Try-a-Triathlon

[light_sabe_r]

Okay. I'm going to give a triathlon a go on the 24th September. It's more of a participation thing rather than a competitive event. THUS why it's good for my first go.

200m Swim, 9k Ride and 3k Run through the campus of the University of Queensland.

I know it's probably very tame compared to some of the tri's you more experienced girls have tried, but hey if anything it'll be a laugh if I actually finish it. :P

[Lise]

That sounds like a great start! Have fun and don't forget that we'll be waiting on the report! :D L.

[Running Mommy]

Thats how I started!!!
Just watch out, you may become addicted!!! But in a GOOD way of course!!:D
And FWIW I still like the small races. I try to keep myself in race shape so I can jump into a sprint whenever the mood hits. It's nice to be able to do a race in just over an hour and feel like you really accomplished something.
ENJOY! And be sure to post a RR when you become a triathlete! We wann a hear ALL about it!!!

[light_sabe_r]

Thats how I started!!!
Just watch out, you may become addicted!!!

lol

My BF said the same thing when I bought my bike to keep up with him... NOW I wanna give this a go!

Yup... It's an adiction alright!

[crazycanuck]

LIght...are you still planning on doing the event???

Hope your training is going well. :)

Aim to finish...

Remember Yoda "do or do not, there is no try"

c

[Tri Girl]

Wow! Congrats on taking the dive and signing up for your first event! No matter what the distance- completing a tri is the BEST feeling in the world!!! I can't wait to hear all about it!!!! :D

[light_sabe_r]

Hi girls... Well It's all over. i completed my first triathlon! I was NUMBER 21!!!

Anyway. 200m swim...
The tri started in 1min blocks. 1-9 went first then 10-19... then me 20-29.
I REALLY sucked. I did 50m freestyle and managed to keep up with the group, but when I rounded the first buoy I started choking. thought I was going to spew, I had to stop for a sec... But I didn't want to give in here! I'd just started!!! Since I CAN'T breaststroke and my strongest suit is backstroke... I thought I'd give it a go... :P I didn't use my arm's though and I was still faster than one of the guys who started at the same time I did.

I did alsmost 150m on my back cause I was just sick.

Anyway I got out of the pool thank god and raced to the first transition. Put the helmet on then my runners (since I don't ride clipless yet) and jumped on my hybrid!

Here's where I made up lost time. I averaged 25kph on a 9km bike ride (same as my commute... only no hills.

The best part of the ride was overtaking a stunned guy who looked like a serious roadie halfway through my second lap. Here I came on my bloody heavy hybrid bike powering past him on the flats! WOOHOO!!!

Transition 2 wasn't a worry. Put the bike away and just RUN!!!

And I ran for as far as I could. I had one of the biggest stitches ever! So I'd run 2mins walk 1min etc.

Lotsa people overtook me on the run But I don't care I finished in 43-45mins. and I'll get my official time at 5pm today!

AND I won a prize. I won two tickets to the races! HORSE races that is.

All in all lots of fun. I FINISHED and know my weaknesses. Lots of training required before I try that again. :P

[Bikingmomof3]

Way To Go! The more I read the more I need to do a tri. You must feel awesome! CONGRATS!!!

[Lise]

Congratulations! You are a triathlete! :D What a great race report. Good work sticking with it when it was tough. When's your next race?

[light_sabe_r]

Lise, next race will be I think when I do the freestyle for 200m. Or better yet RUN for three. lol

Any longer bike rides will be GREAT too. I'd be willing to give something with a longer ride a go.

[colby]

Great job, LS! Sometimes you never know what's going to happen on a race day, but no matter what you think you could do better, YOU MADE IT!!! :)

[CyclChyk]

That is so awesome!!!

My hubby keeps talking about doing a Tri and I had no interest initially however I must confess that I've been thinking about it lately.

Your experience is very inspiring!

[Lise]

That is so awesome!!!

My hubby keeps talking about doing a Tri and I had no interest initially however I must confess that I've been thinking about it lately.

Your experience is very inspiring!

Yeah, we have a way of luring the innocent over to the dark side....ahem. I mean, inspiring others to do triathlons! :p Seriously though, it is a rush. And you'd have more support and encouragement and information than you'd know what to do with, right here.

[Thistle]

That's awesome LS ... you really rock.. i am inspired by you :D one day i might try one too. good work, you get em girl :D

[Tri Girl]

Wow LS- YOU ARE A TRIATHLETE!
Welcome to ranks friend. I'm so excited that your first tri was so successful!!! Although the swim was tough, you didn't give up, and kept at it. Impressive that you did most of it backstroke! The bike sounds like it was a very good ride. I don't pass people on the bike, but it sounds like a lot of fun (at least the many people who pass me look like they're having fun). :) Good for you for passing up a lot of people!! And the run- well, thankfully it's the last part! ;)
Congrats again on your tri! How many have you signed up for since you finished this one? lol- they're quite addictive! You did a great job!

