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What length was your first race?
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Ironman, baby!! (haha)1 Votes - [1.35%]
1/2 Ironman3 Votes - [4.05%]
Olympic11 Votes - [14.86%]
Long Sprint5 Votes - [6.76%]
Reg Sprint45 Votes - [60.81%]
Mini-Sprint9 Votes - [12.16%]

2005-05-07 9:18 PM

Extreme Veteran
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Honolulu, HI
Subject: What length was your first race?
Just curious what you tackled your very first time out...

I have 2 to choose from and as I've mentioned before, a little hesitant about which to try. It's either a near-Olympic Tinman in July (s750m/b25m/r10k) or a longish sprint in October (s650m/b20m/r4.5m)... Unfortunately there aren't any real standard or mini sprints in HI until next spring... so we will see.

Not really sure what I mean by long/reg/mini sprints, btw... I just know there's a lot of variation in sprint races!


Edited by rheros 2005-05-07 9:19 PM


2005-05-07 9:57 PM
in reply to: #154251

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T1
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
My first was an Olympic length. The sprint didn't appeal to me that much b/c I thought it was too short. I am NOT bagging on sprints, just so you know. A tri is hard no matter what! I was just ready to do something beyond a sprint. By the time it turned into a competition between my brother and me, neither of us were willing to cave to anything less.
If nothing else, I would do an Olympic length because less people are starting in the open water at that time!
2005-05-07 11:17 PM
in reply to: #154251

Extreme Veteran
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PohangSi
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
1st was a 1/2 IM, don't think they had Olys or sprints in 1983, or if they did I didn't know about it.
2005-05-08 12:55 AM
in reply to: #154251

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Master
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Harvard, Illinois
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
Mine was an Olympic. I did it 3 months after having my rotator cuff rebuilt. Needless to say I didn't do so hot. I did pretty good on the swim and bike but by the time I hit the run I was out of gas. I walked some of it and couldn't wait to finish and drink my beer.

Mike
2005-05-08 1:05 AM
in reply to: #154335

Extreme Veteran
348
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Honolulu, HI
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
Rowdy - 2005-05-07 6:55 PMMine was an Olympic. I did it 3 months after having my rotator cuff rebuilt. Needless to say I didn't do so hot. I did pretty good on the swim and bike but by the time I hit the run I was out of gas. I walked some of it and couldn't wait to finish and drink my beer.Mike


3mo out from a RC repair and swimming didn't bother you? You must have done some good rehabbing there. I'm with ya on the beer... Mmmm... 10am Sunday post-race beer....




2005-05-08 8:38 AM
in reply to: #154251

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Expert
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Olney, MD
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
Olympic...


2005-05-08 8:56 AM
in reply to: #154251

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The Road Back
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Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
I'd call my first one a "mini-sprint" (200/10/2). I slipped that one in as a trial for my first goal race, which I'd call a "long sprint" (800/20/3). I guess a "regular sprint" would be something along the lines of 400/15/3?
2005-05-08 11:02 AM
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Expert
1274
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Jackson, Mississippi
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
I haven't raced yet but i've signed up for two

Similar to bear..
First is on the 21st.. mini-sprint (200/8/2)
Second is June, 25th .. regular sprint i'd say. (600/18/3)

Part of me wishes my first one was longer because i'm pretty confident that the first one won't be a problem and I want the experience to last longer.

ws
2005-05-08 12:55 PM
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Expert
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Wilmington, NC
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
My first was begining of April this year. A sprint with a short swim.
I understood the rough definitions as:
Sprint = 750Meter swim, 20K bike, 5k run
Oly = 1500 Meter, swim, 40K bike, 10k run
1/2 iron = 1.2Mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.2 mile run
iron - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.4 mile run

I know that there are many (infinite?) variations on the theme.

For example, my first was a 300 yd swim, 20k bike, 5k run
My next will be: 375 meter swim, 1.5 mile run, 20 K bike, 1.5 mile run, 375 meter swim (a strange one... they called it a double sprint...)
The other one I'm planning is a 1500 meter swim, 20k bike, 5k run. The swim is with the incoming tide so they CLAIM it swims like 750...
2005-05-08 1:36 PM
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Champion
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Bellingham, Washington
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
I did two sprints last year.
2005-05-08 1:40 PM
in reply to: #154251

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Champion
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Evergreen, Colorado
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
First ever was a HIM.  Yeah, I'm crazy.  The body markers were asking if it was your first long-course (HIM or longer) so they could put a 'V' on your hand for long-course virgin.  I guess it's so if you fell over they could look at your hand and just figure you didn't know what you were doing.  I was like, HECK YEAH, put that thing on there!  It's my first triathlon nevermind first long course!


