I see that my nearest tri event (club) is in Harlow and they do a short event for beginners. Maybe I'll give it a go this summer - along with some TTs. I'm sure I'll be useless, but there's only one way to get better!
There's always someone slower than you. That's a rule, especially if I'm in the field (in my first one, it was a guy with a wooden leg). The organisers usually start a race in waves - elites, women, men, crew - so that the road disruption is as short as possible. The elites get a free run, and the setup crew (marshals and the like - the organising club, usually) go last as they don't need marshals.
It's not uncommon for novices to post 1:45-ey sorts of times - I do! And there's always a leathery old chap in speedos who comes in very last :D
Alas tri totty is quite exceptional. It's ver' distracting ;)
Presumably the incentive to improve is to get further away from the leathery speedo-wearer and nearer to the toned tri hotties? :D
I've only ever done one sprint one before, and that's a few years ago. I had to learn front crawl. A few months ago I couldn't string more than a couple of lengths together, but now, with proper technique I can pretty much swim for as long as I like. I just need to get faster so I can make the cut-off time ;-)
and careful rereading of total immerion (and following the exercises therein).
I don't think much of this global warming lark: the lake is so cold that the race organisers for my upcoming race have issued a warning that the swim may be short or cancelled. I need a rubber ducky.
(http://www.leftist.org/haightspeech/archives/images/rubberduck_02.jpg)
(fixies aren't allowed)eh? I've always found Tri a strange sport (basically it's a getting-dressed race, isn't it?),
It is! :)
You might want to give the Timex women-only race day a look:
http://www.humanrace.co.uk/womenonly/index.html
The venue has a great reputation (I've not raced there myself but plan to), and there are a range of distances being raced on the day. Plus there's plenty of time to recover in time for the Dun Run.
:hand:
Back to your sick bed Annie!
but feel free to post pics of you in a tri suit ... :P
All the better :thumbsup:
I can't talk, got home at 6 yesterday and went to bed until 9:30.
Stuck a torch down my throat & it's nastily inflamed :sick:
Still in work though , I'll see what the GP says on Monday. Looks like another weekend of doing housework, although I'm going to the Liverpool Philharmonic on Saturday for some Russian classical. My parents are going as well so we'll probably have a little drink.
Hope you are feeling better.
Getting-dressed race? You're welcome to try one... :demon:You couldn't let that lie, could you ...
The fourth thing to practice is transition: the changeover. Closer to the race, start doing combination workouts of swim-bike and bike-run (I set my running shoes ready when I get home from my commute, for example, or just ride to the pool and back). The swim-bike transition is pretty straightforward at this distance (at longer distances you get woozy as you've been lying down for so long!). The bike-run transition feels weird so it's good to do it a few times.
Fixies aren't allowed, arguably because a lot of triathletes are not primarily cyclists, and so the danger of numpting it up gets amplified. Anyway, on most courses they'd be the worst choice.
This is like mine but mine is black. So, so comfortable, although it does hug the bottom somewhat.
I can see why Triathlon is so popular, but it seems riddled with little issues that put me off (like the several hours I need to swim 500m) Banning fixed gear seems like another stupid rule to me - for gawd's sake, who introduced "tri"bars?!?
I don't mean any offence. The sport fascinates (especially the differences in bike gear/technique/etc), but it's just not for me.
Good to see I'm not the only sighting master in the water (looked like lovely conditions though!).
Triathletes always eat more.... Audaxing triathletes doubly so, I expect.
must have overtaken a good 800 people.
Alas my peak event for the year - a half-Ironman - had to be called off at the last minute as a lightning lurgy short through me leaving me a snotty, coughing, very grumpy wreck. :(
RW's Intermediate Triathlon Training Schedule - Runner's World Racing (http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=2310)
Just opened my book with Tewkesbury sprint, and a very strong PB. A gusty wet bike meant lots of the athletes who weren't primarily cyclists were taking it easy or being battered by the wind. My back held out on the aerobars all the time except for a couple of grades where it got slow enough that there was no loss, when I could stretch out. I'm closing in on evens for a bike leg. The tri totty I was chasing didn't hurt either; I'm no greyhound but that was a very nommy rabbit.
