bobthib

So at the tender age of 64 I decided to take up Triathlon. I started riding pretty regular at age 61, and found I really enjoyed it. I started riding pretty regular, and got up to 150+ mi a week.

In an effort to get more rides in, I started to ride with a Tri group at 5:30 AM Tues and Thurs mornings. After about a year and a half it finally rubbed off. I decided to give it a TRI!

That was last summer (2012.) I began to swim in the backyard pool, and run around the block. Despite my pretty good bike ability (A- B+ rides) I found swimming and running to be VERY HARD. I couldn't swim for more than a minute or so, and I could barely jog 100 yds. But my TRI friends and my BF family all said that was normal, and to just keep at it.

In Sept of '12 I did my first Sprint Tri. I could only free style for about 25 yds, but my run was up to 1 mi at a 10 min pace. Despite that I took 3rd place in my AG (3rd out of 8) on the strength of my bike.

In October of '12 I started to swim with the TRI group at a local pool. I was doing 2 nights a week for an hour each with the Masters group. I could still only free style for 25 yds, but I kept at it.

I got sick in late December and didn't swim much until Feb. At that point I was 65 and on Medicare, do I joined a local gym with a pool. It was a 25 meter pool, (not yds like the local pool) and that little extra seemed like a mile. I spent all of Feb swimming on my own, trying to get in good enough shape to go back to the Masters class.

I joined the Master's calls again in March swimming 4 days a week to prepare for my first Tri of the Season in early April. I got up to swimming free style for about 75 yds, and did my first sprint of the year feeling pretty good. I didn't heed my coach's advice to get in the water and warm up, and when I got in that cold black water, I panicked! I could not get my breathing under control, and I could not get my face in that black water. I ended up swimming head up breast stroke most of the way. This time I place 2nd despite my poor swim. My bike was strong, and my run was OK. I was 8 min out of 1st. :^(

Back to swim class and concentrating on head down, to prepare for the next sprint in May. This time I felt pretty good, and I was up to several hundred yards on the pool with a little rest. I thought I was ready for a .25 mi swim free style.

This time the swim was in the ocean, and it was a bit rough. Again I failed to heed my coach's advice and pre-swim. The race started and that salt water and waves freaked me out again! I could not keep my head down. Again, head up all the way. But my bike and run brought me into 2nd again.

So, I decided to do an ocean swim every Saturday morning. That has really helped. I also got to do a .5 mi lake swim in upstate NY this summer. And I've done a few 1 mi ocean swims. I did an International distance Tri last month (.5 mi ocean swim, 25 mi bike, 10K run) Another 2nd place.

So I'm feeling pretty ready for my next goal: Ironman Augusta 70.3!

DnvrFox

WOW!!

Great report and great progress.

I keep bicycling and swimming, but I am not pushing myself in the swimming - I could push myself more. I can swim several lengths of both 25 yard and 25 meter pools with no problem, but I often use the pool for relaxation after or during a bike ride, and will alternate back stroke with crawl. As far as running, my body just does not run any more, but I could walk fast.

Today, I did a 30 mile ride with 30 minutes of swimming at the 22 mile mark.

Given your post, I think I will push the swimming a bit more.

Thanks for the report.

mkane77g

And here's a pat on the back. Swimming's hard.

sreten

Hi,

Some find crawl easier by always breathing to the side of your stronger arm.
A little unorthodox, and your stroke will be a little assymetric, but you get
less of that "head underwater" feeling, not quite as efficient though.

rgds, sreten.

TromboneAl

I also swim freestyle for a while and then go to my sidestroke.

But this technique for freestyle made a huge difference for me.

sreten

Hi,

I guess the point of that video is no splashing and as little wake as possible, looks efficient.

rgds, sreten.

When I used to swim one guy created an unholy maelstrom of splashing water around
himself as he went up and down. He was not fast. I was a lot faster. But any fitter ?

DnvrFox

Total Immersion Swimming, in total proper form, involves a different type of kick. It is primarily used for long-distance swimming, such as swimming around Manhattan. That said, the video shows pretty much how I swim - smooth with little splash. You can't even tell easily when I take a breath - which is much easier for me on my non-dominant left side.

But, I am a slow swimmer - I think it has to do with my body shape and bulk, and not using much of a glide in my stroke.

VaultGuru

If you have the opportunity, get connected with a Masters swim program that emphasizes teaching technique, not just yardage. Swimming is so technical. Like you, I came from a non-swimming background. It was pretty ugly just swimming 5 lengths of the pool. However, I stuck with it and joined a new Masters program. Only about 10 people started, and most were like me. Our coach had to go back to square 1 and show us the basics. We built from there. Within 18 months, my 100 times dropped from 2+ minutes to consistent 1:07's. Still can't do fly or back worth a darn. Fun group of people too. Hope you get the opportunity to get a lot of technique lessons. You will be amazed at your improvement. Good luck

jdon

Great story Bob. Good luck in Augusta. Keep your head down!

sreten

Hi,

I wonder why that would be ? I used to breath to my dominant left side only,
bringing my arm over more on that side, a slightly sideways version of crawl.

Perhaps with your technique the extra power of your main arm under the
water facilitates a bit more body roll to the left side, makes some sense.

Thinking about it I could swap from breathing to the left to the right.

rgds, sreten.

DnvrFox

Yes, I do not turn my head in breathing, I breathe with the body roll, and my right arm pull gives me a good roll for my breath. BTW, my wife also is finding it much easier to breathe on her left side as she is learning to swim at 75yo - her dominant arm is right.

40 mile ride with 30 minutes of swimming today.

