abqtj

awesome! Good luck!

TechKnowGN

Sounds like youre ahead of me right now for sure. I didnt do a lot over winter. When I started training in January I went too hard too fast, and had to start over in Feb. Its coming along now, but im still working on it.

Rhodabike

I've just signed up for a "JustTriit" women's triathlon class at the YWCA. It ends with a ridiculously short triathlon - 200m swim, 5k bike, 2k run. It's more to get a taste of the event, learning how to do the transitions, etc.
I plan to enter two local sprint events this summer, plus as many open water swims as I can get to. Last year I didn't do any. There aren't any in this province and I didn't have time to train enough to justify travelling to one out of province.
I'm dreading the running. Every time I get back into running, I seem to get tendonitis somewhere, no matter how careful I am.

digger531

Well now you have done it. After reading this thread I cant shake the idea of doing a tri. I couldn't decide whether to post her or in the tri forum but after reading some over there they seem kind of mean and way to serious. I am 37 yrs old 210lbs about 17% bodyfat. Iquit smoking three years ago after 20yrs of a pack a day and I quit drinking 2 yrs ago. I love to bike, like to swim and ..well, i can run. My concerns are, first of all what do you where to race and train? I don't know if I can pull off the one piece look. Second, are the people at the event as snooty as the people on the forum? I cant stand the 140lb guy that thinks hes... well you know who i am talking about.

nubiennze

I've been entertaining the idea for quite some time (a couple years, in fact) but never made a serious pursuit, primarily due to the lack of a bike. This forum has been instrumental in changing all that, primarily by showing me that you don't have to be 115# to start riding. This thread in particular couldn't be more timely.

Age: 26
Clyde/Athena: Athena
# of Triathlons completed: 0...for now.
Longest race: N/A
Next Race: Probably this one. (Annie Oakley Super Sprint | July 30, 2011)
One piece of advice for fellow racers: Find someone doing what you want to do and shadow him/her. Don't be afraid to live now as though you're where you want to be. In order to go somewhere you've never been, you must do something you've never done. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. That's about all I got, lol.

@Sayre Kulp: I like your siggy. May I have (some of) it?

TechKnowGN

Which province do you live in? It takes time to train for the running. As you continue to build, look into a couch to 5k program. they even have them for smartphones.

TechKnowGN

There are some of those people, but there are also the 140 pound dudes that will give you their used trainer when they upgrade just out of the kindness of their hearts. I feared that kind of interaction, and I cant say it hasnt happened, but 95% of the people Ive met have been super supportive.

As for where do you race; here's a list of races in MN this year: https://trifind.com/mn.html

As for where do you train? The gym (whether its a private club, a YMCA, or just the local public pool) the track, or just the open road. You can even train in your living room with a bike trainer, rollers, or a treadmill.

TechKnowGN

Very cool, welcome, and good luck; but most of all have fun!

Rhodabike

I'm in Saskatchewan. Believe me, there are no open water races here. I've searched. The closest thing is a non-competitive thing that a master's swim club in Regina runs.
I used to be a runner, so I do know how to train. The issue is my damaged knees, which very healing from a car accident some years ago. I have to be very careful and back off immediately if there's pain, or I'm out of commission for a week or more. I'm doing what seems like a ridiculously small amount and building up very, very gradually.

TechKnowGN

I've been training 6 days a week for most of a month now. Finally seeing weight loss out of it too. Finally started really working on portion control, and Im down almost 4 pounds this week. My first race is in little over a month in the cold, cold water of Massachusetts.

mthayer

I did the first tri of the season, The rookie tri, amd finished 277th overall out of 800+ racers. It was a 300m swim, 11.2 ride, and 2 mile run. I finished it in 1:29:47. I did not train for any part of the race, so I am really pleased with my results. I am looking at doing another race next month, but I have two races to choose from. I am really

Neil_B

I fixed the post for you.

