Neil_B

https://www.tricatsports.com/sprint.html

Neil_B

Possibly of interest:

https://clydesdalemultisportonline.com/

TechKnowGN

6 months is plenty of time to learn to swim and to learn to swim a half mile. Swimming a half mile fast is probably a good few months work, but I have seen your dedication to cycling. You can ABSOLUTELY do this.

One of the methods I've heard very positive things about is totalimmersion.net swimming method for adult learners.

TechKnowGN

an update: offseason training and beer dont mix two beers (and some extra food calories) yesterday made me slow and feeling drained in the pool this AM. clearly not the way to continue weight loss. Lesson learned. food calories in check. Beers on birthdays only until after 8/22.

Daniel Frost

I know what you mean, had two beers on friday night, took the 1st 20km to get over them on sat, then I settled into a nice rhythem

TechKnowGN

Yep. We're going out to the bar on Friday or Saturday night, but I'm going to workout plenty hard this week and be in the gym the next morning to make up for anything I do the night before.

TechKnowGN

How is everyones winter training coming? I'm having occasional motivation problems as the weather has been getting to me. I love hockey season, but I've had about enough of the cold right now.

Daniel Frost

Still summer down the bottom of the world. Motivation is good, trying to beat my time this weekend got my 3rd triathlon

TechKnowGN

That's super Daniel! I'm glad your first season is going so well. I did 4 in my first, and looking at 8 this year. My goal is to be significantly under both the time and weight at which I did my first season.

abqtj

I might be in for one in May, since I opened up my big mouth, too!

Name: Steve
Age: 40
Clyde/Athena: Clyde
# of Triathlons completed: 0

I'm looking at a Sprint Tri here in Albuquerque in May (the Jay Benson, if you've heard of it). I do have a question, though. They list the Clyde/Athena group as 200+ and under 40 yrs old...does that sound right? Not that my grouping matters much to me (except to make sure the field isn't closed) since my goal is to finish without being dead at the end!

I got a road bike yesterday and am beginning to ride/train a little. I won't break any records, but want to try it and have fun. We'll see, I'm still on the fence about entering I guess.

TechKnowGN

There are usually a couple of Clydesdale groups, by age. some assume if youre over 40, you're on a pretty even playing field as most who are not elites, and are over 40 are in some sort of less than ideal shape. I personally am not a believer in that train of thought.

Just wait til you finish, you wont be on the fence anymore. ive never met anyone who has signed up for just one. i was nervous before I signed up too. I will never regret signing up for that race. I just regret i couldnt afford to do more.

For your first race i recommend a few things:

1. The "just finish" goal. dont set too many overall expectations on yourself other than to finish and have fun.
2. Think about it as 3 races, and not one big one. Dont worry about how long you'll take in transition or anything like that. Its way more important to start each phase with a relative amount of comfort that youre ready to go out on the course for that next phase.
3. Set a simple time goal for each phase. take what you did in training, and instead of going faster than that, think "i just want to do what i did in training" shoot for those times, not any faster. And if you dont make them, dont worry.

Theres always next time.

Jeep_Bike_Teach

Name: Anastacia
Age: 40
Clyde/Athena: Athena
# of Triathlons completed: 0
First Registration for Race: Sprint (750m/23K/5k)
First Race: Danskin in August in Seattle 2010
One piece of advice for fellow racers: Read Books, Read Advice, Knowledge is Priceless

I love this bike forum and really enjoy how kind and supportive everyone is in the Clyde/Athena section. :-)

I am currently reading a book about Triathlons for Women by Sally Edwards. I am enjoying it. Looks like my next two books will be the ones recommended here - Slow Fat Triathlete and Shape Up with the SFT. I also logged on to the beginner triathlete website as suggested here as well. Thanks to everyone who has posted their recommendations and advice!

I registered for the Trek in Sept and Danskin in August. I am officially TERRIFIED and wonder what the heck I am thinking.