(Someone's going to track her down and point her to that now... ::-) )
Oh dear. It was a rather worrying moment for me yesterday when I realised there were only 11 weeks until my first ever triathlon :-\ How this all came about was last September in a pub (of course) when someone uttered the words that bring a shiver to my spine whenever I hear them, "I bet you can't do one of those triathlon thingies, go on I dare you". :demon:
So, spurred on bybeermy competitive spirit, I got home and entered one. Did I opt for a sensible sprint distance. Of course not. Silly Pippa, I went straight in for an Olympic distance (only £5 or so more expensive for double the fun - a bargain to be had!). I now fear I may have bitten off more than I can chew.
So I find myself wondering how things will pan out. When I entered last September I had not been on a bike for about, oooo, 5 or so years, I hadn't been swimming since my last sun holiday (and to be honest that was more of the lilo surfing kind than actual swimming), and I had just completed my first ever 5K run (which was more like a third run and the rest walk).
With 11 weeks to go, I am running about 5 miles twice a week, I cycled about 120 miles over the weekend and I am swimming 1.5km in a pool in about 38 mins. I know it'll be tough, but I'm hoping mypig headednessdetermination will get me through on the day. I'll certainly be a back of the packer, but I'm not there to break any records, just to finish. And that will give me a goal to beat next year :D
Benefits so far - my bottom doesn't block out as much of the sun as it used to, I don't lose my finger when I poke my thigh, and my knees do not look like a family of slugs have taken up residence under the skin (well, OK, there might still be a few baby slugs lurking around). These must all surely be good things :thumbsup: Oh, and I've discovered I really quite enjoy cycling. Even bigger :thumbsup:
So the countdown now begins in earnest. In typical Pippa fashion, I have left a lot of things until the last minute like BRIC sessions, get a wetsuit, try an open water swim etc etc.
It will certainly be a challenge and to say I am nervous would be the understatement of the century. But hey, isn't that all part of the fun? ;D
Wish me luck people! I will most certainly need it. Hopefully in 11 weeks I'll be able to report that I am a fully fledged triathlete.
Today I found out my start time for London. 06:30 :oI think Mrs J has the same start time.
....
Anyone else from here doing the London tri?
damn, i seem to have entered a triathlon. I've got a couple of months, so time to re-learn to swim!
Today I found out my start time for London. 06:30 :oI think Mrs J has the same start time.
....
Anyone else from here doing the London tri?
damn, i seem to have entered a triathlon. I've got a couple of months, so time to re-learn to swim!
right at the end of september: http://www.justracinguk.com/event/roade-triathlon-pool-sprint, near northampton.
Pool swim, sprint distance, lots of Total Novices (well, me at least).
Behold the searchulator: British Triathlon Federation (http://www.britishtriathlon.org/events/index.php)
I need to find an 'audax pace' which I can keep up for a while... any tips? Right now it's all or nothing and nothing seemed to come around quite a lot quicker than I expected :) I'm still shaking slightly now, an hour after getting out.
& mixed changing rooms? What's all that about?
Thanks!
Good luck Andy (YHPM) and Mrs J and anyone else taking part (around 14,000 I've heard :o)
I need to find an 'audax pace' which I can keep up for a while... any tips?
I'm number 4984, yep first wave.
I made a very hand wavingly vague estimate of three hours or so to finish this
Saturday was sprints, Sunday was Olympics. The results server is being hammered, bless, and it'll be fine in time (I'd leave it until after Monday lunchtime for the office-proud-parents rush!).
right at the end of september: http://www.justracinguk.com/event/roade-triathlon-pool-sprint, near northampton.
Pool swim, sprint distance, lots of Total Novices (well, me at least).Bah, can't make that day.
Saturday was sprints, Sunday was Olympics. The results server is being hammered, bless, and it'll be fine in time (I'd leave it until after Monday lunchtime for the office-proud-parents rush!).
Noted :thumbsup:
Rob
Mrs J came in at 2:35:35 which is causing some pride in the J household.
Nice one Pippa, sorry about missing the pub but I was a zombie.
Just entered. Short pool swim, 20k bike route, 5k run. It can't be that bad, surely?
*recalls inability to swim or run*
Oh yes. :-\
... any other things I should remember?