Rhodabike

Well, I'm finally able to get back into training, after being off the bike for nearly 5 weeks. First I caught the great-grandmother of all colds and was coughing my lungs out, then when that started to subside I slipped and fell on some ice and twisted my right leg under me. The right knee promptly swelled up to 1.5 times normal size and for the last three weeks I haven't been able to bring that leg over the top of the pedal stroke without a lot of pain.
So, it's back to the beginning for cycling and running. How depressing. The "JustTriIt" class has been a complete waste of money as I haven't been well enough to show up for the running and cycling sessions and don't want to do the very basic beginner swim sessions during the time my Sunday morning distance swim usually takes place.
I haven't even had a chance to ride my new bike yet, although I was able to do a gentle ride to work yesterday on the commuter.
At least the swimming is holding steady. My club held a distance challenge on April 3 and despite only being in the water twice in the two weeks previous due to the cold, I managed to get under the hour for 2500m with a time of 56:17. I got through it by staying relaxed and getting as much distance in my push-offs as possible.

Neil_B

https://www.cnbc.com/id/42687254

"An amazing 1.9 million people participated in triathlons in 2010, up 63.7 percent from the year before."

Any idea why, folks? Is it the TechknowGN effect?

Ecavalino

Anyone know of any beginner rookie tri events in NorCal?

TechKnowGN

Rhodabike - Thats awesome that youve been able to keep up on the distance swimming. My best 2100 is around an hour so you being able to do 400 more than that is really impressive

Mr. The Historian - I would love to claim its me. But even more hopefully maybe folks are realizing they need to get off their couches and do something, anything to get healthy!

TechKnowGN

Ecavalino - Im sure NorCal has a load of tris, and if you look at them, you'll find some that have beginner waves and links to classes or training groups. Im not from the area but Id be shocked if there wasnt.

TechKnowGN

First race of the season: New England Season Opener. Water temp at swim was under 60 degrees. I was 10 minutes faster than last year and was not DFL. Every aspect of the race improved from swim to run, including transitions. But I didn't hit my goals and I need to practice the transitions as well as a greater focus on bricks and running. Not that I didn't already know that, but at least it was there.

The I was pretty happy with my run as I took 2 minutes off a 5k time from last year and was only a minute over my PR on a triathlon 5k. The bike, well, I only walked one hill and only rested at the top of two climbs I fought my way up instead of just hopping off and walking like I did last year.

Next race is in little over a month, and its a half-iron. lots of work ahead this month and Im excited. started the day off with a bike commute into work.

Zoxe

Tech,

That sounds like a great start. I always like reading race reports, so please keep 'em coming.

Mrs. Zoxe and I have finally started prepping four our August Sprint Tri up in Naperville IL. We're on vacation in NC at the moment so trying to make the most of it by getting some miles in on the bikes and on foot. Did our first bike/jog brick last week. Most of our spring chores around our 10 acres are finished up so we can devote more time to recreation/training. We've also got Tour de Cure next month and that'll help motivate us to get some extra miles in.

CraigB

I don't know if I even belong in this thread, since my Tri summer will be limited to doing the cycling leg in the "team relay" division of a local race. My much younger and incredibly fit and competitive co-worker has pestered me to do this with him to the point I finally agreed. We still need to pick the race, but I think the one we'll settle on is in July.

Right now I'm just trying to get some miles in my legs and saddle time in my butt for the June 11 TdC. After that I can concentrate on some speed work for the TT.

TechKnowGN

Zoxe - Thats awesome! I've got family and friends in the Naperville area, so I'll make sure to let them know about the race.

TechKnowGN

Craig B - If you're participating even if it's just for one leg, that still counts.

mthayer

Damn you triathlons. You've actually got me to the point that I was looking forward to my running workouts. I feel good about this season and what it's doing for me. I ran almost 2 miles tonight without stopping which is something I've haven't been able to do for 12 years. This sport has been a blessing to me.

TechKnowGN

Awesome! Keep it up!

cohophysh

So what do you recommend if you don't have close access to a pool