim/run.

Hello dear MG - hope everyone is having a great evening.

I have a few more questions:

1. What kind of bike computer should I buy for my new road bike? My bike has clips...should I get some bike shoes, or just wear my running shoes for the bike portion of the race?

2. I'm still confused as what to wear come race time. There are so many options. I do know that I want a wet suit for OWS's, but what do I wear under the wet suit? My bike clothes, my swimsuit, a tri suit, commando??? I'm still at a loss as to whether I need a one piece tri suit, or a two piece. (A special shout-out to kkcbelle for getting me hooked on Skirtsports clothing - adorable and now I want to spend $500 on all the cool stuff I've found there.

3. My swimming is going great - endurance-wise. I really don't feel the need to rest very often at all...I'm hardly ever out of breath, and I'm now up to 1500 yards. Should I try to add more distance to my swims, or should I stay where I'm at until I don't need to rest between sets at all? Or....should I try to increase speed to my existing swim plan?

4. Regarding my run - I can comfortably run 2 miles without stopping to walk now (yay!). Should I continue to keep running this distance for a while, or should I add maybe .5 mile on the run? Or should I add a .5 mile walk? Or should I try to run another mile?

I know that my BT training plan tells me what I need to do, but since I'm laying off cycling right now, I figured my body could handle more in the areas of swim/run.

Hello dear MG - hope everyone is having a great evening.

I have a few more questions:

1. What kind of bike computer should I buy for my new road bike? My bike has clips...should I get some bike shoes, or just wear my running shoes for the bike portion of the race? 

Cateye makes a good basic bike computer.  So does Polar.  Look for a one that measures distance, speed, cadance and trip time as a minimum.  BE SURE TO GET A WIRELESS ONE!   If you want to spend more money you can get one that measures heart rate, or get a Garmin Forerunner 305.  That will work for the bike as well as the run.    As far as clipless pedals and shoes, that depends on how comfortable you are on your bike.  They are worth the money but not necessary right at first.  There have been some good discussions on previous pages about shoes and pedals.  Buy local so you can exchange.

2. I'm still confused as what to wear come race time. There are so many options. I do know that I want a wet suit for OWS's, but what do I wear under the wet suit? My bike clothes, my swimsuit, a tri suit, commando??? I'm still at a loss as to whether I need a one piece tri suit, or a two piece. (A special shout-out to kkcbelle for getting me hooked on Skirtsports clothing - adorable and now I want to spend $500 on all the cool stuff I've found there.

I agree with Suzy.  I like 2 pieces.  Depending on how your wetsuit fits either wear your tri top under the wetsuit or just the sports bra and then put the shirt on at T1.  Get a good pair of tri shorts, they are a must.  Test ride them on your bike and go for comfort. I use SUGOI and love them. Had a pair of 2XU and they were terrible.  Hubby has ZOOT and likes them - but I hear boys are built differently    Make sure you swim in your race gear prior to the race, both with and without the wetsuit.  Wet clothes rub differently.  The idea of T1 is to strip off your wetsuit, but on your helmet, shoes, grab your bike and go.  So wear the clothes you want to race all day in under the wetsuit.  Put your glasses in your bike helmet so you'll remember to put them on.  I like to put a headband in my running shoes so I remember it when I leave T2.  PRACTICE your transitions.  Someone videotaped my T2 on my first half and put it on uTube. I'll find the link and send it to you.  Just ignore my running the wrong way (oops)

3. My swimming is going great - endurance-wise. I really don't feel the need to rest very often at all...I'm hardly ever out of breath, and I'm now up to 1500 yards. Should I try to add more distance to my swims, or should I stay where I'm at until I don't need to rest between sets at all? Or....should I try to increase speed to my existing swim plan? Three different swim workouts, 1) form drills  2) speed drills  3) endurance distance. 

4. Regarding my run - I can comfortably run 2 miles without stopping to walk now (yay!). Should I continue to keep running this distance for a while, or should I add maybe .5 mile on the run? Or should I add a .5 mile walk? Or should I try to run another mile?  SLOWLY start to increase your distance.  The old rule is a good one, no more than a 10% increase in distance per week, and only increase once a week.  Build your base, then the distance will come.  Learn to love running and become familiar with your body. You need to know the difference between pain from a longer run and pain b/c something is wrong.  That was a problem I had with my marathon training. I kept saying, "it's suppose to hurt, it's 26.2 miles." When actually it was a developing injury.  I just wasn't skilled enough with my running body to know the difference.

I know that my BT training plan tells me what I need to do, but since I'm laying off cycling right now, I figured my body could handle more in the areas of swim/run.

3. My swimming is going great - endurance-wise. I really don't feel the need to rest very often at all...I'm hardly ever out of breath, and I'm now up to 1500 yards. Should I try to add more distance to my swims, or should I stay where I'm at until I don't need to rest between sets at all? Or....should I try to increase speed to my existing swim plan?

If you are just doing the sprint / olympic distances right now then you probably don't need much more distance.  I would mix in some continous swims like 15-20 min w/o stopping to see how your endurance is.  I would also do a 200m TT (time trial) then figure out your 50 and 100m splits then set up some interval training.  That will get you faster.  Make them tough and really push to make the intervals.

4. Regarding my run - I can comfortably run 2 miles without stopping to walk now (yay!). Should I continue to keep running this distance for a while, or should I add maybe .5 mile on the run? Or should I add a .5 mile walk? Or should I try to run another mile?

Maybe find a local running race 5k, 8k or 10k in March / early April and work in a run training plan from Galloway or Runner's World to build up slowly to more mileage.  I have found that most tri plans esp. BT are light on the running.  If it's a weakness, it can't hurt to add some mileage slowly.

Good luck!