QuincyF and Oriolepwr's Magical Mys-tri Tour for Newbies Has Begun (CLOSED) (Page 13)

OK everyone, I finally got around to making a list of the group! Vacation really kicked me in the butt, and I'm supposed to be cleaning out my basement today so naturally I am wasting time on here! Actually it's not wasted time as I am using those monster posts I wrote this morning on my blog!!! Multi tasking...

Anyway, you should be able to cut and paste this into the intro section on your blog and then it's super easy to click on your mentor-mates blog link and give them some inspiration and encouragement on their logs!!!

Magical Mys-tri Tour for Newbies

Shelly-FitMomma2010

Cheri-CheriFortin

Ted-Sammeg

Tom-TLkatos1259

Michel-Michel.Sutton

Wendy-Emmrald

Matt-mjh1975

Mark-ChicagoMan65

Jacki-DaDooRunRun

Sean-sma777

Yvonne-Ybeal

Kent-kentkillsit

Peter-peterflagg

Lauren-lmo123

Mark-mrkwhittaker

Todd-trei

Dave-oriolepwr

Quincy-quincyf

Run:

Since I didn't cover extras in the bag/towel portion, I'll add those in here...

Shoes:  You need comfortable, well fitting running shoes. If you're new to running I highly recommend going to a running shop and trying on a bunch of stuff. Once you pick a pair and decide they are your running shoes, you can simply reorder them in your size. My husband orders Mizuno wave creations in his size, sometimes two or three at a time and just hangs onto them until he needs them. He waits until the end of the season and then buys last year's models at a discount. If you're starting out your running career by walking, walk in the shoes you intend to run in. Each shoe can be a little different and the last thing you want to do is start running in a pair you have never worn before...if you do this, start out with some short, easy runs to make sure they don't give you any surprise aches and pains. I put yankz on all of mine for most every distance except marathon...I tend to go back to laces for that long of a run. This is purely personal preference. Although my DH (lace only guy) has never beat me in a T2...it's all part of the race you know...

www.runningwarehouse.com  once you do know the shoes you really need, is like the cheapest source in my opinion.   Again you will probably end up with tons of shoes you tried and then found were not the best for you, in a closet somewhere.   True you probably will not end up with a closet solely for your running shoes,  like I do.  (what...  think I'm kidding?)   but shoes are fun!   oh and Yankz are the "bomb"   Seriously do not know why laces are still used versus system like Yankz.  

I've seen his closet...it's awesome! I have also used roadrunnersports.com...they have a vip program which can be a good deal...but with amazon and such it might not be worth it.

Socks: if you can stand it, you can try running sockless, but honestly, this is one of those things that can wait. I LOVE those fabulous microfiber running socks...I ran in those stupid cotton ones for years and switched when I started going longer than an hour...they seriously changed my running life!!! The only time I would consider skipping socks is in a sprint tri, but that's because the run is so short, and it's the only distance I am competitive at.

Socks also absorb some road shock/impact!!!   Socks are like shoes.  you will go through a bunch trying out what works best for you.   Microfiber socks are great!    Everything out to be made out of tech material.   Guys.  Seriously not kidding here,  if you are in cotton underwear.  spend the $$ and get some underarmour  tech underwear.  OMG!  soooooooo much better.  

Girls, that goes for you too. I know I said no undies, but for running/working out (i.e. not on the bike) UA is simply the best. And this is reflected in the price. But I lurve them for running. Another life changing piece of gear. 

Hat: I love a visor...headsweats does a one piece elastic band so you can throw it on while you are running. But this is pure preference, maybe you don't even want a hat. 

Its a good idea to have a visor or hat with that soaks up sweat to keep it from getting in your eyes.   Also helps in rain, cold  soooo everyone is different  but what is not to like???  ok I'm a hat guy....  (and come from a line of hat manufacturers sooooo)

Plus...Bragging Rights if you have a hat from a previous race. Hello, vanity, is that you???

Glasses: I buy cheap ones at Target...they get beat up after a season. I am considering a pair of prescription glasses for the bike, but not necessary. I would not skip these though...protect your eyes.

I loves me my Oakleys    worth the $$$$

Oh, curse you. Do you have a script? What about Rudy Project. Ugh, this is an area I am NOT comfortable in...

Shorts: I like tri shorts with a super minimal chamois. No underwear...if you don't believe me, try riding your bike with underwear on. They come in different lengths and compression.

