What to wear if a tri-suit won't fit?
Hi, all,
Well, I'm thinking I'd like to try a sprint tri. The inner try-athlete has been pretty vocal about this, but there are some issues. Namely, I ride a mountain bike (although I'm told it will take skinny road bike wheels, so that may be easily overcome), and none of the tri clothes will fit me.
There's just no delicate way to say this...the "Athena" size on one of them said 160+ pounds. I'm, um, quite a bit more than that. Do they make tri suits for 240-lb people? Do I have to get a big man's suit and cut some inches off the feet or something?
Alternatively, what would be appropriate apparel? I'm thinking a tankini and skirt bottom that will transition from the water to the bike to the run, but geez, the thought of running (slowly) in a bathing suit in front of crowds...ack, I'm nuts for even considering this. I can hear the jeers already.
What kind of shoes do you wear? Those bike/running sandals? Recommendations?
There's a sprint tri here in San Diego in five weeks. A 200-yard swim, a 6-mile ride, and a 1.5-mile run. It's in the new Competitor magazine, which I picked up today, and it's described as "perfect for first-timers."
I'm sure they mean fit first-timers, but here I am, already able to swim that distance, ride four times the distance, and walk/run twice that far, too. None of it at blistering speed, but still. I just don't fit into the clothes.
And I really don't want to be laughed at (again). Has anyone who is a bit larger than average participated in a tri, and how did it go for you?
My chiropractor is helping organize an Olympic-length tri in October, and if they pull it off, there will be a sprint length, too. There will be real Navy Seals in the channel water swimming alongside the competitors, and the bike ride is going to be up a really challenging hill and out to the Cabrillo Lighthouse on the point. Really gorgeous ride.
Maybe I should just up the training schedule and start counting calories and the weight will come off and then it won't be an issue. I think I'll start there.
Thanks for any suggestions in the meantime.
Roxy
May the Unexpected Blessings Fairy sprinkle all of you liberally with her magic today
I am so blessed and humbled by the support and great suggestions here. Thank you, everyone, for the encouragement - especially about ignoring what other people think. It's something I really have to work on. It's just hard to ignore people laughing out loud as I pass them on my bike, or coming toward them and seeing them look up and me and their jaws drop in astonishment (I wish I could say "wonder and awe," but let's be honest here).
Thank you, Salsa, for pointing me to Junonia. They've got a hot tri-suit - black with pink detailing - in my size. And thank you for the book recommendation, too. I ordered Slow, Fat Triathlete at Amazon today. It will be my vacation reading during Spring Break.
Okay, now, for the clothes...I wear the tri-suit under the wetsuit for the swim? And then take the wetsuit off and bike in the tri-suit with my cycling sandals - Keen, on sale now at REI - and then switch to my running shoes for the run, and slip on a skirt over the tri suit?
Can you swim in just the tri suit? The swim portion is in Mission Bay, I think, and it's connected to the Pacific, so the water will only be in the low 60s, if that.
Or maybe a tankini top with swim shorts or Junonia has swim capris...never seen those. And all of this fits under a skin-tight wetsuit? Really?
Are you allowed to have help getting through the transition part?
Do you just leave your stuff in a rack with everyone else's stuff and trust that no one mixes up and takes your goggles by mistake?
Can any of you recommend a good post with a step-by-step how-to for what to expect? If I can envision it and feel like I've planned it well, I'll feel better about going in. Meanwhile, I need to get myself on a regular all-in-one-day training schedule for these different activities and maybe even practice the transitions.
What would be considered a fair time for these distances?
200m swim
6-mile ride
1.5-mile run
I've never timed myself swimming, but I'm not fast. I think I could ride the six miles in about 28 minutes, but that's on mtb tires, and I've never tried it racing - the pace may be faster if I'm not watching out for pedestrians and toddlers who've escaped their strollers while mom's on her cell phone.
The run I do in 30 minutes. 28 if I'm pushing myself.
I figure an hour and a half for the whole thing.
I know I can finish. I know I can finish. I know I can finish.
This is become more real with every post I read.
Thank you all again.
Roxy