Well, I did it :)
I shall be doing more of this next year.
Well, I did it :)
Managed the 414m swim in at 11:12, the 20k bike at 43:28 and the 5k run at 30:18. Add a handful of dawdling in transition and the grand total was 1:30:08, which I'm chuffed with.
I shall be doing more of this next year.
19th out of 29 in my age group, 454 overall :)
That's a really weird set of distances!
I've got my first triathlon of the year in 10 days, a nearly-Olympic distance up in Keswick.
800m swim in freezing cold Derwent water
10k run up, round & back down Ulla Crag (yes, that's quite hilly)
40k bike ride, fairly flat considering where it is. Sort of goes to penrith and back then a loop of Derwent.
& I'm shi77ing myself already :o
the swim should be OK and the bike should be fine, but I did a hilly run session last night and it nearly killed me doing 6 repeats of a 40m hill, and I was actually slower downhill than i was uphill. In 10 days, I've got a 300m climb (in < 1 mile of running) *after* a couple of hours of swimming and cycling. Walking or :sick: might feature quite a lot....
Any results yet?
Last year in good shape and hot weather, with some drama; 1:26:00. This year in bad shape and cool windy weather, with no drama: 1:26:11. I think the lesson here is: get in shape and then KISS.
keep it something & simple?
keep it something & simple?
Keep it simple, stupid.
Since the swim is not in delicious tasty custard,
I thought backstroke was not permitted - so you should be fine :thumbsup:
Appreciate that it's Age-group (55-59), and maybe duathlon isn't as competitive as triathlon but I'm unbelievably pleased - on the verge of tears, even, if that doesn't sound too melodramatic!
Oh dear oh dear, BADtri - Bristol's big, very good tri club - are running a pilot race in August with an open-water dock swim and a chunk of closed Portway to ride on. Oh dear oh dear oh dear, I seem to have entered or something... ::-) ;D
Am really tempted to start, parly because loads of people at work do them, and my brother is just starting, but I'd need to get swimming lessons first, as I am so slow my wife can do 3 lengths in the time I can do 1. The ride and the run should be fine. Has anyone else had adult lessons for technique?
Am really tempted to start, parly because loads of people at work do them, and my brother is just starting, but I'd need to get swimming lessons first, as I am so slow my wife can do 3 lengths in the time I can do 1. The ride and the run should be fine. Has anyone else had adult lessons for technique?
It can be done but it's hard work. As an adult it's much easier to learn to run or ride a bike than it is to learn to swim well. I'd hate to put you off though. If you're prepared for the long slog then go for it.
It's a hell of a lot easier to learn with physical coaching than it is with books, videos or advice from the internet.
If you're someone who can learn a new thing - a sport or a dance or whatever - then it's eminently doable.
[Agreed. I wasn't trying to put the good doctor off, merely to warn him not to expect acquiring an efficient swimming style to be a trivial matter. On the plus side there is a lot of satisfaction to be derived from acquiring a skill that doesn't come easily.
I'd warned him it was harder after a bike ride but he hadnt ever tried it!
1. I couldn’t breathe in the lake …
Someone from GB Triathlon emailed Mrs J to say that based on her performance at the Dambuster she's on the reserve list for Budapest and would she be available. Now I know it's age-group and it's only a reserve list, but am I proud? What do you think?
Only thing is my company want me at a conference in Florida just then, which presents a child-care problem, but if she gets the call we shall find a way.
The thing is that she's only really just started racing. There's still loads of room to improve.
Someone from GB Triathlon emailed Mrs J to say that based on her performance at the Dambuster she's on the reserve list for Budapest and would she be available. Now I know it's age-group and it's only a reserve list, but am I proud? What do you think?
Only thing is my company want me at a conference in Florida just then, which presents a child-care problem, but if she gets the call we shall find a way.
The thing is that she's only really just started racing. There's still loads of room to improve.
That's what credit cards are for :demon:Rock onSomeone from GB Triathlon emailed Mrs J to say that based on her performance at the Dambuster she's on the reserve list for Budapest and would she be available. Now I know it's age-group and it's only a reserve list, but am I proud? What do you think?
Only thing is my company want me at a conference in Florida just then, which presents a child-care problem, but if she gets the call we shall find a way.
