Triathlon - Am I ready for this 1st tri?

I acquired a tri-bike a few days ago and have been on two rides so far. Previously I had been training at the gym on stationary bikes. (wow, what a difference) The triathlon I'm thinking about doing is in 2-1/2 weeks. It's the L.A. triathlon (olympic distance) and from what I gather is quite a huge event. As I said I am totally green. I really have no clue about transition stations, etc. and am wondering if an event like this is a good idea for a first tri. Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I don't think anyone should or can tell you if you're ready. That said, have you been putting the time into your training for the swim and run? If you know you can swim the distance and have been training you're prabably ready. The swim is usually the most intimidating for people. Let's assume you don't place in your first tri, it'll be a good experience and one to build on. But don't enter an event that you are not prepared for from a training aspect. My first tri had a class about transition areas the day of "packet pick-up" and was helpful. So my advice, if you've put in the training but have no race experience...go for it.

Ready to enter? YES. Ready to finish? Time will tell. Go for it. It is the only way to find out.......

As long as you have the fitness level (i.e. you can swim 1500 meters, bike 40K, and run 10K separately), you should be fine. Just don't go out too hard, or if you do, know there is no shame in walking the run. If you are in doubt about your fitness level, do a sprint distance instead. You'll be much happier. If you are really slow on a Oly, it can take you 3-4 hours to complete which won't be fun unless you trained up for it.

I'd get a beginner tri book like "Your First Triathlon" by Joe Friel or "Triathlon 101" by John Mora and check out sites like http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/ to answer common beginner questions. Do go to any pre-race meetings and ask a lot of questions.

Couple things to make sure you know/suggestions:
- You won't be able to change in transition so wear something that will work for the whole race.
- Swim at least once somewhere in open water before the race if you've never done that before. I've seen a lot of newbies' races end within the first few minutes because they freaked out in the water.
- Make sure you buckle your helmet before taking your bike of the rack or you'll be DQed before you know it.
- If you are riding a road bike, make sure you have bar pugs on the end of your handlebars or your race will be over before it starts.
- Understand what drafting means (ask a USAT ref for details) and don't pass on the right. Also, don't just hang out on the left either.
- If you ride your bike to the race or from the race, wear your helmet or you could be DQed.

Find locate triathletes and ask lots of questions. Don't be shy, and don't take yourself too seriously on your first time out. In all likelihood, you'll get hooked.

I don't think anyone should or can tell you if you're ready. That said, have you been putting the time into your training for the swim and run? If you know you can swim the distance and have been training you're prabably ready. The swim is usually the most intimidating for people. Let's assume you don't place in your first tri, it'll be a good experience and one to build on. But don't enter an event that you are not prepared for from a training aspect.

I don't think the swim should be a problem. I'm really not that concerned about conditioning. I'm not going to win anything, but should be able to finish.


My first tri had a class about transition areas the day of "packet pick-up" and was helpful.

That's the part I'm concerned about the most. Getting to this huge event and not knowing what to do, when to do it, what to bring, stuff like that. I would think a smaller event would be less confusing, but a class would be perfect.

As long as you have the fitness level (i.e. you can swim 1500 meters, bike 40K, and run 10K separately), you should be fine. Just don't go out too hard, or if you do, know there is no shame in walking the run. If you are in doubt about your fitness level, do a sprint distance instead. You'll be much happier. If you are really slow on a Oly, it can take you 3-4 hours to complete which won't be fun unless you trained up for it.

I'd get a beginner tri book like "Your First Triathlon" by Joe Friel or "Triathlon 101" by John Mora and check out sites like http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/ to answer common beginner questions. Do go to any pre-race meetings and ask a lot of questions.

I'll definitely check it out, thanks.


Couple things to make sure you know/suggestions:
- You won't be able to change in transition so wear something that will work for the whole race.
- Swim at least once somewhere in open water before the race if you've never done that before. I've seen a lot of newbies' races end within the first few minutes because they freaked out in the water.

I've only swam in the ocean for a considerable distance a couple of times. I highly doubt I'll be able to do it prior to the race. I'm am very familiar with the ocean and scuba often, so I hope that and the pool workouts will suffice.


- Make sure you buckle your helmet before taking your bike of the rack or you'll be DQed before you know it.
- If you are riding a road bike, make sure you have bar pugs on the end of your handlebars or your race will be over before it starts.

