General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Rest during transitions? Rss Feed  
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2010-06-30 2:41 PM

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Elite
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Whispering Pines, North Carolina
Subject: Rest during transitions?
Those of you that have participated in an IM, how do you approach the transitions? 

Do you race through, spend as little time in there as possible, and head out?
Do you take this time to gather yourself and rest a little (get HR down, stretch, etc)? 

What have you found works best?

Keep in mind, I'm not talking resting for 20 mins in T1/T2, but rather just enough to catch your breath...you're in a race, after all.

Does "resting" for an extra few minutes translate to a better bike/run? Do you find that getting out on the course asap is best? 

Thanks for your input! 


2010-06-30 3:03 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
I didn't rush through as fast as I possibly could because 4-5 minutes during my day is irrelevant.  But no, I didn't stop to stretch or rest either.  Got in, got my stuff, changed, and was out

Unless the conditions are such that you are either too cold from the swim, or too hot off the bike, I don't think a few minutes rest is going to affect the long ride or run.
2010-06-30 3:03 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Champion
19812
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MA
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
Get through them as efficiently as possible.

Organize your T1 and T2 bags with what you will absolutely need in separate 2 gallon ziplock bag like helmet, shoes, stuff for your pockets. Other maybe use stuff keep separate so it doesn't get messed up and confused.

My transition times were 10' faster from first to second IM in part due to lay out of transition but a lot was I was more efficient with no changing of clothes.

Keep moving, making up 3-5' on bike and run takes more work than riding or running a bit slower to get fully situated when you start off.
2010-06-30 3:10 PM
in reply to: #2953969

Master
5557
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, California
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
Better to take a little extra time and not suffer later, for example, if you missed some critical areas with sunscreen like I did :p 
2010-06-30 3:53 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Pro
5169
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Burbs
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
My T times were HORRIBLE (10 min T1, 12 min T2), but looking back, I don't feel like I was lollygagging ... I did do full changes so that took some time, plus I took my time applying sunblock and bugspray.

I wouldn't take time to "rest" during transition... it's not what it's really for. ETA: However, I did end up being able to catch my breath because a volunteer applied my sunblock while I sat down, etc.

Edited by trishie 2010-06-30 3:54 PM
2010-06-30 5:37 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Champion
5781
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Northridge, California
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
My transitions in my first IM were pretty efficient--only thing that took extra time was wrapping an injured hamstring after the swim (which I'd planned going in)...about three extra minutes.  Spent more time in T2 than usual mostly on sunscreen reapplication.  Didn't do any change of clothes in either...tri top and tri shorts throughout.

Second IM (St. Georage) was a different story.  After swim temps in the 50s, I took a lot of time in T1 to get dried off and put on dry tri top, sleeveless jersey, and arm warmers.  And after getting dehydrated on the bike, I took the time to take in some sports drink in T2 and then had the volunteers do a thorough sunscreen application.  My day was already going much longer than anticipated--no reason to rush and have things become potentially even more unpleasant.


2010-07-01 7:41 AM
in reply to: #2953900

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Elite
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Spring, TX
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?

I don't think there's any way to get enough rest in transition make a difference during your day.  Maybe a minute after the swim to get your bearings.  I didn't rush through, but I didn't waste any time either.

That being said, a good friend of mine took a catnap in T2.  I think he spent 25 minutes total; 5 minutes to change and then 20 minutes to close his eyes and lay down in the tent!

2010-07-01 7:54 AM
in reply to: #2953900

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The Original
7834
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Raleigh/Durham
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
I just did IM CDA and both my transitions were under 5 mins- that was my goal.  I kept my gear bags simple and it was a lot easier because I knew exactly what I wanted.  I wore the same tri top/shorts for the entire race and didn't change.  I also had a volunteer apply my sunblock in T2 which took a little time since it was a new bottle of sunblock and still had the seal on it that she had to remove- oops.  I never thought about that.  I also tied pink ribbon on my bags and that made it a lot easier to find them since they stuck out really well.  I didn't want to waste any time in transition because I knew that to reach my goal the extra mintutes might make a difference- which looking back I had 5 mins to spare to go sub 12:30.  If I had taken more time than I may have been over 12:30 so for me the shorter transitions really helped me hit my goal time.