DnvrFox

I have observed the master's swim at both our rec center and 24 hour fitness. I find most are in their 40's or so or very close, and at 73>74 soon I feel a bit out of place, and also, it is likely more energy and time and a definite schedule that just doesn't fit who I am right now.

Thanks for the thoughts.

FormerFF

Are you planning on doing an Olympic distance race before you try the 70.3? There's an enormous difference between a sprint and an Oly, and the half iron is more than double the Oly distance.

At least at Augusta, you have the advantage of swimming downriver. That should help.

skilsaw

I'm going to Ironman Canada August 25 in Whistler BC.

(I'll be a spectator. My son is the Ironman.)

OldTryGuy

Sounds to me like your on your way to an IRONMAN.

Always read the fine print.

Sprint #1 completed in July 2012, Sprint #2 completed in September 2012, Ironman 70.3 Florida completed in May 2013 and Ironman Florida November 2013-to be completed.

I can not run because of issues with my knees, I can not swim well because my right shoulder is in need of a total replacement but since I almost fly on my bicycle I decided, what the heck, might as well do an Ironman

rumrunn6

watching a really good swimmer is fascinating and can be so different than your own performance.

bobthib

So, by reckoning, I should be finishing IM Augusta 70.3 just about exactly 7 days from now, to the hour. I feel ready, but a little under prepared in the run department.

I'm in a Master's swim class at the local pool. The class is taught by a fellow I've been training with on the bike for a few years. He just returned from the ITU World championships in London. He didn't do as well as he hoped, he screwed up the T1 transition, wasting 4 min on a dumb mistake. Took him from top 10 to middle of that pack.

Anyway, I've been in his class since last october, except for the 2 months I lost due to a bad cold last Jan and Feb. When I started I could hardly swim 25 yds, 1 pool length. I swam 2 nights a week, then 3, now all 4 nights, plus I organize a 30 min ocean swim and bike each Saturday morning. I've swam over a mile in ocean no problem, so I feel confident that with the wetsuit and the relatively easy swim in Augusta, I'm ready.

I started Maffetone training (basically low intensity zone 2 training only) about 2 months ago. It has paid off in the swim and on the bike, but for one reason or another I have not been able to pound out as many miles running as I should.

Baring any unforeseen circumstance, I'm planning on finishing in 7 hrs or under. I'm planning on 40 min swim, 8 min T1, 3:15 bike, 5 min T2, and 2:45 run. That's if I don't cramp, have a flat, get DQ'ed, etc, etc. I doubt if that time will allow me to keep my unbroken Podium finish streak alive, but then this in not a sprint or an olympic distance, it's an Ironman event. Its also the largest event with the largest AG field I've faced. So, like my first tri a year ago, I'm "racing to complete not to compete." I will do my best, and finish were I finish. It's not worth hurting myself just to try to get another trophy.

So, I probably won't post again until Tuesday or Wednesday after the event. I'll be in the 65-69 AG if you want to check it out.

https://www.ironman.com/triathlon/tri...#axzz2feX9I6Nl

That's the link for the 2012 results, but it will either update to 2013 or provide a link to those results.

My bib # is 272
Bob T.

Ludkeh

Good Luck!!! We'll be waiting for your report!

OldTryGuy

Just remember to enjoy the experience. I told that to a friend who just did Ironman Louisville, his first full, and he kept on telling himself that as things progressed and it worked. The organization of an Ironman Event is fantastic so take it in, go with the flow and good luck.

bobthib

Yup. Looking at the results from last year I'm not even close to competitive. Just have fun and enjoy the event!

Dudelsack 

This thread is serving as a source of inspiration, if you've seen my "Try a tri at the Y" thread. For some reason, the swimming part intriques me, maybe because it seems so technique-dependant rather than just bulling your way through it.

I've ordered the Total Immersion self-coaching materials. I can already swim about 500 m. freestyle, although that is with frequent breaks.

I'll stay tuned for the results of the Ironman.

nmichell

I'm really looking forward to your race report. It's a pretty inspiring story -- you've already got the most important part of the swimming down: DON'T PANIC (large friendly letters).

OldTryGuy

CONGRATULATIONS on an event well done!!!!

Very impressive. I am envious of your swim.

DougG

I regularly run and bike with some local triathletes, mainly because I can keep up with them better than with the dedicated runners or dedicated bikers. So naturally they keep trying to get me swimming, but I really have a lot of trouble at it -- no natural buoyancy these days! So I've done a couple of duathlons and enjoyed it, but I'm not sure that a triathlon will ever be in my future.

And as for the Ironman events, I can't even conceive of it. I ran a half-marathon a couple weeks ago and did pretty well (broke 2 hours, 1st runner 65-69), but can't imagine doing that distance after 56 miles on a bike, let alone swimming. I really admire my male and female friends that do these every year!

bobthib

Doug, I hear you, but don't let the swim scare you. I sounds like you could be quite competitive if you would just try, er, Tri.

Check around and see of there is a Masters swim class that will accept beginners. At the IM event Sunday there were a few in my 55+ swim start that were using a snorkel. It's legal, but you would not be eligible for an age group award. I started swimming last October and was able to come out of the water #2 in my 65-69 AG. I held that position until a hip problem at mile 65 forced me to walk the last 5 mi.

The swim class made a huge difference. I'm not a very fast swimmer, but at 1.2 miles the key is efficiency. The swim class taught me to swim efficiently, and over the long swim that allowed me to pass a lot of people. And I got out feeling strong.

So, go give it a swim try for 3 months. You might just enjoy it. I do!