Help! Tri in a month!

[HappyAnika]

I like KSH's idea of starting with a 10 mi./ 1 mi. I think its a good idea to start easy so you get the hang of it without feeling like you're being punished. For me, if I have a bad experience doing something, I'm less than eager to go out and try it again (I guess that makes me sound wimpy, but really, this is supposed to be fun, don't turn it into a torture session!) A good goal to have in training is to generally finish feeling like you could have done more (exceptions maybe being speed/interval work, and actual races).

Good luck! Bricks are fun!

[eclectic]

Krys

I had to laugh at your comment about your red face - mine gets like that too - everyone else thinks I am ready to explode

Re the swim portion. I am not an tri expert by any means and I don't even have my first one under my belt but swimming is my stronger area too and I have competed competitively.

I was talking to a friend who did a tri. He was a swimmer first also and said that he and a bunch of others got in the water and really raced. By the time they got out their legs were like rubber and some could barely stand. THEN they had the bike and run portion to get through and their legs were spent.

Everything I have read (and correct me if I am wrong ladies - I have been known to misinterpret) is swim for power w/ your arms and your core and kick enough to keep your legs up so you have them left for later. If you are wearing a wet suit you will barely have to kick.

If you are distance racer you shouldn't have a problem but if you are used to going all out for 100's or 200's you will have to practice pacing yourself down some so you don't get caught in the frenzy and excitment of the moment and go so fast you have nothing left. (did that make sense? I know what I am trying to say and just hope I got it across - after a swim only race of 100M racers go so fast they need recovery time before the next race, in a tri you don't get the recovery time so you need to pace yourself accordingly - there I think that is what i am trying to say)

[KSH]

Everything I have read (and correct me if I am wrong ladies - I have been known to misinterpret) is swim for power w/ your arms and your core and kick enough to keep your legs up so you have them left for later. If you are wearing a wet suit you will barely have to kick.

I would agree.

The swim should be completed as if you are doing a long distance swim. A good stroke will propel you through the water efficiently with a very minimal kick. Whereas, if you are sprinting, you typically have a strong kick and quicker turnover of your arms- probably only appropriate if you are in a pool and only doing 50 yards... and that won't happen in a tri.

I typically do not kick that much in a race. I only use it when I have to power through waves or keep someone off my heels. Otherwise, not so much.

I just focus on my stroke and gliding through the water.

[Krys]

THanks for the advice. I will deffinatly try my first brick this weekend. So I have another question for all of you ladies.. i dont know how to spot in the water and I'm nervous about swimming in the open water. I'm used to competing in a pool where there is a straight line to follow. How do you do that? I'm scared I might freak out in the water and freak out because there are so many people.. how do you handle that?
My next question.. what do you usually drink on the ride? I've read of people doing water and others sports drinks.. what do you think??
Thanks ladies for all your help! I am SO glad I found this site and all of you wonderfull people!

[KSH]

THanks for the advice. I will deffinatly try my first brick this weekend. So I have another question for all of you ladies.. i dont know how to spot in the water and I'm nervous about swimming in the open water. I'm used to competing in a pool where there is a straight line to follow. How do you do that? I'm scared I might freak out in the water and freak out because there are so many people.. how do you handle that?
My next question.. what do you usually drink on the ride? I've read of people doing water and others sports drinks.. what do you think??
Thanks ladies for all your help! I am SO glad I found this site and all of you wonderfull people!

Spotting. Do it in the pool for practice.

Set something at the end of lane and every 4-8 strokes, glance up to look at it.

When you go to breathe, you kind of bring your head up and look ahead, then you breathe to the side with you head towards your shoulder and carry on with your stroke.

You don't need to analyze what you are spotting... but instead... all you need a glance at it.

In open water, you want to try to find something on shore (that isn't moving) that lines up with the boyous (? spelling) you need to swim for. If you can find a tree or something of the like that is good.

Keep in mind that the boyous are bright and easy to see in the water (assuming there are no waves)... again, all you need to do is get a glance of the color as you lift your head and keep swimming towards it.

To stay away from the crowds... start on the outside (away from the boyous) and towards the back. When you swim, do not hug the boyous, the fast swimmers and the ones out there really competing will be hugging them... if you stay close, but not on top of the boyous when you round them, less chance of getting run over in the water.

Otherwise... getting in OW does different stuff to different people. If you start to freak, you have to talk yourself through it. Remind yourself that you can swim, you can do it, and keep stroking. A lot people get freaked out because of murky water.

On the bike... for a sprint I just use water. A 20oz bottle. I don't even drink all of that. I do not do any nutrition. It's a short race, so you really don't need to. Just eat a breakfast of around 500 or so calories about 2 hours before the race... you will be good to go.

GOOD LUCK!

[alpinerabbit]

When you swim, do not hug the boyous, the fast swimmers and the ones out there really competing will be hugging them... if you stay close, but not on top of the boyous when you round them, less chance of getting run over in the water.
...
If you start to freak, you have to talk yourself through it.

hee hee although IF you start to freak you may be so glad to reach your buoys (sp!) that you are going to hug them. Just joking.

I've only done two OW swims recently and have been fine so far. Seems to me we are only hearing of those who get scared.

[Wahine]

I agree with the swim advice but would add that while you don't want to kick a lot for most of the swim, do kick hard for the last 1 to 2 min. This will get your body moving blood back into your legs and will help you get ready for the ride.