General Discussion Triathlon Talk » What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2013-08-05 10:40 PM

User image


128
10025
, California
Subject: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
I am well into a month training for my first tri and started worrying a bit about how slow I am and how I need to get my distance/speed up. Can anyone give me a good guide line for how much time I should aim for in the swim and bike portion.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.


2013-08-05 10:43 PM
in reply to: 0

User image

Pro
15655
5000500050005001002525
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
If you get your swim to 2:00/100 yards and your bike avg. speed to 16.5 mph you will be firmly MOP for women in most local races.

Edited by Left Brain 2013-08-05 10:44 PM
2013-08-05 11:42 PM
in reply to: Left Brain

User image

Extreme Veteran
792
500100100252525
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
First race? as long as you're not moving backwards, you're doing just fine.
2013-08-06 12:56 AM
in reply to: #4822005

User image


928
50010010010010025
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
Check out the results of that race from year's past to get a feeling of where you'll be in the mix. No need to worry about being "too slow" unless they have cutoff times, which they might for the swim. In my last sprint race they had a cutoff time of 28 min for 700m for the swim (4:00/100m).
2013-08-06 5:42 AM
in reply to: Trbilbao


15

Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
I wouldn't worry about times. I did my first sprint tri in march and was nervous big time! My swim was slow, first transition even slower, a good bike time, and I somehow busted out a 25:32 5k!?! Before the sprint my best 5k was around 28:30 with fresh legs. I still can't explain it. That's still the only tri I've done so far but I'm still training and still not worried about times. I now run around 5-6.5 miles about 4 times a week and on the weekends try to get in a 15-25 mile bike with a 5k also. My goal is to keep improving, once I decide to pick out my next tri to be in that's when I'll look at the clock.

Long story short, enjoy it and you will probably do better than you expect. My goal of the sprint I completed was to finish! Much to my surprise I placed well in my age group.
2013-08-06 6:00 AM
in reply to: Henry28

User image

Champion
7036
5000200025
Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint

Echoing what the other have said, your objectives in your first race should be to get to the finish and have fun.  Most folks who try to hit a target time on their first race go out too fast, which can result in a miserable day.

Learning to pace yourself over the entire race is one of the keys to triathlon.  Always better to go out a bit slow and pick up your pace during the race.

Also, be sure to practice your transitions: you can pick up "free time" there.

Mark



2013-08-06 6:07 AM
in reply to: Trbilbao

User image

Pro
5892
5000500100100100252525
, New Hampshire
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
x4 (I think we're up to)...

First race should never be about speed or placing... it's a learning experience. All most everyone doing their first race will make mistakes/miscalculations. For the first race (and probably the second and third), think about what you did well, what didn't go so well and what you need work on. One thing that I've found helped me out a lot was to keep a log for the days before the race, the race day, document the race, and what you felt like afterwards. Think about training the days before, what you ate, liquids you took in, sleep pattern, etc. For race day, write down what you packed, how you set up transition, your feelings, etc. Then during the race, write down what you did well, what didn't go so well, pacing, etc. The whole idea is to document everything so you can use it as a future reference guide. You already know what works for you so you can stick to it. By writing down feelings, you also have a mental reminder what to expect.
2013-08-06 10:31 AM
in reply to: audiojan


27
25
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
Allow me to continue to pile on. For your first triathlon, I suggest the only goals you set are to finish and enjoy the experience.
2013-08-06 10:35 AM
in reply to: 0

User image

Pro
15655
5000500050005001002525
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
Yeah, my original comment was meant more as a guideline, since you had asked.  I was trying to convey the idea that you don't need to be nearly as fast as you probably think you do in order to have a great race.......the overwhelming majority of people who do triathlon are not fast....and really, nobody cares anyway.  You'll see.  Have fun!

Edited by Left Brain 2013-08-06 10:35 AM
2013-08-06 12:21 PM
in reply to: Trbilbao

User image

Veteran
214
100100
, Nova Scotia
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
Your time should be a FUN-time; a GOOD-time; an ENJOYABLE-time; a MEMORABLE-time.

Worry about the rest later.
2013-08-06 12:31 PM
in reply to: Trbilbao

User image


128
10025
, California
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
I should have stated in my original post , I am not even thinking about competeing, just not GETTING KICKED OFF THE COURSE . I am going in with my big Trek 7300.



2013-08-06 12:46 PM
in reply to: Left Brain

User image

New user
205
100100
Athens, GA
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
Originally posted by Left Brain

Yeah, my original comment was meant more as a guideline, since you had asked.  I was trying to convey the idea that you don't need to be nearly as fast as you probably think you do in order to have a great race.......the overwhelming majority of people who do triathlon are not fast....and really, nobody cares anyway.  You'll see.  Have fun!


