Help needed from the experienced

[bikecarmel]

I am new to this sport and never raced, Im not new to cycling but started swimming and running only few months ago.anyways I train alone, and every time I only do 1 thing I mean bike/run/swim and never combine.I am very fit (I think) I have no problem to bike 100km or swim 3km or run 12+km.
yesterday I wanted to test how it goes for real all the 3 together.I know that I should have started with sprint but I went for the olympic.so the swim went ok, then the bike, I used my MTB because this is the bike I ride to the swimming pool, so it took me 1:40H to do the 40km because a.it was a MTB and b.it was very windy and I rode all the way inside the town because it was dark and I needed the street lights so I had to stop or slow here and there.anyway the ride went fine but then came the run and I really sufered.
even that I sufered a lot I really wanted to finish this and so I did but I had cramps and my knees felt so bad like never before.my time was 3:36 (reduce 8 min. of administrative time: lock, unlock the bike, and my cyclocomputer fell and I had to reset it).
This was yesterday, today I feel better then ever.the pain is gone and everything is ok.
the question is this :
There is a race here in May/21.I really want to register for the olympic age groups, there is also sprint groups in this race (and also 1/2 ironman) but I know that if I will do "only" the sprint I will feel that I really missed something.There are races after that too but then its summer and really hot so I dont think that I will want to race then.
So what is you experts advise ? do the sprint ? the olympic ?
(I know for sure that I can reduce 20 min. on my racing bike and 3 min. in the swim because when I swim in the pool I stop at the wall because Im not good in flips but at the race we swim in the lake)

Thanks
Carmel

[EarlT]

The bike/run transition is generally considered to be the most difficult part of triathlon.
I recommend incorporating such a transition into your regular workout. Once your body gets used to making the transition, it's much less painfull.
I had considerable difficulty in my fist race because i had never run off the bike. Since then, i have rarely gone running without first spending at least 10-20 minutes on a bike - has made all the difference.
Go for the olympic distance - good luck!!

[bikecarmel]

Thanks a lot Earlt- this is what I wanted to hear, I will go for the olympic.
Also thanks for the advise , from now on I will bike 10-20 min. before every run.

[audiojan]

Sounds like you will do just fine in an Oly distance. Since this is your first, don't expect everything to go perfect, but just accept that there will be problems and unforseen obsticles. Live and learn.

Usually, if you do 70-75% of the event together, the adrenaline of raceday will take care of the rest.

[cjbruin]

You need to start doing bike/run "bricks"

Check out...
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/Enrico%20Contolini/Introduction_to_bricks.htm

Keep us posted on your progress.

[bikecarmel]

Thanks guys, sure I will keep you posted on the progress,
I just returned from one of my best rides ever, the weather was so perfect, and I knew why I love cycling so much.