The thing is that she's only really just started racing. There's still loads of room to improve.
She's not a reserve any more. She's going!
She just rang to ask if we can afford it. I don't care whether we can or not. She's going. Have to see whether the kids and I can get there.
no, we wont babysit. :)
She's not a reserve any more. She's going!
Someone from GB Triathlon emailed Mrs J to say that based on her performance at the Dambuster she's on the reserve list for Budapest and would she be available. Now I know it's age-group and it's only a reserve list, but am I proud? What do you think?
Only thing is my company want me at a conference in Florida just then, which presents a child-care problem, but if she gets the call we shall find a way.
.
She's not a reserve any more. She's going!
She just rang to ask if we can afford it. I don't care whether we can or not. She's going. Have to see whether the kids and I can get there.
Good luck Mike and the J's :thumbsup:
I am a DNS for tomorrow :-[
avoids the putting it off till eternity syndrome.
There were loads of people doing it much faster but also a satisfactory number of people doing it much slower. :)
lower 30th percentile - not off the back, but in the middle of the back of the pack.
Hell, I score 35 minutes for these. It's a behemoth thing.
What, no superhero suit? Not even one in the sale? (http://www.distance.co.uk/Tri-Suits/More-Mile-Mens-Tri-Suit.html)
Or a Wiggle cheapie (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/triathlon/10/Orca_Equip_Mens_Tri_Suit_ss10/5360050699/?referid=frogoog&source=googleps)?
:demon:
The spend comes from the fact that when you mash up three sports, you mash up three courses.
Hever Castle is an outdoor swim for all distances, I think.
panic attack in the swim
*envious*
If it wasn't for the amount of training I'd have to do, I'd really want a stab at one of those.
You've got lovely weather for it. Which one is it?
So what next?
I got a nice missive the other day - email from British Triathlon to say I'd been selected in Great Britain Age Group Team for the 2010 Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships.
Thirteen weeks to go, and I'm not currently running due to achilles pain - but I'm sure it will be fine!!
I've written a longer race report if anyone is interested?
The elite men’s race will be shown live on the BBC Red Button this Saturday 11 September from 11.55am with highlights on BBC1 from 3.20pm. The elite women’s race will be shown live on the BBC Red Button on Sunday 12 September from 1pm with highlights from 4.00pm on BBC2.
The 7Oaks Triathlon to be held on Sunday 10th April 2011 has now sold out. The waitlist is also full.
good work JJ! It was a matter of time before you gave in and had a go... How much quicker is Mrs JJ? ;D
I marshalled at Walden last year, it's a really friendly event.
This year I shan't be doing any audax. Instead it'll beOther way round for myself. Looking forward to the Mersey 24. Only been wanting to do it for five years
Cambridge Boundary Run at the beginning of March
Bedford Sprint 1 in April,
Bedford sprint and Mad Cow sprint in May
Henley Swim in June (shall I breakfast at Leander after?)
Bedford classic in July
Bedford Sprint 3 in October
I'd like to do a long one but a) I'm scared b) they're bloody inconveniently timed c) they cost a fortune.
The Missus is going for the Dambuster and London Marathon, and the kids will do something in the Eastern League plus the club ones.
Yikes!
Anyone else got plans?
Are they all this expensive? I could buy BEER and PIES with that money and still have change for an inner tube or two.
So, last night I was out with some friends and their friends. And talk turned to Hever Castle Triathlon, and how they have a relay event. presumably this is teams of three, handing over a soggy electronic baton at the transition.In the only triathlon relay I've seen (on telly), each competitor did all 3 disciplines.
Hever castle is one of the dearest, I think. It's a beautiful venue ...For comparison, typical open bike TT (10m or 25m) is a fiver to enter.
... bricks? I'm thinking of going down to the track at Fowlmead - the main attraction is being able to leave my bike somewhere secure while doing the running.One of our club does the evening '10' and immediately sets off for a similar duration run (I usually see him running along the TT course). His bike can stay with the other finishers/timekeepers etc at the finish/sign-on area. Dunno if this helps.
I can ride 180km at 30kph - if it's pan flat. I bet it wasn't ... but without climbing figures, Bro's ride is hard to assess.