They also last like forever!!!!!!!   so yes get some tri shorts!   great value

Top:  Let's just go with this: whatever you wear, make sure you can just wear it for the swim, bike, and run. No need to make transition more complex than necessary. I like tri tops because they have a little pocket in the back for a gu, but you can wear any jog bra/top combo you like. Men can go shirtless and then put a top on, but I recommend a tri top for the boys too...just remember that if you are wearing a tri top, you need to just swim in it. NO way you are going to get that thing on in T1.

Guys  you do not need a tri top  but yes they are great cause you can swim in it and they have the pockets etc.   And I can tell you Q is spot on.  I did the change in to shirt thing a bunch of times in sprint tri's   NOT EASY when yo are wet.

I so love being spot on. Seriously, go for a swim or take a shower and then try to put a snug fitting shirt on. Now exert yourself at a race pace (or go ahead and go into a full swim panic) and then try to DO anything, much less wrangle a lycra top on...notta gonna happen...

Trisuit: I tried one last year but went back to shorts/top. Too hard to pee/poop. Comfy though. Skip it until you have raced long enough to have an opinion.

I like the tri suits  actually.   But again tough to size.

Race belt: These are great...you just slap it on before the bike and spin the number to your back. Then on the run, spin it to the front. Otherwise you end up pinning it to your top and swimming in it. Probably the cheapest and most useful piece of gear you will ever buy. Some of them come with a little key pouch and little holes to put gu's in. I have 3 or 4 of them.

yes!  spibelts   (google that) 

Watch/HRM: I have raced without a watch numerous times...in fact I don't know if I've ever timed myself correctly thru start to finish. These are FAR more useful for 1. Getting yourself to the race on time and 2. Training for the race. I race by RPE mostly so even a HRM is just a cross check. If you are going to try a HRM, that's fine, but unless you are like Shelly and NEED to know something, there is no reason to try to use one for your first race. I think my head would have exploded with that much info on my first race. Plus if you are going to use one, you need info which means you need some sort of threshold test and then train with it. Skip it for now. Seriously, you can even skip the watch. If you do use one, and know how to use the lap function, you can hit the lap function every time you cross a timing mat and have a pretty accurate timing record of your race. Not necessary tho...

Nutrition: for a sprint, you'll probably go a bit longer than an hour, so you could justify doing a gu at around an hour into the race. You don't need any more than that and eating more than that could make you sick. Only eat something you have eaten before (these things can wreak havoc on your gut and everyone reacts differently to these...for instance I cannot do gu roctane or clif bloks...ymmv). If you think you can pull it off, the end of the bike is a good time to eat, if not in T1 or at the beginning of the run. But just to be clear, you can do a sprint with NOTHING.

YES you don't need any nutrition in a sprint.     Its a good idea though to start trying and getting used to GU  in training.  (the best product for me are powerbar gel blasts-when i have somewhere to put them)   

Sunscreen: super waterproof:  wear it, reapply if you need to.

OK, what did I miss? 

My prediction is that you'll love it.  I got the Garmin Forerunner 405.  I'm still figuring it out, but I got the silver membership here at BT and it just magically drops my workouts into my training log.  I did a strength/conditioning workout today and didn't use it, but my DW pointed out that it's not quite so cool on the treadmill, where its GPS uses are, well, worthless.  But I've got it set up for heart zones, too, (have to order the heart monitor separately, but we did and I'm glad we did) so that's a way to use it on the treadmill.  Either way, there's a Garmin site that also has a place to record info.  So - with regard to extrinsic incentives, that's cool, too.  I can double-dip and get more mileage out of my mileage. 

Also - just saying this - this is one heck of an expensive athletic pursuit.  I mean, once you start taking it seriously, all the costs start rearing their heads.  I'm having to piece everything together because getting all the gear at once is prohibitive.  I could have never done this sport in my 20's!  Any suggestions from anyone on online sites or stores that have worthy discounts?  Wetsuit?  Tri-suit?  Swim gear?  Cycling apparel?  

-Kent

ACTUALLY, I think this was perfect.  Very well thought out and topic differentiated. 

Quincy, NICE JOB! 

My question, running shoe recommendation?  Does anyone run with orthotics? or inserts?  If so, any brand?

Tom

Shelly, Now I know there are 2 of us with heart issues.  I was born with a congenital heart defect.  My cardiologist things this tri thing is great and my heart has gotten stronger.  I am glad I have a HRM.

Keep it up.

Tom