That's good, because if I had seen your 16.5 mph advice before my first sprint, I would have been pretty discouraged, where I ended up well under 15mph. Even this year, doing the same race for the second time, I barely cleared the 16.5 you cited, and I was in the top 1/3 of women on the bike. Races and individuals can vary so widely.

To the OP, check last year's results and compare to your training paces, and check the race website to see if they have any cutoffs. You're overwhelmingly unlikely to be last, and in my experience I've always had some race day magic that made at least one of my disciplines come in way ahead of my expectations. You'll do great!
2013-08-06 2:24 PM
in reply to: Trbilbao

User image

Extreme Veteran
534
50025
Herriman, Utah
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
My guesses would be:
Leaders: 8 min swim. 30 min bike, 22 min run, 1 min transitions= 1:01
FOP:10 min swim. 35 min bike, 22 min run, 1:30 min transitions= 1:12
MOP:12 min swim. 40 min bike, 24 min run, 2 min transitions= 1:16-1:30
BOP: 15 min swim. 50 min bike, 28 min run, 3 min transitions= 1:36-1:50
2013-08-06 5:14 PM
in reply to: xatefrogg

User image


257
1001002525
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
You will be fine.

You can check my race log, but my first I completed in 1h50min for a ~17mile race. Everyone passed me on the bike and those that hadn't passed me on bike, passed me on the run. I'll learn how to go fast next year :-)

Have fun!
2013-08-06 10:51 PM
in reply to: LPJmom

User image


239
10010025
Subject: RE: What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint
I would like to add a slightly different take from the crowd.  I completed my 1st tri (sprint) last month.  Being fairly competitive, having fun for me meant doing well within parameters I thought were reasonable.  Just finishing would not have been fun for me if I thought my times were beneath my perceived level of fitness.  That being said, I wasn't looking to podium.  I looked at the times for the middle of my AG pack (58 competitors in 2012), compared them to my training times, and set goals that way.  My goal was top 1/2 (succeeded: 21/62) with a hope for top 20 (just missed).  I beat my goal for the swim and run while equaling the mph goal (but not AG place) for the bike.  While those aren't earth-shattering numbers, I had a lot of fun.  I guess that's all a long-winded way of saying goal setting and having fun are not mutually exclusive, as long as you are realistic.  And I would like to finish with this: HAVE FUN!
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » What should my swim/bike time be for First Timer - Sprint Rss Feed  
RELATED POSTS

Super Sprint in 2 months, first timer ?s

Started by nickpoz
Views: 835 Posts: 4

2012-11-29 9:59 AM tkos

First timer times for mini

Started by fleetfeet_ch
Views: 1070 Posts: 8

2009-05-27 12:20 PM fleetfeet_ch

First timer for HIM- 18 weeks enough time?

Started by Playingfullout
Views: 1035 Posts: 4

2008-11-17 11:01 AM kmill23

Tips for a First Timer @ Sprint TRI

Started by lmrebodos
Views: 2052 Posts: 22

2008-08-14 9:21 AM NC Runner

First timers swim wave?

Started by DRLski
Views: 830 Posts: 7

2005-07-06 9:50 AM run4yrlif
RELATED ARTICLES
date : November 21, 2011
author : etra77
comments : 0
Aunt and Nephew do their first Sprint Triathlon together
 
date : October 7, 2008
author : blitzney
comments : 1
Home for the summer, lab tech college student trains and completes first triathlon!
date : September 8, 2008
author : pjwalzphd
comments : 2
When I told my husband that I planned to work toward completing a sprint triathlon, he smiled and was supportive, but a bit disbelieving.
 
date : August 13, 2008
author : SmBkRn450
comments : 1
A friend of mine asked me to run for her in a sprint triathlon. I agreed, but I continued to regret it, as I had been training for nothing longer than 400 m for the past three months.
date : May 5, 2008
author : TriPainter
comments : 1
I went into the pool area (as this was a pool swim) and got body marked. That's when it hit me that I was there to race - this was not a clinic.
 
date : April 1, 2008
author : trvw
comments : 0
The challenge? The accomplishment? I want to do this because it is an opportunity to live life. The event is an indoor sprint triathlon. I get to experience the challenge on a safer scale.
date : January 30, 2006
author : acbadger
comments : 0
Should I have time goals for the first sprint? Should I just finish the race at a reasonable pace? I'm not sure how to approach this.
 
date : September 4, 2004
author : surfking
comments : 0
On August 31 I officially became a triathlete. With a big day ahead of me I went to bed early the night before. I woke up at 4:45 am. I was full of energy and ready to go!