2005-05-08 6:02 PM
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Expert
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Westchester County NY
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
My first tri was a mini sprint. 1/2 mile swim, 7 mile bike, 2 mile run.  This was in 1983.  My race report was pretty funny.  Yes, I was keeping race journals way back then.
2005-05-08 8:02 PM
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Veteran
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MO
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?

I did a really great quarter ironman as my first triathlon. It's basically an Olympic, with a shorter swim. I LOVED it, and I can't wait to do it again this year!

If you can finish the distance, I say GO FOR THE OLYMPIC in July! Otherwise you have to wait all the way until October to race! That's no fun!

2005-05-08 9:34 PM
in reply to: #154251

Extreme Veteran
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Honolulu, HI
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
Good news - I found a sprint race in 3 weeks that will be my 1st official race!! Today I did my practice tri (225m swim / 16 mile bike / 4 mile run) and it was fantastic!! I did much better than I ever thought I would just by finishing and not walking on the run at all. The race in 3 weeks has a longer swim (400m) but shorter bike (11miles) and run (3miles)... So I'm confident I can do that with some work on the swim in the meantime. That way I get some race experience before the Tinman, which can only help.
2005-05-09 7:20 AM
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Champion
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Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
My first race last year was a sprint with a pool swim. I wasn't really prepared properly but made it to the finish. It ended up being a real learning experience about how I needed to train for future races. I ended up doing three races last year I'm planning on doing four sprints this year and am contemplating an Oly next year and maybe a half marathon.
Mark
2005-05-09 8:01 AM
in reply to: #154251

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Champion
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Ottawa, Ontario
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
Same here, my first tri was a sprint with a pool swim.  I was prepared to do the sprint but so slow in the swim.  Of the three sprints I did last year though, my average speed was the fastest on this one because it had a flatter straighter course that was closed to traffic.


2005-05-09 8:16 AM
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Extreme Veteran
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New Orleans, LA
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
My first was a Reverse Sprint.  And there is a reason to swim bike run in that order.  When I got into the pool I had the worst legs cramps ever, the pool must have been 70F.
2005-05-09 10:44 AM
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Extreme Veteran
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Delray Beach, FL
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
My first race will be an Olympic in 4 weeks.
People tell me I am crazy but I have my reasons, not just because I am an overachiever or anything.... I am not a fast athlete. Sprints do not appeal to me. I am more into endurance. I've ran 1/2 and full marathons and like them better than 5k's so I figured an Olympic would be a better choice for me. I think there is a lot of stress in sprints (for me), the fast pace, hectic transitions, larger number of participants.... I do not want to be turned off by that experience. So far I know I can cover the distance... I feel strong...
Go with your gut feeling....
Good Luck...
2005-05-09 10:57 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
Sprint - 1/2 mile swim - 15 mile bike - 5 mile run
2005-05-09 10:57 AM
in reply to: #154251

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Master
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Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
double post - sorry

Edited by MUL98 2005-05-09 10:59 AM
2005-05-09 11:15 AM
in reply to: #154251

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Member
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Davis,CA
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
Mine is going to be a 1/2. I have a strong background in endurance training, and feel this is a good distance I can settle into. I think your first race you should feel challenged and accept the risk of failure. Why do something if it comes easy? Where is the fun in that?

By the way, my first road race was a marathon.


2005-05-09 11:17 AM
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Extreme Veteran
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Northeast Ohio
Subject: RE: What length was your first race?
My first race was a super-sprint.  I was so out of shape I didn't think I'd be able to do a full sprint, but the super-sprint (250y swim, 6m bike, 1.5 m run) was just the thing to get me hooked.  In 2 weeks I do my first sprint, then an almost Olympic in June and a full Olympic in August.  If I can get my hip bursitis under control I even hope to do a marathon in the fall.
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