New to Orange County, CA

Thanks so much! That will definately be a help.

When will I know when I am ready? I am so excited to attempt my first race!

Heather

Welcome Heather!  Just get started!  And when you are able to run a while, add in intervals (run fast for 30-90 sec, follow with a recovery) - this increases your speed (just like it does in swimming).  Also long slow runs help develop your endurance.  Get good shoes and stretch after running.  Run with a friend or a walkman to prevent being bored.  Good luck and keep us posted!

first, u need to find a distance of a race - sprint or olympic that you can train up to given the time of the race.   www.trifind.com has a good race listing.  most of the plans on the site are for 4 months training till u race...of course with your prior experience in swim and bike, you may be able to start later in one of the programs.  Start off in a program where u are comfortable...not too easy, not too hard...remember, the programs are just guidlines...u can tweak them...the essence is training each discipline 2-3 times/week and only increasing in distance by 10%/week AND taking a 'rest week' once a month where you only do about 60% of your normal training.   thats the gist.

I'd suggest the book Triathlon 101. It gives a good overview of the sport and how to get started. Good luck.

Triathlon 101 is a great book and it will give you confidence preparing for triathlons. An excellent compnaion to it is "How To Train," a classic on running programs for beginners to elites, running 3ks to ultra marathons. Good luck and keep us posted on your successes.

Hey,
I am in the same boat, I am a swimmer turned triathlon nut. Running is my worst part also, before my first tri I did a 5 mile run race, it helped a lot for my cofidence and most of the sprint tris are not that far.

So where did you swim? What events? I was a flyer mostley, and my coach use to yell at me all the time cause I just don't kick when I swim free, and since it is best if you save your legs for the bike and run I started doing triathlons.

Thank You all so much.

I am already feeling more confident in this. I will definately keep you posted.

Any other comments are so appreciated.

Heather ;-)

Niketown in Costa Mesa (19th & Newport Blvd.) has a running club. They meet on Wednesdays and run in two groups; one does 3 miles, and the other does 6.

I've not been yet, but have considered checking it out now that we have good evening light for the summer.

Certainly the good runners in the group will be able to help you out on form and other running tips (I come from a swim background too and could certainly use the advice as well).

-Adam

Thanks again!

I work in Irvine, that would be perfect. I'll check it out and let you know the status.

Heather

Welcome!

i learned from 'triathloning for ordinary mortals'  has a couch to run progam then an olympic program...will get u acrossed the finish line definitley.

sweet the OC!  Welcome!!