Yep, I think there are some significant hills on the IM Nice course, you can see their effect in some of those bike splits.
Saying that, his bike split is probably the one that needs working on. Someone able to run a 3:42 IM marathon should probably be about half an hour quicker on the bike.
I was passed by a bunch of 6 or 7 going through-and-off on the second lap of Roth a couple of years ago. I sat up, let them ride through and got on with my race. A travelling marshal overtook me not long after. A few km up the road I overtook them all as they sat in a penalty tent, waiting out their 4-minute penalty :)
Most triantelopes who could run and cycle like that would be looking to do the swim around 11½ minutes.
Those are pretty similar to my kind of times, except that your run is a bit quicker.
11:35 and 3rd in age group so over the moon!
F-you, hip! Knee, stop being such a pain in the ass.
Note that you could gain a minute or more just from swimming in a wetsuit, as opposed to in a pool in a swimsuit.
A word of warning though - you can lose all that advantage, and more, by being too stressed out in an open-water race swim scenario. Even the strongest, most confident swimmers can suffer moments of panic in the swim and although with most of my races I've just got in the water and got on with it, I've occasionally been unnerved and it can ruin your race. You see people being fished out of the water at every triathlon, panicked and hyperventilating. It's worth getting down to your local triathlon club and finding out if they do open water swim training so you can gain a little pre-race experience.
Note that you could gain a minute or more just from swimming in a wetsuit, as opposed to in a pool in a swimsuit.
That's interesting! Maybe I'm not as slow as I thought... (wishful thinking)
Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I think you're of a similar standard to me Citoyen, and I can vouch that wetsuits help those of us less naturally fish-like disproportionately.
Sounds to me more like not enough warm up and warm down.
How much running are you getting in overall D.?
Dear Great Britain Age-Group Team athletes,
You are receiving this message because you have qualified for the 2013 Belfort ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships!
looks like I've now got my name down for the Olympic distance.
He's aiming for a sub 12 hour time in the Panama Beach City Florida Ironman in November.
He's probably down for the London Olympic distance (lets hope for better weather this year!)
70-80 MPW!?!! Where do you find the time?She never sleeps and runs twice as fast as us lesser mortals ;)
I can't contain myself any longer.Quote from: British TriathlonDear Great Britain Age-Group Team athletes,
You are receiving this message because you have qualified for the 2013 Belfort ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships!
It's a sodding cheek for me to have put myself forward for this, based on my one and only iron-distance, but I DON'T CARE. Now I've got just under 5 months to train hard enough not to be laughed at on the day. To say I'm excited would be like describing Vostok Station as chilly or Everest as biggish.
"David. Swim 00:37:36, Bike 01:14:38, Run 00:58:23, Total 02:57:05. Congratulations from the Virgin Active London Triathlon!"
For the record: A year's training, new wheels and a second-hand pointy hat resulted in....1 minute gained! 11:33:07, 6th in age group, 75th overall, and now I ache.
A word of thanks, however, to Father Thames for his contribution to my weight loss programme.
URGENT!
Following the London Bike Show, TRI UK had two vans stolen containing approx £250,000 worth of top end bikes, frames and triathlon equipment! The hire vans were stolen from the Travel Lodge Excel car park at approx 1.58am on Monday 17th Feb.
Both vans had tracking devices on them. The tracking company located one of the vans on Newham Way, Newham, London. The Police managed to locate the vehicle but have now since lost it. The other van has not been located at all.
Many of the bikes stolen are extremely limited in supply. A number of the bikes are literally the only ones available in the UK. TRI UK are asking all cyclists, cycle stores and any other interested parties to contact them if they have any information regarding the vans or the stock. A reward of up to £100,000 is being offered by TRI UK for information that leads to the recovery of all of their stock.
Van details: Ford Transit Luton Box vans with ‘Dorset Vehicle Rentals’ in green decals. Registrations numbers: DY12 FJF and DV61 DJE.
Please contact ali@triuk.com or call the TRI UK store on 01935 414142 or dial 999
Did my first triathlon today.
A 4-18-4.
Lesson learned today: Transition from swim to bike
Is hard, now I know why people wear earplugs.
I was dizzy trying to run to my bike and put in shoes.
But managed to finish in respectable 1h20 minutes.