New to Tri

[Meg McKilty]

Hallo thar!

Being recently convinced to tri-train again, I was wondering what people around here used as a guide to train with. I have looked up Triathlons for Dummies, however it doesn't seem good enough for some reason.

Also, did anyone follow a particular diet? I have been doing a lot of whole grains and ruffage, poultry and seafood (not a fan of pork or beef) and dairy.
Hints please.

[Wahine]

Congrats on getting into tri training.

I am a big fan of Joe Friel's "Triathlete's Training Bible". It's a great training resource. I also periodically check out his website:

http://www2.trainingbible.com/

If you run a search on this board you will find some other recommendations for programs that are available for free through various websites. I'm sure that some of the other girls will log on an help out with this.

As for diet. Mine is very similar to yours. I try to specifically include some protein with every meal and I also try to eat smaller amounts but more frequently.

Have fun training and exploring the TE triathlon forum. There's a lot of good info in here.

[Grog]

I found the training plans on http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/ to be interesting, but I must admit I don't really follow one. They have "Couch to Spring" and "Sprint to Olympic" etc. plans...

[KnottedYet]

I just eat whatever I want, and run/bike/swim when I feel like it (and for as long as I'm feeling good)

I'm a rather lackadaisical triathlete.

I train with Team Survivor, and a friend of mine trains with Luna Chix. There are some really fun bunches of women out there who are mostly newbies or low-key and are training together. If you have a similar group near you, I highly recommend jumping in with them. It's great fun, and you meet some very nifty women.

[Bluetree]

My friends were all triathletes before I got into it so I was lucky to have coach/mentors from the get-go. I wasn't given any specific instructions at first, other than "ride more, swim more, run more" until I started getting serious with a season-long plan. I think almost anyone can finish a sprint tri, as long as they have some background in all three disciplines and aren't afraid of open water swimming. Oh, and a couple of bricks before your first race wouldn't hurt, either.

My tri club is also very active and offers tons of lectures, clinics and beginners swim/rides. Perhaps you can find a club in your area. I have found that club people are very helpful to newbies... I think it justifies their own obsession when someone else wants to try it! (You mentioned trying tri-training again so I'm not sure if you've raced at all in the past)

As for diet, I'm not very strict on what I eat, but have come to learn by trial and error what works for me and what doesn't. And, what works for me is not necessarily what works for my friends. One of them has still not forgiven me for taking him to an Indian restaurant the night before a 60-mile ride. (Visualize the Alaskan Pipeline. Now visualize it exploding.)


EDIT: Should clarify, when I say I didn't alter my diet much, I mean that I have always eaten pretty healthy. I kept it around 1500 calories a day + the # of calories I exercised that day. No fried foods, almost no red meat, fresh seafood, whole grain everything, egg whites, no trans fats, no cheese or butter, etc. Easy to do in SoCal, even when eating out (Sorry, K!) When I started training hard, I changed my carb/protein ratio but still kept it much the same.

[Meg McKilty]

Again simply means that I am training again, and not competing again. Something always seems to get in the way, such as nursing school, where I must drop everything I am doing and start a new project.

Right now I am in a massive amount of pain, as I apparently have a "lumbarsacral strain". I had to go to the ED this morning (I work for a hospital, and this was policy). I was ordered four Lortabs and rest. I HATE sitting still!!