Triathlon - My First Triathlon

Ok guys, I am doing Saguaroman International distance triathlon in Arizona in April so that leaves me 136days out. Currently my training is going as such:

Biking-25mi
Run-3.5
I am starting swimming next week and plan to swim .5mi

So my questions are such.

1. Does my training seem on track? What is yours like?

2.For the cycling portion do I need to carry my spare tires ect. with me or is there a system support vehicles of some sort? (General answers please, I will find out event specifics)

3. When to start Carbloading and other training diet tips?

4. Recovery tips?

I appreciate all the help, and am throughly addicted to this sport err sports and I haven't even competed yet. If I can think of any other questions I will update this thread.

-Ethan Jeffers

Ok guys, I am doing Saguaroman International distance triathlon in Arizona in April so that leaves me 136days out. Currently my training is going as such:Dude, you're taking it far too seriously! Bt all means train and be confident you can make the distance, but tri number one is purely to finish and have fun. Don't sweat the details too much, just have a ball and knock 'em dead in number two:)

/k

Training - My winter is all about base, long easy stuff. I'll get faster and more race-specific when it's light enough to see where I'm going ;)

Swim - Build up to a bit over the race distance at least (which will be closer to 1mi).

Tools - Depends on whether you're racing for time or for acheivement. A gas cylinder and spare tube are the fastest fix; some riders go out with two tubes, two cylinders, a pump, patches, and everything else. Worst I've seen personally is three flats in one race of that distance, but he was cursed.

Recovery - Sleep is your friend. Everyone neglects it.

I assume that the distances you referenced are per workout and not per week, correct? How many times per week do you do each sport?

In any case, I agree with andygates on the base training. For the time being, just make sure you're getting the miles in and don't worry about going fast. Most tri prep programs are 13 weeks long so you should plan on base training until at least mid-January and probably longer.

Most Olympic length events won't have a support vehicle for the bike so be prepared to fix your own flat. I typically am prepared for one flat in Sprints and Oly's, two in longer events.

There's lots of debate regarding carbo loading and whether it is really even a good idea. I typically have a pasta dinner two nights before the event. Otherwise, just eat a sensible diet...I personally eat like a teenager :)

Recovery - If you're about ready to do a workout and you have pain that's making you miserable, go back inside and watch Myth Busters or something. Get good sleep.

I am no expert but this might help you as I seek out advice.

My advice - buy a basic plan at beginner triathlete or through joe friel's training site. Its cheap.

I would also buy a book - Gail Bernardt or the most popular but technical Joe Friel - Triathlete training bible.

Other advice:
Bricks: Do a lot of bricks to get used to bike then run
Train to 1.25 time the distance and I would do longer rides
Crank up speed 2 mts out
Carb loading - just increase carbs 2-3 days out - graze on good cereal all day etc vs one day load.
Transition - practice
Food/Hydration - dial in exactly what you need and do not change it day of race.

Thanks everyone for the great advice so far I will be sure to head to the bookstore and look into those books. As for now I am cycling and running four days a week and swimming one with the other two rest. I am going on vacation and will be off the bike for 16 days so I plan on doing a lot of running and open water swimming as well as Yoga. I fear my weakness is going to be in the swim, and burning unneeded energy any advice on good swimming drills?

-Ethan

unless you are looking to podium, you are taking it too seriously: just train hard, but have fun. carbo loading in its true form is outdated, the tapering should naturally give you more energy due to the decrease in workout intensity: you should be tapering about 5 days to a week out though

Just signed up for the Cleveland Tri International Distance in August 2008. This will be my first tri (age 46) and i can't wait to get training. I have been running for 6 months but have not done any bike or swiming training. I need some advice on buying a tri bike. I have a mountain bike but realize this will not do for the tri. Any advice would be helpful. I don't want to spend over $1000 dollars if possible. Tim

Just signed up for the Cleveland Tri International Distance in August 2008. This will be my first tri (age 46) and i can't wait to get training. I have been running for 6 months but have not done any bike or swiming training. I need some advice on buying a tri bike. I have a mountain bike but realize this will not do for the tri. Any advice would be helpful. I don't want to spend over $1000 dollars if possible. TimHey Tim, read my post a few up :)

Seriously, I was in a similar situation to you about 4 months ago - 49 and lining up for first tri. Realistically, if you have no swim or bike experience, I'd be concentrating on this rather than worrying about a new bike. Trust me, after 12 months you'll want something different anyway. Either grab a set of slicks and use the mountain bike for the first one or try and borrow a roadie from someone. No-one will care what you ride - you could turn up with a pink Huffy with streamers and a basket and people wouldn't think any less of you.

Get to the pool, if you have no experience, that's where you need to devote your efforts - everyone other than previous swimmers struggle with the swim - especially in the first tri where they *always* go out too hard.

And don't forget to have fun - that's what it's about.

/k

keep building your base miles in all three legs so you are prepared for the distance & read up. Enter a few 10k races to find a realistic run pace...enjoy the work.

I am also looking onto my first triathlon but I personally think that you are making too much of a big deal about it - I don't even worry this much about my rowing and I take rowing very seriously :-P Just relax - it'll be your first race so it'll be for you to basically just see what the sport is about. When I compete in a new sport I don't ever expect to feature for the first few races because I'm adjusting to it. Enjoy it :-)

There are a couple of local tri- and duathlons I'd like to try. Will my first couple of stabs at these be ok on a road bike? I'm a terribly poor college student, but I may be able to come up with a solid entry-level road bike from the LBS. I can't justify an aero bike because I know I'll look like an idiot showing up to the weekend road ride. I guess I'd rather look like an idiot at the duathlons!

(I got an awesome deal on my MTB, and that's the only reason I have a bike at all!)

Hello are you there?


What are the distances in the Race?


Biking-25mi
Run-3.5
I am starting swimming next week and plan to swim .5miAre these per week, day or what?

i also think you over analizing this. i just did my first last year to see how i liked it. Didnt go out and push myself. Just did it to have a good time. Have fun with it and if you really like it then look into getting on a serious training schedule. I didnt train very hard either. run a few times a week some hill drills and long distance running(was training for marathon) swam as much as possible which was only once a week for me. and would go on 50 mile bike rides once a week. thats all i did. i had a great time and am now preparing for the season to come. Whatever you do have fun!