I am training for my first tri which I need see if I can still get into. I decided to do this tri a couple days ago, which is on September 19th. The swim is 800 meters, 18 mile bike, and 5k run. I have the bike part down, and I getting out and running. I did a 1.3 mile "run" (it was a jog) this evening without stopping. That is a major accomplishment for me because I have not ran that much in the past 10 years. I felt like I could do more though so thats encouraging to me.
Now for the part that I am concerned about, swimming. I am not a strong swimmer, I really dont care to swim honestly. Is there anything I should do to get comfortable in the water? The option that I really have to train for the swimming portion is in the river. The local pool is filled with kids till closing and the Lap swimming time is while I am working.

I hate to burst your bubble but if you can't swim and are not comfortable with the water, you should not do the tri. September 19 is less than two months away and not enough time for you to be able to swim that distance. It is nearly a half mile which will seem like ten miles if you are struggling. If you want to do a tri and don't want to put in the swim work, I suggest you do a sprint with a 400 meter swim which may be easier on your body.

I can swim, I want to become more comfortable in the water. By saying that I am not a strong swimmer, I mean that I just dont have the endurance to swim longer distances.
I want to do this triathlon, and if I wait I fear that I wont do one. I am a Clyde, 260 lbs, and I know I am not going to place, my goal is to finish it. I am going to take my time and not worry about setting any records on this tri.

I'm a Clyde (235 lbs) and did my first triathlon last year. It was a sprint distance so the swim was 800 meters as well. There really isn't any substitue for time in the water.........ususally most pools will set aside at least one lane for lap swim even when the kids are there. Once sugestion I would make is to get a full lenght spring suit. The suit will give you a great deal more buoyancy and make the swim a lot easier. That being said from a safety standpoint if you can't get swim time in I'd see if they have a duathlon. It would really suck to do all your hard training and have to DNF in the swim.

Okay, you clarified you swimmng abilities. To place is not an important factor when doing a triathlon for the first time and being it is a short distance competition, you may not get swept. Since you can swim, I suggest you find a long distance swimming pool (50 meters) so that you have to learn to improve your endurance rather than stopping every 25 meters. If you are swimming freestyle and get tired, start with the breast stroke then flip over and do a backstroke until you make it to the other end. If you can swim 16 laps without drowning, you should be alright.

No long distance swimming pool around here. Closest one will be 30+ miles away. I am planning on actually training in the river. They have it dammed up so It makes a nice big lake. I am also planning on going to the lake where the tri is being held and swimming a bit out there to get used to where the competition is going to take place. Well the weather is beautiful out, so I am going to go swimming and get in a little ride.

I hope the first time you get kicked in the face will be a pleasant experience

good luck!

[QUOTE=walie;11199478]I hope the first time you get kicked in the face will be a pleasant experience

QUOTE]

He doesn't mean that as a bad thing, its almost a right of passage getting kicked in the face!

Ohh I cant wait till the day when I get kicked and swam over, etc... The advice I was gave as a newbie, is to start as far to the out side as possible and swim at the edge of the course.
I went swimming last night. It was the first time in a long time, and I need to get some serious work in at it. I am going to look at a gym tomorrow that has a indoor pool. The drawbacks to it are its 30 miles from where I live, and its only open till 730 pm. I am not sure if I will join it.
I rode my bike over the river last night, I try not to drive after work. I drive a Dump truck for a living, so I drive enough as it is. And after I swam, I rode 12 miles on a semi hilly route. It was get out of the river put on my shorts (i swam in my bike shorts, per recommendation of getting use to swimming in them) shirt and shoes and ride. It burned for the first 5 miles or so. Is that normal? Will that go away over time training?