Revisiting AquaBike (or a tri as a relay)

[Blueberry]

So I have long term goals of doing a half ironman and then maybe an ironman tri. As some here know, I have had ankle problems for the last few months from my most recent attempt at starting to run (still in PT, still no running).

I can swim, and I can bike. So, rather than keeping all tri plans on hold until after the injury heals and I can start training for running again (and the very long time it will take me to build up to running for the distances I want to race), I have been pondering either doing an aquabike event or doing a tri as a relay (with my significantly-more-talented-at-running DH doing the run leg).

I have not trained for swimming in a long time, but am very comfortable in water (yes, including open water), and have never had issues with it before. Do do not have wetsuit experience, though. I've done long rides approaching centuries. The events I am considering would likely be a flat-ish bike, and would be late summer or fall.

Is doing half or a full aqua bike in 9-10 months out of line? Anyone have any training plan recs? Or have I lost my mind?

[GLC1968]

Take what I say with a grain of salt, I've only been in tri for two years, so I'm no expert!

What I would suggest is that you give open water swimming a try. I know you say you are comfortable in it (did you swim competitively?) but in a race situation, it's really different. I am comfortable in open water and if you dropped me out in the middle of a lake all by myself, very far from shore, I would be fine with it. Put me in a race, in a wetsuit, with 1000 of my closest 'friends' and it's a very, very different story. I had a panic attack the first time and still sometimes struggle with remaining calm for the start of races.

So my first advice would be to NOT make your first race experience swim the big race. If you do pick one for next fall (and yes, I think you can be at a half-distance by then...maybe even full depending on how strong of a swimmer you are), choose a shorter tri with an open water swim earlier in the season to see how you do. You may be fine, some are. You may find that with a little more exposure, you'll be ok (this was my case), or you may find that OW race swimming is not for you. Better to get it out of the way in a short race, close to home where there isn't a big financial investment.

[Blueberry]

Hmm....good points.

I sort of swam competitively (not in college) - and was never the fastest (at least at a 50-100) - but still love the water. Have done some swimming in a wetsuit (including towing weaker swimmers back to the boat - ah college). The "friends" could be an issue - but the race I'm looking at is B2B, which is known for having a less chaotic start.

I'll see if I can find something earlier in the season that will do an aqua bike - but most races here don't. I may have to register without knowing (I think B2B filled up last year fairly early).

[Blueberry]

Hmmm....looking at schedules:

B2B is 10/20

There is an international distance (White Lake) in 9/8.

Sprint Distance on 7/14 (Local)

Double Spring 6/2 (Coast - salt water)

Of course, other than B2B, none are likely to be wetsuit legal (you remember NC water, right?).

Double hmmm......

[GLC1968]

B2B is an ocean swim, correct? That adds another degree of uncertainty, of course, but not an insurmountable one.

Your swim background sounds a lot like mine, so a little experience will go a long way towards your comfort. Oh, and I wouldn't worry too much about the wetsuit - if it fits you well, it actually makes the swimming easier. You'll want to test it out in the water before you race just to know how it feels, but I don't think you'll need to do a tri in one to 'get it'.

The other thing you could do is to register for one of those earlier tri's and if you can't get V to run for you in a relay, you could just walk the run or skip it altogether.

Oh, also check if there are any tri shops or clubs in you area that do any starter clinics. Some here do OW group swims and smaller 'practice' triathlons to help beginners get experience.

[GLC1968]

Go here:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/di...iew.asp?fid=62

(Beginnertriathlete forums - NC state discussion) It looks like lots of potential information to glean!

[SLash]

So I have long term goals of doing a half ironman and then maybe an ironman tri. As some here know, I have had ankle problems for the last few months from my most recent attempt at starting to run (still in PT, still no running).

I can swim, and I can bike. So, rather than keeping all tri plans on hold until after the injury heals and I can start training for running again (and the very long time it will take me to build up to running for the distances I want to race), I have been pondering either doing an aquabike event or doing a tri as a relay (with my significantly-more-talented-at-running DH doing the run leg).

I have not trained for swimming in a long time, but am very comfortable in water (yes, including open water), and have never had issues with it before. Do do not have wetsuit experience, though. I've done long rides approaching centuries. The events I am considering would likely be a flat-ish bike, and would be late summer or fall.

Is doing half or a full aqua bike in 9-10 months out of line? Anyone have any training plan recs? Or have I lost my mind?

Plenty of time! I did my first ever "tri" - Half im aquabike last Sept. and didn't start training (swimming, I biked lots so that wasn't an issue) until June, and not in earnest until July. I did fine, and had a blast!

Go for it! You'll do great.