Triathlon - First Tri

Well, I pulled the trigger on the 1st of August and committed myself to do a Triathlon. I am doing the Nathan's Triathlon in Tempe, AZ on Sunday. I chose the sprint as my first event mostly due to the swim. The sprint is 800m open water vs. 1500m for the olympic. My swim is not quite there yet (although getting better). I am excited about the bike and run which are by far my strongest events. Butterflys haven't started yet, but I imagine Saturday night will be a different story. I hope to have a good experience with this and hope to move on to a half iron man sometime next year.

Any tips for a first timer?

1. learn to swim
2. in T1 NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES try to put something over your chest.
3. Don't push too hard on the bike
4. in T2 number belts help.
5. run with all that you have left

good luck

1. learn to swim
2. in T1 NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES try to put something over your chest.
3. Don't push too hard on the bike
4. in T2 number belts help.
5. run with all that you have left

good luck

Ok, I will show how much of a newbie I am, what would I ever put over my chest in T1? I should mention, I know how to swim (swam in high school), however, it has been a while, so I am still getting back into swim shape. I have done quite a bit of brick training and I am confident in the bike to run, but the swim makes me nervous.

by put something over your chest, i mean try to put on a shirt. wear one for the swim or do it shirtless

Good luck and have FUN!

Here's an article with some tri-tips... http://www.midwestevents.us/news/154

basically keep your singlet or tri-top on under your wet suit, coming out of the water unzip and pull off wet suit, you should have your tri shorts and singlet on. hop on the bike and off you go. maybe no socks if you've trained in your bike shoes without socks on. I keep my socks in my running sneakers at T2, coming off the bike in T2 I spend the time slapping the socks on while nursing through a gel.

by put something over your chest, i mean try to put on a shirt. wear one for the swim or do it shirtless

Gotcha. I thought that is what you meant, but wasn't sure. I am getting excited now. My initial thought was just to complete, but looking at times from last year, I may be able to finish in the top half for my division if everything goes ok. I just need to have some self control and not go out to fast on any of the legs. Thanks for the advice. I will let you know how it goes.

Probably your first open water swim then, right? Your heart rate will jump at the beginning with all that will start happening around you w/ other swimmers. Just relax and swim your own race.....try not to let other people bumping into you or swimming faster than you alter your swim rythm.

Probably your first open water swim then, right? Your heart rate will jump at the beginning with all that will start happening around you w/ other swimmers. Just relax and swim your own race.....try not to let other people bumping into you or swimming faster than you alter your swim rythm.

The start of the swim was where I had my biggest surprise during my first tri. Way different than what I had experienced during training. Here's a good video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk) on how to train for the start of an open-water tri swim.

The start of the swim was where I had my biggest surprise during my first tri. Way different than what I had experienced during training. Here's a good video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk) on how to train for the start of an open-water tri swim.

You got me. I was all set to hear some good advice...that was great. Although not far from the truth from what I hear.

get there early!!!!!!5:30a.that way you can get a good transition place and the portapotty lines are short at that time!And enjoy the day! take it all in! have fun! remember also dont do or try anything new that you havent tried in training.have fun let us know how it turns out!

I did it! I completed my first Tri this morning. I did the sprint which was the 800m swim, 12.3mi bike and 3.1mi run. I finished in 1:28. My worst leg was the swim which I did in 20:45. I thought this was ok until I realized that my son (12y.o.) swam a 1650m in 22:00. My transitions definately need work. Way, way too much time in the transitions. Not resting, just not moving fast enough. My bike speed average was 19.8mph which is just under the 20mph I was shooting for. I also need to do more brick training. I experienced quick moments of cramping in my calves in the first half mile of the run. After that, I found my running legs and enjoyed the rest of the race.

I finished 23rd out of 67 in my age group and 97th out of 575 overall. This will be the first of many to come. My priority is to work on my swim.

Congradulations! Yeah that swim should come along though. Can you describe the transitions so we can give advice? Also how did the run go (besides the brick feeling)? What was your run split?

Congratulations on finishing! You've now done what a majority of people would never even attempt.

Congradulations! Yeah that swim should come along though. Can you describe the transitions so we can give advice? Also how did the run go (besides the brick feeling)? What was your run split?

My biggest suprise going into the 1st transition was the fact that I was still trying to get my bearings. The swim in the open water was a little bit disorienting going from the water to land. I had everything laid out, but took time to put on socks. My shoes are not tri shoes, but rather road shoes with a ratchet buckle. I also dried off enough to put on a shirt ( I know I was told not too, but it was a dedication to my brother, see pic below). In the future, I plan on a bib belt. My transition time was 3:10. If I could cut that in half, I would be happy.
120077


I am not sure what took so long in the second transition. I had my shoes pre-set and basically slipped off my bike shoes, after getting the bike in the rack, slipped on my running shoes, put on a hat and took off. My transition time was 2:21.



The only thing I can think of is that my transition spot was at the far end of the rack (furthest away from the center entrance and exit). But either way, both need work.



Any help would be appreciated.

if it was one where you can use a wetsuit, just leave the jersey on, or get a custom tri one with some friends.

if it was one where you can use a wetsuit, just leave the jersey on, or get a custom tri one with some friends.

Water was not cold enough to qualify for a wetsuit. Water temp at race time was 80. I plan on getting a tri-top for future races (which there will be many).