Question - any suggestions on how to find a partner interested in training with an UberAthena? I'm sure there are lots of people who would train with someone fit, but I suppose it takes an extra special patient person to train with heavy me. I have the will, desire, and enthusiasm! Just would like a partner. Seems a little lonley going it alone.

cohophysh

I could train with you from a distance...i am about 80 miles SW of you....we can at least check in and encourage each other.
Brian

TechKnowGN

Jeep_Bike_Teach - Welcome to our humble little group. I'm going to work on putting a sheet together where we can all enter the dates of our races to cheer each other on/organize the race reports!

TechKnowGN

I've been a little slow on updating because frankly I was hoping to have better progress to report, but I guess i just need to be patient.

My first race of the season is The New England Season Opener on 5/9. It's a short sprint with an open water swim, so it will be cold, and wetsuit required.

We've been training like the dickens and I'm down 24 pounds for the year. I can pound out about 18 MPH on the stationary bike, and hoping that will average out about the same on the real bike once the weather cooperates.

My swimming is coming along nicely as well. I took a swim clinic put on by our tri team, and it made a real difference. I can't swim the new way for long distances yet because Im still developing the muscles that will let me do it, but it does make a big difference in how much I have left at the end of a swim.

Running hasnt really happened yet, but I am planning on starting tonight because i need to be able to run the 3 miles for the race in a ltitle over a month.

onrypt

Does anyone compete in Aquabike?
It's appealing to me b/c there's no running. You do the swim and bike portions of a Tri.
It's not "sanctioned" if that's the appropriate term, but is recognized by USAT.
I'm considering one in June.
Any info would be appreciated.
(Thanks in advance for the book tips, a trip to Barnes and Noble is coming)
Chris

cohophysh

sucking ass.....poor weather, to much other crap....got to get remotivated

TechKnowGN

I do not, but I've been at Triathlons where people do the Aquabike portion. I can see the appeal, and I would think any triathlon training plan for the correct distance would work, simply ignore the running and replace those training days with swimming and biking.

TechKnowGN

cohophysh - You should be getting better weather pretty soon, right? I mean, we've had the horrible rain here in Boston, but now we're heading to 70's and sunny. I've even been running twice since friday, and Im going again today. Time to make time for yourself to get the stress relief of exercise!

cohophysh

I know, I know, winter has tried to rear its ugly head again

daffonce

Name: Derek
Age: 32
Clyde/Athena: Clyde
# of Triathlons completed: 0

Hey Tech what part of MA are you from?

I am new to the forums bought myself a bike over the winter and am currently training for a few tris (2 sprint and 1 olympic). I reached my goal last year and completed a half marathon. This year it is doing at least once tri, but I am about to sign up for 2 sprints and an olympic to force myself to do it.

TechKnowGN

Derek - I live in Boston, not far from Kenmore Square.

daffonce

Ben if you ever want another fat guy training partner I would be game. I live in foxboro and work up in woburn. I think it could be cool to have someone with common goals, well I have no thoughts of a half ironman this year. But I am game for going for a run or bike ride if you want a partner sometime. Believe it or not running is probably my strongest sport, I have completed a half marathon which was ummm fun lol but not really (think low 30's pouring rain, 30+MPH wind, and possible hail the last few miles). We could discuss some things I have found helpful in running, injury prevention, and some hardware that can help. As for myself I am about 6'3 and 290ish right now, at my highest I was 318.

mwchandler21

Name: mwchandler21
Age: 27
Clyde/Athena: Clyde
# of Triathlons completed: 0
First Registration for Race: Sprint (300yd(pool)/16.5mi/3mi)
First Race: Cedars of Lebanon Triathlon-August 2010 (East of Nashville, TN)
One piece of advice for fellow racers:

Got back on the bike last summer and am planning on doing a century this summer. Have always loved to swim and hated to run. But figure that I could walk/jog/run 3 miles before dying at the end of the race.

TechKnowGN

Daffonce - We'll definitely have to meet up for a workout for sure. Ive got a long way to go to catch up to you, but at my highest I was north of 380 so Ive already made some good progress.

Mwchandler21 - Welcome!! You wont die, I walked a few 5ks at the end of short triathlons last year and got through it just fine. I was tired and sore, but I did it. And you can too!