BTW- IM Cozumel was my 2nd IM last year and both my transitions were under 5 mins as well.  IM FL was my first IM back in 2006 and both my transitions were close to 10-11 mins.  I did a full change in T1 since it was cold in the morning and I wanted dry clothes for the bike.  And I also changed my tri shorts in T2 and took my sweet old time.


TRANSITIONTIME
T1: SWIM-TO-BIKE4:49
T2: BIKE-TO-RUN3:01
  
2010-07-01 9:38 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Expert
1258
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Marin County, California
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
My St George T1 was almost 20 minutes...none of it resting. Got out of the water with numb hands and feet, since it was a cool day decided to change into full bike kit...oh wait, since I was so numb, I had to be dressed by an assistant, who graciously put me into full bike kit
2010-07-02 12:57 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Champion
10471
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Dallas, TX
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
My T2 was 20 mins. And I wasn't resting. Ha. I did give myself a hand towel bath though. Just felt gross.

2010-07-02 3:13 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Champion
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
I wasn't worried about heart rate or anything during transitions.  My only goal was to prepare for the next leg of the race which did include a minute to stop and assess before dashing out. 


2010-07-02 6:20 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Champion
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Fountain Hills, AZ
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
My IM transitions are in the 2-4 min range.
2010-07-02 6:57 PM
in reply to: #2959043

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The Original
7834
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Raleigh/Durham
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
bryancd - 2010-07-02 7:20 PM My IM transitions are in the 2-4 min range.

You are my hero!  I have found that the more IM's I do the faster my transitions times are.  Not sure if I could ever get down to 2 mins though- that is super speedy! I do think if I didn't try to run with bike shoes on I could go faster but I'm not all that coordinated to try leave them on my bike.  I might be able to swing the dismount, but definitely not the mounting part. 
2010-07-02 6:58 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Elite
2998
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Fishers, Indiana
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
I think transition times depend upon your lookout on the race. Are you out to race it and place as high in your AG as possible? Are you out to beat/meet a certain time you have set for yourself? Are you out there to complete 140.6 regardless of how long (under 17 hours of course)?  OR, better yet, answer this question: if your finish time is XX:XX:XX and your transition times are each around 10 minutes a piece, will you ask yourself, "I wonder if I hadn't spent that time in transition if I had finished faster? If you don't think that thought would seriously cross your mind, then take as much time as you want.  If it is going to cross your time, might want to speed it up a bit.  I finished my IM 1 min 49 secs after the start of a new hour.  I did my transitions the fastest I could....and the only way I could've cut time was not to put arm warmers on in T1.  My T2 was under 2 minutes.  Because I tackled it that way, and the rest of the race that day, I don't question "if I had only..." about my transition times, or really any other times in the race. I don't think taking any more time in Transition would've helped me go faster, I think I'd be better served moving slowly on the course in a forward motion vs. sitting static in transition.  But that's just my way of tackling it.
2010-07-02 7:38 PM
in reply to: #2953900

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Expert
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Liberty Lake, WA
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
T2 is were Ironman dreams go to die.  You want to get in and get out before your body knows what's going on.  If you take too long your body will figure out that you're planning to go run a marathon and then it will never want to leave.

IMCDA 2010, T2 = 1:07 (14th fastest for the day)
2010-07-03 9:14 AM
in reply to: #2959102

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The Original
7834
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Raleigh/Durham
Subject: RE: Rest during transitions?
T in Liberty Lake - 2010-07-02 8:38 PM T2 is were Ironman dreams go to die.  You want to get in and get out before your body knows what's going on.  If you take too long your body will figure out that you're planning to go run a marathon and then it will never want to leave.

IMCDA 2010, T2 = 1:07 (14th fastest for the day)


Wow!  You should get an award for that transition time!

The lady helping me in T2 suggested I sit down in a chair.  I told her I was afraid if I sat down I wouldn't be able to get back up.  Seriously- I did not want to sit.  I just wanted in and out. 


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