Big Steve's Group - CLOSED (Page 7)

I use the 3rd method from the video, rotating my body and head every 3 strokes.  The 1st one is not a good idea because lifting your head will increase the angle of the rest of your body in the water and will cause more drag. I do however pick up my head every 10 breaths (approx) for spotting purposes.  I only do that because I tend to go left often instead of perfectly straight. I assume that’s because my right arm is stronger or more efficient than my left.   Rotating to both sides is tough at first, I've read there is no difference in performance from that or only rotating to one side for a breath during every other stroke.  The later was much easier for me when I was starting out and I still do that when I start getting tired. 

As far as kicking goes… I hope someone else here can help more than me.  My kicking is horrible, when I practice kick drills alone I have a hard time getting any forward movement so I'm definitely doing something wrong.  Kicking during the swim doesn't seem to slow me down though because I don’t do much actually. I know I’ll get faster when I figure this part out.  Here are some good video’s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OsfFjdnzGc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlHqN9OkCUA

Sounds like you've built up some endurance so I would say you're ready for a few lessons.  I got 1 lesson before my first sprint and it helped a lot.  I'm actually starting an 8 week total immersion class today in Scotch Plains with Thea from http://www.tri4funtraining.com/  .   My Tri coach recommended her.  I’ll let you all know how that goes.

-Steven

Okay, I’m in... 

I’ve registered for my first two Sprint Tri Races and as a USAT member.

Candidly, I’m more than a little nervous. 

Not so much about the first event which is an indoor event at the Life Time Fitness Center in Berkeley Heights on April 9th.  This is a timed event, where you go as fast and as far as you can in the allotted time – 1 hour.  I figure it’s a good way to start; pool swim (10min), T1 (10min), spin bike (30min), T2 (5 min) treadmill run (20 min); and only $35 to register.

The second one is the real McCoy!  It’s the Patanella’s Doc and Sok in Watchung on June 26^th.  1/3 mile lake swim, 10 mile bike (with some nice hills) and a 5k run. The course is not closed to traffic. More than a few beginnertriathlete.com members have raced it, so I’ll have some idea what to expect. 

I still need to buy a bike, bike clothing and swim suit. I guess Christmas will come early this year. 

Any and all advice is welcome. 

TriToga

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I would say it depends on how good of a rider you are.  If you've got a couple years of road bike experience I would look at a Tribike.  I just got my first Tribike.  The ride is very different and the amount of control is very different as well especially when you're on the aerobars.  I am not looking forward to my first 40 MPH downhill with aerobars.  Gonna be very scary.  So if you're just starting out, I would go with a road bike.  I also heard that a common mistake most beginners make is putting aerobars on a road bike, I almost did but was talked out of it.

Here are last week's totals.  Im sure the #'s will go up as the temperature does.