getting bigger but still do tris?

[Crotch]

is it possible to get bigger, as in, gain more muscle mass, get stronger, etc. basically the usual "look good naked" thing, but still be able to train successfully for a triathlon? So sue me, I'm not into the third world ethiopian look.

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

LOL, I am 20lbs heavier this year due to more wieghts over the off season....You can be big, and still fast....Your training will dictate that.

[TriBob]

Yes. I often get you don't look like a triathlete. Not as much anymore because people of all shapes and sizes are participating. :)

[Jaybird]

With my bald head, goatee, and tattoos, I usually get, "when did you get out of prison?" Seriously, TriBob's on the money...I spend a lot of time hitting weights still to maintain my hobbit look. ;) Triathlon's full of all kinds of body types.

[jrennie]

I pork up over the winter from gym use and less water loss and am just as fast as last fall

fall weight 141
current 144 :D

[Crotch]

yea, I'm about 5'6" and 120. I'm gonna try and start getting into tri's this summer with another guy who wants to start. I figure it'll be nice to start with someone with about the same abilities as me. It'll gimme something to do over the summer besides summer school too. Don't not wanna get too smarted now ya hear.

[cslone]

You'll be fine. I'm a hockey player at 6'1" 190 and pretty muscular. I'm in the top 40(generally at least 200 entrants) at every race overall and top 3 in my age group(25-29) exclusively. I'm obviously not a runner though. I guess it depends on how you carry it. At 5'6" and 120 you would be fine to put on 10 or so lbs of muscle.

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Holy crap.........lol, 120lbs is heavy........I am 6'5 220lbs....Though I am a fast swimmer and cyclist...I usualy die on the run. LOL, last race(september) I was 13th in the swim, 9th in the bike, and 140th in the run...out of 400. I dont know, but I may have found my problem area...

[jrennie]

LOL, last race(september) I was 13th in the swim, 9th in the bike, and 140th in the run...out of 400. I dont know, but I may have found my problem area...

Yeah, you suck in the bike portion :D

I am the other way, I get to watch everyone fly by in the swim and bike legs and pass them all in the run, hence the reason I like Du's

[spookypete1982]

I'm new to this forum but I am 6'1" and 220 and quicker than alot of people half my size. I got into tri's because I could be big and still be fast.

[Jaybird]

I got into tri's so I could see Chipcom in daisy sport bras and high heels smoking cigars. How about you? ;)

[Red is Faster!]

6' 4" 210 trying to maintain the "look good naked" thing (my favorite quote of the day).

It all depends on priorities. If you want to look like AHnolhd Swatzenwatever, then train like Ahnold. If you want to look like Peter Reid then alter your training.

I had an epihany this winter that has changed my outlook on ALL of my training. A friend of mine was an ex NFL defensive lineman for the Bucs. He said that when Ray Perkins became coach in 1985 (i think) he mandated all of his players were to run 2 miles in 12 minutes. That INCLUDED all of the lineman in the 95 degree 100% Florida humidity. He said he did it while 6'5" and 270 pounds.

I also listened to a talk radio guy talk about how FAST NFL linemen are. Yes I know football is not a tri, but it used to be that a 300 lbs guy was expected to be slow. Now they aren't.

I decided this winter that speed was a matter of your mind. What ever you decided to do, you did. My best 5K was 00:25:00 until last week. I ran that one in 00:22:04! I did that by joining a track group of 140 lbs skinny dudes. The coach works us out like the small guys. I have another friend who is 6'5" and 240 lbs who joined. He has expereinced the same results.

The other thing has been to not "blow my wad" on the swim and bike. I know I 'm fast there. I keep saying "build" in my mind. Build toward the finish. Don't go out too hot.

Oh yeah, swim shoulders look different than gym shoulders. They still look big, but they are more narrow from the side. That's the one thing I've noticed I lost. Girlfriend still likes me though ;-)

My $0.02 worth

Your mind is ALWAYS the weakest muscle of your body.

[aikigreg]

The fastest people in the world (sprinters) are also the most built of athletes (except the lifters and wrestlers, of course). So absolutely it's possible. I've never been a runner, but I kill them during the bike and swim portions because even though I have more muscle mass to push, I've got more muscle period. I'm also less inuury prone now.