First Post with First Tri coming up in August
 

Well, I have been talked into doing my first Tri at the end of the summer. It is a .5/20/4. I have ridden Mountain bikes years ago but nothing on a road for well lets just say long ago. I just got a CAAD9 5, I know a road bike, but I put some nice Aero Bars on there. It has the 105 group on it, I put on some Look Keo Max pedals and got some Sidi Velcro closing shoes. I am looking for a little advice, I am fairly fit and did 20 miles on the bike for its first ride. I can easily run the 4 miles and have done 6 recently. I used to swim, but not for years, so I have to get in the pool. Any advice, other than get after it. Thanks.

[QUOTE=cajunrider;10839149]Well, I have been talked into doing my first Tri at the end of the summer. It is a .5/20/4. I have ridden Mountain bikes years ago but nothing on a road for well lets just say long ago. I just got a CAAD9 5, I know a road bike, but I put some nice Aero Bars on there. It has the 105 group on it, I put on some Look Keo Max pedals and got some Sidi Velcro closing shoes. I am looking for a little advice, I am fairly fit and did 20 miles on the bike for its first ride. I can easily run the 4 miles and have done 6 recently. I used to swim, but not for years, so I have to get in the pool. Any advice, other than get after it. Thanks.[/Q]

First bit of advice is to find a good plan. That will help you get organized and get the most of the time you have to train between now and then. If you look on our website, we recommend some good places (free as well as low-cost) that you can pick up some training plans. Looks like you have time to fit in a decent 8 week plan or modify a 12 week deal depending on exactly when your race falls. I would also say, go ahead and jump in the pool. You sound pretty comfortable in the bike and run department, so let's see how the swim looks. Two things to assess in the broadest terms possible, form and stamina. In other words, do you have a basically solid stroke, or do you need to learn/re-learn how to swim. Then, how far are you from being able to go the distance? Bike fitness and run fitness don't necessarily translate into swim endurance. In either case, I think you have time to pull it together, and there's also lot's of great swim advice out there.

what are your transition plans? whatever they are practice transitions, you will have no problems as far as fitness goes it seems, so completion should just come, work on speed if you want. Do a few bricks (long bike with a short run immediately after). Consider masters swimming or at least find a pool and work out there. if you are planning on a cold swim get a wetsuit and try using one at least once before the race.

That is my block o' advice.