Subject: RE: First Olympic Distance coming up! To me, the swim is the really different part. Done 4 Olys in the last 13 months. The keys to my race are: 1 ) Start the swim very slow. I think a swim warm up would go a long way to doing it better, 2 ) 1 bottle of Sport drink on the bike, and a gel or banana if someone will hand it to you as you go by, otherwise hit it in T2, 3 ) the run is 2 X 5K. The first mile is gonna be a challenge, same as a sprint, then just pace til the first 5K is over and let 'er rip as best as you can to finish. At that point it is just a 5K so go after it like you would a sprint, best as you can with what you have.
If you feel real bad when you finish you know you've done what you were supposed to. You'll probably feel a lot better a few minutes afterwards and by about an hour afterwards I usually think 'Ok I could do that again.' I tell myself it is just a supersized sprint with a longish swim in the front.
I don't run again til the end of the week but I swim and light spin over the first couple days afterwards. That's different for everyone. I'm 47 and maybe age makes a difference. Probably just fitness status though.
Good luck. I think it is a big mental jump from sprint to Oly because as a sprinter I didn't feel completely 'legit'. ("Oh, you just did a MINI-Triathlon" ). Oly to HIM is more just a matter of putting in the training time IMO.
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