Help! Tri in a month!

[Krys]

Hi, my name is Krystal I'm new to this site. I am doing a tri on June 23. Its a sprint and its my first one. I have been a swimmer all of my life and i'm comfortable with running. I've only really mountain biked before but i'm getting a road bike this week... I've been trying to train on the mtn bike the best I can. I'm so scared. I can do past the amount in the swimming. and I've done quite a few 5k's in the last couple of years. but the biking I am seriously lacking in experience! Am I going to be okay? I'm So nervous about this. Just because I'm able to the distances seperate am I going to be okay doing them all together? Does any one have any tips to give me on my first tri? oh and there is a huge hill at the begining of the bike.. any tips would be soo welcome, pretty much about anything in the triathlon I really dont know much.

[roadie gal]

First of all, relax and just let it be a fun learning experience. Just finishing the first one is a huge accomplishment. Don't get hung up on your time or where you finish.

Second, try not to max yourself out in any one part of the race, except maybe the end of the run. If you burn out on the swim or the bike you won't be there for the run. But if you leave something in reserve you will be able to do the whole thing.

If the bike is your weak part, definitely work on that the most in the next few weeks. Try a few bike-to-run transitions/ bricks just to get your legs used to it. You don't have to go far in the run. Just a few minutes will give you an idea of how it feels. I wouldn't do this every time, just once or twice a week.

Pack your stuff the night before. If you try to do it in the morning you're guaranteed to forget something. Here's a web site for a good check list for race day: http://www.coremultisport.com/Docume...yChecklist.pdf

Give yourself some rest time the week before the event. Don't overtrain. You want to go into it rested, not tired.

Last HAVE FUN! The first one is nervewracking but such an accomplishment.

[Wahine]

Hi Krys, welcome to the wonderful world of TE.

I would second everything that roadie gal said.

Also, rest assured in your swim, just relax and have fun in the water. This is where most new triathletes have the most trouble so you've already gotten that beat.

Biking legs come around faster than you think. Especially if you already have some endurance training like running. I did my first tri on some regular mtb training of 1 to 2 hours at the most and one ride on my new bike at the full 40 km distance (my first tri was an OLY). It was fine. Just do what RG said and keep your effort level where you are working but not killing yourself. You will be able to finish.

Running off the bike is hard. So practice the transitions. Give yourself permission to walk during the race. Everyone walks during their first tri. Enjoy the atmosphere and then if you can, push hard for the last mile home.

You'll do fine. Training all the disciplines on different days will get you across the finish line. Don't worry about if you can do it all in one day. I know it seems impossible, but really you can.

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi Krys,
You will be amazed what you can pull out on race day, so do not worry. Spend some time on your nre bike getting comfortable, and practice the bike/run transitions like the other girls suggested.

Will you be wearing a wetsuit for the swim? If so get in the open water and swim with it on, and practice taking it off.

Have fun, the first one is all about learning what to do and not to do.

[HappyAnika]

Welcome to TE! The others have given you great advice. I'm doing my first sprint in July, so I don't feel like I have any additional advice on tris as a whole. However, for what its worth, I just wanted to say that before I got my road bike I had been taking my old, heavy mountain bike out around town. It was hard at first since I hadn't done any biking in years, but soon I had maxed out the gears on the road and decided it was time for a road bike. I'd ridden a 10 speed from junior high - college, which, combined with the recent rides on the mtb I think helped me transition to the road bike easily. Be prepared for a different feeling on the road bike in terms of body position. It may feel a bit wobbly at first. But keep practicing and I'll bet you'll get the hang of it quickly. How long is the bike leg? I'm assuming its between 12 and 16 miles, which you should be able to work up to comfortably in no time at all. If you get a bike this week, that gives you a month, plenty of time.

As Wahine mentioned, you already have a huge advantage being a strong swimmer. Just practice a few bricks to get used to that feeling of going from the bike straight into running.

What kind of bike are you getting? We'd love to see some pictures.

[Krys]

THANK YOU SOO MUCH! You all have really helped me feel better. I am still nervous but, you have given me a lot of confidence and great tips thank you!!
Rocknrollgirl: I dont have a wetsuit... I really dont have the money to get one either.. do you think it will be really bad not to have one? usually with swimming its good to be in colder water.. but then again not ice cold.. maybe I'll look into renting one..
HappyAnika: My leg for the bike is a little over 13 miles. And it makes me feel good that you are doing your first sprint soon too GOOD LUCK WITH THATAnd as for my new bike I think I finally found the bike that fits me best. I really like it its a Felt womens series 4. And it has two sets of brakes, ones on the top bar and ones on the regular place by the gear sifters (if that makes any sence) I really like it and its in my price range and I really like how it feels compared to the others I've looked at.
Wahine: Thanks you are right I need to just enjoy it and have fun. I kind of have a competitive nature, and I was worried that since swimming is my strong point that I would push to hard in the event. But I really like your thinking I should just relax and let my body do the work that it already knows how!
Roadie Gal: Thank you for the advice it helped alot, I'm starting to get more excited than nervous.. which is a VERY good thing. And thanks for the list I think it will really really help!!
Thank you all if you have any more advice feel FREE to give it I appreciate it soo much.
One more question.. what would you all suggest wearing? I really like the Desoto Rapida tri tank or something similar.. I'm just worried about the bra situation.. I'm a little larger up top and I'm not a fan of ANY movement while I run.. I'm just conerned about support issues and I'm sure there wont be enough support but it doesn't look like another sports bra would work very well because of the design on the back.. what do you all think, if you have seen it before and know what i'm talking about..
THANKS

[eclectic]

KRYS - I am glad you found this site too!
You are asking questions that I haven't thought of asking but am really glad of knowing the answers to.

Thanks Wahine on the kick advice - makes perfect sense!

[Krys]

Well as for the no kicking thing I have NO problem with that my coaches used to get mad at me because I wouldn't really kick until the very end of the 500 ( that is what I used to swim) so i'm used to that already.. glad that finally came in handy I knew I didn't like to kick for a reason jk
KSH: thanks for the advice! I tried spotting at the pool today. It was kind of akward making my self look up when I new the line was on the bottom but it gave me a good idea of what to do in ow.
THanks ladies

[eclectic]

Well as for the no kicking thing I have NO problem with that my coaches used to get mad at me because I wouldn't really kick until the very end of the 500 ( that is what I used to swim) so i'm used to that already.. glad that finally came in handy I knew I didn't like to kick for a reason jk
KSH: thanks for the advice! I tried spotting at the pool today. It was kind of akward making my self look up when I new the line was on the bottom but it gave me a good idea of what to do in ow.
THanks ladies

your kicking strategy made me laugh - I am not a great kicker either (I asked my masters swim coach how I can get a better kick - she said "you never will" (real encouraging THEN she added - you are a natural breaststroker so it will be hard for you to do a good flutter kick

I was reading through all the old posts on this thread to see if there was anything I may have missed.

We used the great list roadie gal linked to. BUT the advice of check your list twice is true!
my partner in tri crime forgot her cycling shoes.
Luckily I hadn't decided which ones I was going to wear so I brought both my mtn bike and road shoes- I decided on my mtn bike shoes, luckily my road shoes fit her and we had the same pedals.

Doing a practice one is GREAT! (I thought everyone did this do you have anyone you can do it w/ ?

The other gal I was w/ is doing her first one too (she is a runner) and a friend who has done many tris and has swam in the river for years came along to guide us and watch over our stuff - it was awesome!