Triathlon - Completed my first tri today

I did my first tri this morning, the offical times are not in yet, but from what I can remember and what my watch said here is how I did. These are rounded up to the minuet because I don't have the exacts I will post those later but these are close.

800 meter swim - 14:00
12 mile bike - 49:00
3 mile run - 55:00

During the last 100 yards of the bike portion I felt my calves starting to crap and I knew as soon as I got off the bike they were going to lock up on me. Sure enough as soon as I unclipped and started to run/walk to T2 they crapped. They were rock hard, I could not move my feet from the ankel. They hurt so bad all I could do was grab them and try to massage them for a few seconds.

I changed to my running shoes cause I at least wanted the split time, and then I was going to DNF then one of the guys in my club told me to walk it out. So I started to walk the run and pretty much rwalked and stop to strech the entire 3 miles.

I am by no means a strong runner so I am sure my time on the run would have been at least 35 - 38 min, but at least I finished.

My brothers were there and they said when I got off the bike my calves looked like the HULK every little muscle was bulging. After the race a few different people I know came up and said they were very impressed and congradulated me for finishing, they said they don't think they would of tried to do the run if their legs cramped like mine did. So all in all I had a great time. Really looking forward to my next race really need to do some work on everything, but I have a starting point.

Anyone have any suggestions about the cramps? I ate 2 pieces of wheat bread with peanut butter, a banana, and a gatorade before the race, on the bike I sipped water and another gatorade (I didn't finish either I was just sipping them when needed, guess I needed more). After someone asked if I needed salt? I said no, but I am not sure why he offered it to me any info helps.

So now am I a triathlete? HAHA

So now am I a triathlete? HAHA

Yes, and congratulations! Sounds like you had quite a victory - perseverance, don't sell it short!
I too have wrestled with cramping, on events from sprints to half iron. Here's what I've learned so far:

I think part of it can be attributed to nerves - the cure for that is experience.
Part is nutrition and hydration - I now use Heed by hammer, even during a sprint, and I also am a fan of endurolytes. I tend to put out a lot of sweat, so even after a long swim I need a good dosing of electrolytes. I have no doubt that is possible, but I've never overhydrated in an event - my tendency is always more to forget to hydrate. (this is different than drinking a ton before an event, do that and you'll lose all of it in the port-o-let 10 minutes before your event :) )

Finally, make sure your training includes adequate bricks. Your body may be able to handle swimming, biking, and running separately, but it needs to adapt to doing them together as well.

You did an awesome job and have every right to be proud of your acheivement. Way to go!!!

Shazaam, way to hang in there. So many lessons in life to be learned from experiences like that.

I had a friend who walked the entire 13 miles of a tinman due to knee problems several years ago. Even today, it still seems very important to him that he finished. So, my hats off to you and hopefully if I run into difficulties I will be able to pull up the same perseverance you folks did.

Again, congratulations.

Thanks guys, it does help to know that I finished which in all honesty was really my first and only goal for the day. I was just hoping to do it a bit faster haha.

Anyways I think some of my problem was I have never done abrick session. I have done a lot of cycling and swimming and some not a lot of running so at least at this point I have things to work on before my next race.

I am going to my LTS and ask about the craps and what they suggest as well, hopefully I won't have to deal with that pain again. Shoot my calves still hurt a bit today.

Way to stay with it! Cramping could have been caused by a number of things. I'm a big believer in taking in extra salt before and during races. It's not likely that you lost too much of it during the race but you make have come in deficient. Anyway, there are plenty of races out there to be conquered and you'll learn something every time you do another one.

Way to go. You are now a triathlete.

For this distance, your cramping is probably a result of going out too hard or being under-trained for the distance, not nutrition. Work on making your long bike and runs longer early in the season (For sprint distance I'd say at least double your race distance) and work on pacing and you should be fine.

Alright well I have the offical results to the race, little better is some spots and a little worse in others. As for the cramping I am still not sure. A lot of different people have told me it could of been a few different things so I am going to take them all in and try to see what works.

As for being under trained, that might be a little of it. I was doing 50 miles bike rides no problem before, I got hurt. I messed my back up and was not able to run or bike for about 2+ months, so I am sure that had something to do with it. Aslo a lot of people are saying salt could of been a big part, that I did't have enough in my system before the race.

So anyways here are the times.

18:56 = 800 meter swim (I guess that was a 8 not a 3 coming out of the water haha)
2:52 = T1 (putting dry socks on wet feet is really hard, going to try using no sock and see if I can do that)
45:16 = 12 mile bike (could of pushed a little more, but wanted to same some for the run)
1:29 = T2 (with the cramps I was moving slow)
43:37 = 3 mile run (by no means am I a fast runner, but the cramps made it impossible to run)

So my main goal was to finish and I did.

Congrats! How did you do with the wetsuit/breathing issue on the swim?

Brian

Thanks guys, it does help to know that I finished which in all honesty was really my first and only goal for the day. I was just hoping to do it a bit faster haha.

Anyways I think some of my problem was I have never done abrick session. I have done a lot of cycling and swimming and some not a lot of running so at least at this point I have things to work on before my next race.

I am going to my LTS and ask about the craps and what they suggest as well, hopefully I won't have to deal with that pain again. Shoot my calves still hurt a bit today.


Heh heh...

Was hoping to do my first Tri next weekend but DVT in June put paid to my training. My big weakness is swimming, so starting improvment lessons on Monday.

Sounds like you dif really well just to finish!

Chapeau!

Thanks guys, it does help to know that I finished which in all honesty was really my first and only goal for the day. I was just hoping to do it a bit faster haha.

At least next time you know you'll set a personal best!

Congrats! How did you do with the wetsuit/breathing issue on the swim?

The swim was not to bad I guess that one extra swim I did on the thursday before let me know what to expect. I never thought about me breathing the entire race.