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Help! New and need advice!
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 2009-07-27 10:41 PM |
New user 6 |  Subject: Help! New and need advice!Hi everyone--I'm new here. Here's my story: there's a triathlon in nine weeks. I am in my 20s and in good health, but probably not the best shape. I used to run pretty regularly, albeit short distances (approx. 3 miles a day), but the running died away when I finished grad school and started working full time two years ago. I've been working out off and on since then (I am pretty confident I can run a slow 5K), but I'm still a little overweight. |
, but right now I doubt my ability to swim more than 50 meters without stopping. Also, I have never ridden a bike in an athletic setting. | 2009-07-27 11:01 PM in reply to: #2311694 |
Master 1472   | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! Nine weeks is not much time. Take a look at some of the training plans here on the site. Being willing to work hard essentially coming off the couch is one thing, doing it without getting injured is another. It's not worth getting injured over. The "Original Sprint Plan" on this site is 13 weeks, so you have already missed 4 weeks. Can you finish it? Probably so, I would guess. Is it the smartest thing? Hard to say without really knowing you. I know some very close friends who could probably pull this off, I also have some that I would beg them not to. When you do decide to race try to get some triathlon specific clothing that you can do all 3 events in. It isn't neccessary but sure makes things easier. You can change between but keep in mind two things: no public nudity, and yes the clock is running the entire time. Welcome to BT, and good luck. Train smart and be safe.
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| 2009-07-27 11:38 PM in reply to: #2311694 |
Expert 2180  Boise, Idaho | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! Do it and have a BLAST. Welcome to the sport. |
| 2009-07-28 12:01 AM in reply to: #2311694 |
Master 2372 | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! Definitely doable. That is a short swim. You can improve a lot in the pool in 8 weeks, and since you have the muscle memory of a decent stroke, that shouldn't be a problem. You can change clothes between events (and yes, the transitions are part of the race and count in your time). For something this short, though, there really isn't any reason to. Get some tri shorts and a compression top (along with a bit of body glide) and just wear that the whole way through. This way in the first transition you put on biking shoes, helmet, etc. For the bike/run transition you pretty much just take the helmet off and switch out shoes. There are some training plans on this site and others. Just work your way up and have fun doing it. |
| 2009-07-28 12:28 AM in reply to: #2311694 |
Member 180 Kayak Point, WA | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! Here is the way I would look at it, assuming you have a couple of days to try this before actually signing up for the event. Go to the pool and spend a couple of hours there and do some laps. Take your time and just try to get comfortable in the water, swimming at a pace you can hold for a few hundred meters if possible. By the end of the time you will be pooped but should have an idea of if you think you can pull off swimming the entire event albeit slowly, without resting in the middle. Day two, See if you can ride your bike 14 miles without stopping. Day 3. Plan on "running" for 30 minutes. Start out with a "slow" jog and see if you can find a pace that you can hold for 10 minutes or so, then walk a little if you need to, then run another 10 minutes or so, etc. By this time you should know if you can make it throught the event. If you can handle days 1-3 you can pull this off by working at it diligently and carefully (particularly the running). If days 1-3 you thought were going to kill you, then start your training now, but hold off on signing up for an event till your ready. Michael |
| 2009-07-28 11:26 AM in reply to: #2311694 |
| Member 195 Akron, OH | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! 9 weeks, at your age, provided you don't have any medical issues, absolutely. If your goal is to finish, you'll meet that goal and be on your way. Especially since its 250m pool swim, you'll be fine. Either jump in on week 5 of one of the sprint plans, or look at the plan and ease into the training times a little more slowly so you don't injure yourself, especially the running. On that note you can certainly run/walk to make the time and lots of folks do that for races even. Example, run 2 min then walk 1 min, run 2 walk 1, etc. Eventually you can go to 3/1 or 4/1. Proceed slowly with the running as that is where most people get injured. Have fun and welcome to the club!! |
| 2009-07-28 11:38 AM in reply to: #2311694 |
Member 42 | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! Yep, go for it! I just completed my first tri coming off the proverbial couch with 6-7 weeks of training. I am 25 and have an active background but began with zero endurance base. The biggest obstacle for most would be the swim but it sounds like you will not have a huge issue there (short pool swim). Pick a plan or develop your own and try to stick to it as best as you can. When I started I wanted to jump in with both feet. I pushed slightly harder than I should have adding distances and intensity and flirted with an injury or two. Patience is key! You are going to have a blast. |
| 2009-07-29 8:45 AM in reply to: #2311694 |
| New user 6 | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! Thanks for all your advice and encouragement!  |
| 2009-07-29 9:11 AM in reply to: #2311694 |
Veteran 172 | Subject: RE: Help! New and need advice! Good luck and have fun! |
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