[Lise]

Congrats again on your tri! How many have you signed up for since you finished this one? lol- they're quite addictive! You did a great job!Yeah, look at what happened to Tri Girl: http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=10393

It's true. Every tri I've done, I've thought, "I hate this" at some point. And when I'm done, "When can I do it again?" :D

[Denise223]

You did GREAT!! :)

Loved reading your report! I admire all of you triathletes -- I'm not a (good) swimmer, so I can't imagine doing these.... but, I really enjoy living vicariously through all of you :cool: !

Well done, Lite_Sabe_r

Peace & Love,

Denise

[light_sabe_r]

^_^

I got my times today! 44:47
I was ranked 15 in women 16-24 (out of 25) and 125 out of 173 participants overall.

So yeah a bit more training and I'll sign up for another one. :P

[Bikingmomof3]

Sounds good to me Light. You Rock!

[susanm8048]

Well done, light_sabe_r

Have you considered signing up for the Gatorade Series that starts in October? Check out USM website ( sorry, I don't have the URL, but Google it and you'll have no problems).

I did one a couple of years ago. The distances vary but the earlier ones are super sprint: 400/ 15/ 4 and gradually increase over the summer to Olympic distance.

The thing that I really liked was the fact the there are lots of regular people doing them so you don't feel like such an imposter. Also, it has wave starts and is multi loop so there will always be someone around you and nobody knows if you are winning or coming last. It is good way to hide till you get your confidence up.

The other series is the Bribie Island series, which I haven't competed in but have heard good things. I think it is put on by The Run Inn. Again, Google it.

I urge you to seize the moment and compete. After having a few kids, I made what I thought was my big comeback 2 years ago and muddled through a Sprint distance. I couldn't be bothered doing the next one because Xmas was coming up. But then early in the New Year, I badly injured my achilles which has stopped me running for 18 months.

I think what I am trying to say is, if you have got a realistic chance to compete, go for it. You never know what is around the corner.

If you can't find the information you need, Email me and I will find it for you.

Good luck, I can't wait to hear another race report.:)

[light_sabe_r]

Well done, light_sabe_r

Have you considered signing up for the Gatorade Series that starts in October? )

Funny you mention that susanm... http://usmevents.com.au/series/QTS/race_1.cfm

As part of the promotional prizes they were handing out FULLLY PAID entries into all gatorade series and bribie island events this year. I kinda looked at BF and said "Hope I don't win that one"

But looking at the QTS distances... 400m... 15km ride 4km run... and the LOOK enticer distances... (200m, 5km, 2km) Well... I know I can do that...

Well jeez I didn't realise how short they were! 0_0 There's THREE events on in my old home town! (redlands) The raby bay area I know like the BACK of my hand!!!

The main thing with that is the bike course has a KILLER hill as you hit the tri suburb border of Cleveland, Alex Hills (where I USED to live) and Ormiston. O_O That's INSANE.

[susanm8048]

Wow, fully paid entry for both series... what a prize! Not sure that I could handle THAT many tris either.....

I competed at Robina which was flat as a pancake but obviously not as convenient for you. I briefly considered the Enticer distance, but then I considered that it would take me an hour each way to drive, and so I wanted to be out on the course for at least half that time. ....And I was....

It was really good fun. Enjoy! I am aiming for one in the New Year.

[spindizzy]

Way to go!

It is so hard to do it all..signing up, (that's a big one!), training, (or not!) and then actually showing up on race day...praying for decent weather..all the registration stuff, and then completing each leg all the while saying "what am I doing here?..I'll never do this again." Then when it's all over, you think, "hey that wasn't so bad, perhaps I can do better next time." The addiction begins. You did it! YOU DID IT! Whoo Hoo!

[spokewench]

Hi you tri gals - I never ever thought I would be saying this, but I'm thinking about doing a tri - a sprint tri - i would never go farther cause with my bad back, I would never be able to run the distances.

But, a sprint tri is I think doable. I don't have much problem training for the run; I used to run in highschool and college; the bike is fine since that's my sport and has been for almost 20 years. The issue is the swim with me.

I plan to go take some lessons for a couple of weeks to get started this month and then start participating in master's swim twice a week after that.

Do you think this will be sufficient to get me there on the swim part? I don't plan on being competitive - just want to finish. Anway even if I was competetitive my friend who always beats me on bikes in my age group is going to this sprint tri and she can beat me up any day of the week in any sport!

Oh, and the sprint tri is in the middle of December. Do I have time to get ready?

[rocknrollgirl]

Great Job. I just suckered a girl that I work with in to doing a race with me this spring. I too, will stick with sprints. I am primarily an off road girl, so I am saving the endurance stuff for my mt bike races.

It is an awesome feeling to finish, get your T-shirt, and say...I am a triathlete

Way To Go!!!

Ruth

[colby]

If you're comfortable with your swimming now, as in, not learning from scratch, I'd bet you can build up the endurance you'll need by December. The base you've built biking will help you on the basic endurance side, and practice, practice, practice will help you on the swimming endurance side. Masters swim twice a week will probably whip you into shape, as long as you're swimming at least the distance of the tri ;)

I think you've got a good plan, and I'd do it.