I have a 2000 Aegis Trident tri bike, but the handle bars look like road bars with clipon aeros. Are bar plugs just the caps on the ends?


- Understand what drafting means (ask a USAT ref for details) and don't pass on the right. Also, don't just hang out on the left either.
- If you ride your bike to the race or from the race, wear your helmet or you could be DQed.

Find locate triathletes and ask lots of questions. Don't be shy, and don't take yourself too seriously on your first time out. In all likelihood, you'll get hooked.

Thanks.

I've only swam in the ocean for a considerable distance a couple of times. I highly doubt I'll be able to do it prior to the race. I'm am very familiar with the ocean and scuba often, so I hope that and the pool workouts will suffice.


If you've done that kind of open water swimming comfortably, you'll be fine. Just start at the back or side of your wave as the front can get pretty wild.

I have a 2000 Aegis Trident tri bike, but the handle bars look like road bars with clipon aeros. Are bar plugs just the caps on the ends?

Yes. When racing with a bike with drops, I always take an extra pair in case they work their way out. You can also get bar end plugs that lock in at your LBS.

If you're concerned about tranisitions, practice your transitions. It feels silly, but it pays off. It takes 10+ hours of workouts to trim 30 seconds off the swim, or bike, or run, but only 1 hour of practices to trim 30 seconds off T1 + T2. A practice can be doing a three sport workout (S 200yds, T1, B 3 miles, T2, R 2 miles), or a non athlon (S 0yds, T1, B 100feet, T2, R 100feet). Practice using your lap timer on your watch. Compare your T1 + T2 times after practicing a couple of times. Practic jogging your bike 25yds out, and 25yds back in.

First, the basics. You must do the most important things. This may sound silly, but hear me out. T1 #1 you've got to find your stuff. This is a concern, especially in a large event, as everyone around you will be scurrying about, you'll be slightly winded, blood sugar fluctuating, and suddenly all the bikes look alike. How to prevent a problem: after getting your gear in place, walk down to the water, and then jog back to your bike. As you jog into the transition area, identify specific landmarks which are stationary (not "2nd rack after the red Cervelo"! he may be gone when you get there) which don't require counting higher than 2. Or tie a helium balloon to the bike rack at your bike. This sounds like overkill, but I've seen people running up and down, back and forth across the transition area looking for their stuff, loosing time. #2 before you go to the swim, hold your bike, and spin each wheel, they should spin freely, whatever you want to eat or drink should already be attached to the bike, don't spend any race time looking for your gels, have a small towel handy in case you need to wipe you face or eyes, #3 hit stopwatch button after the swim, helment on first, shoes on, (sunglasses? tape them to handlebars, deal with them after you get going), go!, know where to go, jog your bike to the line, hit stopwatch button. T2 #4 near end of bike, last gulp from water bottle, stop your bike at the line, hit stopwatch button, and jog your bike. Decide in advance if you'll get out of your shoes before the line, and practice the way you intend to do it. #5 you've got to find your stuff again, it may be from the opposite direction, half the bikes may not be there, reference your stationary landmarks, #6 running shoes on, helment off, go!, know where to go, hit stopwatch button. You should have adequately fueled up on the bike, but know how far to the first water station on the run, on a 10K run it may not be until mile 2.

You must think through these until the flow is natural, and you can walk through them fluidly in your "mind's eye". Visualization. Mental practice. #1 where's stuff, 2 bike ready, 3 stopwatch, helment on, shoes on, go, stopwatch, bike, 4 drink, shoes off, stopwatch, jog, 5 where's stuff, 6 shoes on, helment off, go, stopwatch, run. Even if you're not worried about the time, and your goal is to finish, practicing these key steps in your mind will prepare you for a lower stress, more enjoyable "race".

Practice.

Good luck.

Bill

Thanks for all the imput. I've taking everyone's imput and decided to move my first tri to an event on Oct. 5. Just don't quite feel ready fitness wise.

Stupid question but

What does one wear? Is there something you can wear to swim, bike and run (assuming not wearing a wet suit) like this dude? http://assets.teamusa.org/assets/images/article/photo/6601/mid/Cropped_mark_fretta_CR_Scott_Grane.jpg

yeah you can get a tri suit, they are designed to swim bike and run... no worries about changing anything but your shoes in the area. Unless you swim with your bike shoes on, or if you bike in normal shoes, you swim in your sneakers? Ewwwwww.

Check out the tri suit thread and my post :D

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=457569