Triathlon - Newbie questions

Hello all,

I am a runner trying to eventually transition into tris. I have a few questions about this

1. Is there such a thing as running/cycling eyewear - glasses I can wear for both disciplines.
2. I am training for a marathon and run 3-4 times a week. What kind of training regimen do you follow for tris in terms of swim,bike,run and weights - how much of each and how often?
3. I am a beginner swimmer and try to swim atleast 3 times a week for about 30 min.

Do you have any run/bike duathalons that you can recommend for beginners in Northern CA

Thanks in advance.

I just happened to be searching for a good tri to do this year and found this one that also has a duathon option

http://www.tbfracing.com/events/tri4fun2.html

1. I prefer rimless sunglasses, since the top rim isn't in the way when I'm down on aerobars. I'm fond of some polarized Tifosis, since they look more like regular sunglasses rather than bike-specific glasses, and I can wear them on the run just as well as on the bike.

Part of the answer to #2 and #3 depends on the tri distance you are targeting. Assuming a sprint as your first race, the 2 things that are the most different from your current long-run and short swim training are these:
a) swimming in a wetsuit in open water (especially in colder water) isn't like swimming in a pool, so the sooner you get used to this, the better off you will be. In the pool, focus on technique first, second, and third.

b) running off the bike is really not like standalone runs, especially for the first few races. Most sprint race bike legs are 12-15 miles long, so overdistance (say 1 hour) rides always followed by a run, no matter how short, will prepare you mentally for what this feels like. I have friends that are pretty good marathon runners (just over 3 hrs at Boston last week), making them *much* faster than I am at any distance over a mile in a pure running race. However, our run leg times from sprint to half iron are almost identical, and I've even beaten their run times a few of them in some races, because I arrive at the bike/run transition with more left in the tank they they do. My swim technique is better and I pace myself better on the bike than they do.

Unless your upper body is extraordinarily weak, I'd skip the weights if I were you unless I had a lot of spare time. As a new swimmer, I would find a tri-specific coach or team that focuses on technique and stroke improvement since that will give you more benefit than more strength.

Just got a pair of Oakley Radar sunglasses. They work great for both!

1) for cheap shades, check out the ones that Wal-Mart (and I cant believe I am suggesting even going in that place) sells in their sporting goods section. They say they are fishing shades, but they are really really light, polarized, and have rubber nose pads. The frame on the top is very thin and pretty easy to see around. I cant remember what brand they are sold under, but they have worked well for me. They don't even look that rediculous, and they were only 10 bucks

I found a house brand pair at performance bike for 25 bucks that had dark, orange, and clear lenses. They seem like they could be pretty fragile, but I have not had any trouble with them and like the options for lenses.

really any glasses will work- I also have a cheap pair from performance, and they work great. The different lenses are a must. As for training. I reccomend you focus on your weak discipline, but still train for the two others. A brick workout, consisting of a bike ride followed immediately by a run will drastically improve your tris, and you only need to do one or so a week.