I'm going to start with a duathon

I had planned on doing my first tri this summer but flaked out because I was scared of the open swim in the Gulf of Mexico since I had only been swimming in the pool. I found a "reverse duathon" consisting of 9 mile ride, 6 mile run, 9 mile ride. That sounds like a good place for me to start and I don't have to panic about possibly drowning or getting eaten by a shark. I haven't signed up yet because now I can't find it on active.com but I think it is in October. I am excited just thinking about it.


Here is my question. What is the reason for starting and finishing with cycling and running in between the two? Is it going to make it a whole lot tougher for me being a beginner to keep switching how I am using my muscles....or is it designed to be easier by breaking up the cycling. I guess I am confused on the why or maybe I am thinking too much. The distances are fine for me (my normal run is 3-4 miles, but six won't be a problem for me by then), but so far, I have always run one day and would ride another day. I have until October to train.

Anyway....I am just excited about doing it. I have only done running in events and feel very proud to even be contemplating this. Three years ago, I got winded walking up the stairs!

Hello and welcome!

Before I did a tri, I did a duathlon. I wanted to get a feel for moving from one dicipline to another and for the transitions.

It was a nice way to enter the sport.

Although, I have to say... I am now sworn off du's. I'm such a horrible runner... when I do a du, I start at the back and never really gain any ground from there. At least in tri's, I'm fast in the water... so I come out early and then just get passed on the bike and run. At least I get other racers around me though. I have found that I don't really like racing alone out there.

Enjoy your du! If you are a runner, you will enjoy it.

As far as the bike-run-bike combo. It's odd. Never saw a du like that around here. Although, I would pick that over run-bike-run! I'm sure it's just something the race director selected to do.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Congrats for taking the leap into multisportdom.

I can see where swimming in the gulf could be little nerve wracking. You may want to work up to that one w/ a lot of openwater swims.

If I was going to do a dua that is the type I would like to do as I am a rotten runner (the 6 miles would still be a stretch for me)

Why don't they have a swim - bike - swim dua ever ???? Maybe that is something I could kick butt on :D Let's organize one KSH :p

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Originally Posted by eclectic

Why don't they have a swim - bike - swim dua ever ???? Maybe that is something I could kick butt on :D Let's organize one KSH :p

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I think if the swim was last there would be a real chance of tired athletes drowning.

I recently saw a du called "The Splash and Dash", swimming and running.

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Originally Posted by eclectic

Why don't they have a swim - bike - swim dua ever ???? Maybe that is something I could kick butt on :D Let's organize one KSH :p

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Now, that's what I'm talking about! :D

I'm doing a du in a week and mine is run,bike,run. I'd rather do the bike,run,bike like you are. I've been doing my du practices every Saturday for the last 5 weeks and they are alot easier cuz my legs are adapted to the transition. When you do yours, the last transition will be to your bike and your legs are fried from your bike, run and then you get to sit on your bike and give those legs a little bit more of a break then the pounding on the pavement. Do your brick workouts and you will be fine. ;)

I just did my first duathlon tonight... it was a trail duathlon that consisted of 1k run, 10k mtn bike, 5k trail. It ruled! It's also a weekly thing here so I can't wait for next week!

thanks for all the encouragement.

"brick work outs"? I will research that one. That is the great thing I have found about this sight....the search option is wonderful. I got my first pair of riding shorts tonight....Pearl Izumi breakaway shorts and some gloves. I can hardly wait to go for a ride. Since I am new to riding, I find myself not running as much so training for this might keep me motivated to keep running. I just want to ride!

Watch out, riding is addictive. I started it to improve my hiking, and then all I wanted to do was ride.

Brick workouts are when you ride and then immediately go for a run. Before I got my tri shorts, I would leave my bike in the back yard, run into the house, change into my running shorts and shoes, then head back out the door as fast as I could. If you can run in your bike shorts, you can save the change and just have your shoes handy to head out for the run. It's not necessary to do a long run, just enough to get your legs used to the feeling of going from biking to running. For my sprint tri I would usually do a 10 - 15 mile ride (fairly hard), then run 1 - 2 miles. If I recall correctly, I think when RunningMommy was training for her Ironman, she would do a long ride (80 miles?) followed by a relatively short run (6 miles?). You may have jelly legs for the first 10 minutes or so of running, but it gets better after that, and the more bricks you do the easier it gets. Have fun! For some weird reason I really liked doing bricks. :D

Thanks. I was going do a run this morning after my ride, but didn't. I rode 13 miles and then came in to change into my shoes and the phone rang, then daughters needed me then I guess I just got side tracked when I came in the house. Maybe I need to put my running shoes in the garage and sneak in so no one actually knows I am home. My legs feel kinda like jelly when I brought my bike upstairs, so I know the run would have felt really weird.

gotta start the brick workouts!!! This riding is absolutely addictive!