Triathlon - Time to step up to the plate

So last year around this time i weighed 238lbs and my Dad challenged me to come train with him. ( he is a member of TCSD and was training for the Ironman in Phoenix) so i began to train, riding 2 days a week, and running up a local Mtn. 3 days a week...Cowles for those of you in SD... and by Oct i was weighing in at 195 and never felt better. All i wanted for Christmas was a membership to TCSD, so that's what i got. as time has gone by i have dealt with Unemployment and other financial issues which i didn't deal with properly and my Dad moved to Temecula. So here i am, still haven't done anything with TCSD except a group ride with Chris Carmichael.
I am back up to 212 and lost a great dose of confidence. My Dad challenged me to do the Sprint on the 22nd and i'm pretty nervous about it. BUT i guess its time to see what im made of.
I am not worried about the Bike or Run in itself, but i haven't had much pool time this winter, So im worried the Bike and Run AFTER the swim.
Any advice for a first timer? I have been to many Tri's and my dad does Ironman's but he just keeps saying don't worry about it...lol.

just shoot for a finish...don't set a time for yourself that you need to beat. I made that mistake, and it cost me during my first one (I come from a running background with some cycling). Pushed too hard on the swim, drank some water, tried to crush the bike out of T1 and ended up losing the little I had to eat that morning at about mile 2. I lost 4-5 minutes stopped on the roadside losing breakfast and only caught up to those people I passed about 6 miles later. AND I still had a upper-mid pack bike split(could have been top 60 or so). Had I gone a little slower, I could have gained 75+ places overall. Eliminate my "pit-stop" and I come in ~115-120ish instead of ~190-195ish(400+ people). Take my misfortune as a lesson. And have fun

thank you. thats what im gonna do. finish is good enough for me on my first one. then i can only improve from there.

Agree. Enjoy it, learn a few things and see it as a starting point. Let us know how you go.

well, i did it. i was not prepared for the swim, as i thought. but i did it. I couldn't believe the "feeling" when you get out of the water heading into T1. i thought i was gonna fall over and was forced to walk through it to avoid embarrassment. I havent seen my times yet, although i am not very concerned about them, but my overall time was 1 hour and 58 min. for 700m swim 12.5 mile ride and 3.8 mile run. i made sure i didnt walk on the run, that was my goal for the triathlon.

Well done. You started & you finished. Feel like you learned a lot? Keen for more? As you mention your times, I'm guessing you're competitive enough to push on.

Congrats! If you are like me you are already thinking how you could have saved minutes or seconds here or there and just try to improve on the next one.

My only number i am really concerned with is the swim as of now. I need to shave 10 min off my swim and do it comfortably. 25 min is unacceptable for 700m. I was really hurting. I have been training for a few weeks now and my swim is coming along. The next Tri is Saturday so i will see if I improved. but my goal is to have a 16 or 15 min swim by next month.

But yes...I am extremely competitive minded person. Mostly to see what i can get out of myself.

Well done! My 1st tri I felt really uncomfortable in the swim so ended up breaststroking the 300m, but I learnt a lot and have gone back for a lot more. A friend has done IronMan at Kona and he said not to worry about, just learn from all the experiences.

sorry to hear you're not near your Dad anymore