What brought you to tris

[firenze11]

I enter into this section with a bit of trepidation and a lot reverence. I've been thinking about triathlons since Geonz's post about Trek's Women Who Ride blogs a day or two ago. I've always been drawn to them (I have a huge love for watching Kona), but am totally clueless as to where to start learning about them or if I could ever even do a sprint.

So I thought I'd ask you. I've been reading the archives of a lot of your race reports and getting verklempt at the Ironman reports. What inspired you to try tris? Where/How did you start training? How supportive were your friends and family at first? What resources would you recommend - inspiring books? training help? websites? (I've visited trinewbies and beginnertriathlete but feel a bit lost).

I was a very strong swimmer when I was a kid and used to love it, but haven't done it in awhile. A couple of years ago I ran for fitness quite regularly but only 5 miles tops. And now the cycling bug seems to have bitten me. So I guess the curiosity is inevitable.

Thanks in advance. You all are so inspiring!

[KnottedYet]

I started running with my dog and swimming with my friend in the lake and commuting by bike.

I'm not big on training regimens...

I'm the example of what NOT to do to train for a tri!

[Wahine]

I started running with my dog and swimming with my friend in the lake and commuting by bike.

I'm not big on training regimens...

I'm the example of what NOT to do to train for a tri!

Knott, is a very good example of exactly how you should approach your first tri. Because you can and it's fun.

I came into tris after having a severe hip injury that limited me to only swimming for exercise. At the time I used to run regularly and mountain bike a bit. From that experience, I found out that I can actually swim and I thought what the heck... The rest is history.

My first tri was an olympic distance because it was the only one I knew of in the area with a pool swim (no way you were going to catch me in open water) and no travel involved. I finished and had fun. So the next year I did the same race again and a half Ironman on a dare. Turns out that I'm pretty good at the distance stuff so I just kept going with it. I've now done more sprints and Olys than I care to count, 9 HIM and 2 IM distance races.

You already have a good basic background. You'll do fine. As for training, most plans (and there are some good free ones on Trifuel, at least there used to be) start at around 12 to 14 weeks out. The nuts and bolts of it is to get out and train each discipline 2 times per week if possible and make sure you hit all your distances about 1-2 weeks before the race.

The best advice I have for you is to find a nice low key local sprint. If you're nervous about swimming start with a pool swim. Don't worry about your times and have fun. Ask questions here and on a forum (if there is one) for the race itself. See if there is a local tri club that you can get involved in. Triathletes are generally a very supportive lot and are more than happy to help.

[alpinerabbit]

"Because I can" or rather "because never thought I would ever can" is a good reason, no?

You know Wahine, these plans would not have given me enough confidence if you only hit the sprint distances right before the race. I need a lot of confidence. So I need to know I can do much, much more than that.

But firenze11, you're a swimmer. So 500 is a joke. And that is the hardest part, isn't it?


Rabbit, giggling at "verklempt"

[Tri Girl]

Firenze, with your swimming backgound- you've got it made. It's truly an addictive sport, and so much fun!

After I lost a bunch of weight and was no longer fat, I took up running. I ran a couple marathons and many shorter races. Luckily, I injured my knee and couldn't run for many months (I consider my injury lucky because it brought me to tris). I bought a road bike to stay in shape and then the thought occurred to me that I could do a tri because the training wasn't all running. I did my first sprint and LOVED every minute of it. I'm not fast, but I enjoy it. 2 years later, I'm gearing up for my second IM and I couldn't imagine having more fun doing something. I could clean up my diet, get more serious and train like a maniac- but that's not fun for me. I do tris because I like them, and while I'm not going to be winning any prizes- it makes me feel good about myself.

My husband (my only real family around) is very supportive. I even got him into doing tris (he learned to swim and bought a bike because it "looked like fun").
When I first started, I bought Triathlon 101 and Triathlons for Women (books) and read everything online that I could (www.trinewbies.com, www.beginnertriathlete.com). I also joined our local tri club and made some good friends who gave me the best advice. If you have a local club- give it a try.
I follow a training schedule, but it varies depending on my race schedule. I have a book: Training Plans for the Multisport Athlete by Gale Bernhardt that has plans for every level of competition. They've worked well for me.

Best of luck to you!!! BTW- which race/races are you thinking about for the coming year?

[Wahine]

Alpine brings up a good point. Some people do need to try more for confidence on race day. Physiologically, it's not necessary, but psychologically is an entirely different question.

I've never had an issue with training for distance. I have plenty of confidence going into an IM with my longest training run being only 15 miles, my first marathon in fact, was part of my first Ironman.

So you need to pick out a plan that you think clicks with you. Maybe you need more distance to get your confidence, maybe you're a mom with 2 kids and you need more time. Either way, have fun with it and ask lots of questions.

[Bron]

I have a book: Training Plans for the Multisport Athlete by Gale Bernhardt that has plans for every level of competition. They've worked well for me.

This was the book I used too. I had thought about doing a tri for a while and just got the the point where I said "now or never". I used the "six weeks to olympic distance" plan in the book although my first tri was actually a sprint. After a week of training DH joined in (decided he didn't fancy standing with all of the wives and girlfriends while I raced). Our swimming was seriously bad, but we just followed the plan and it did what it said on the tin - got us through our first triathlon without breaking anything (or coming last).

I'm going to modify the "faster olympic distance" plan for this year......getting ambitious!