Duathlon advice

[SadieKate]

Originally posted by Dirt Girl
I thought about that while skiing today, but if I fall in it, I can just dust myself off and not get WET, thus making it more similar to dirt than water.

So, what if you fall in the mud?

[Dirt Girl]

Originally posted by SadieKate
So, what if you fall in the mud?

Then I'd get muddy, not wet! It just feels different.

I'm actually not a fan of riding in the mud, so I don't do it very often. It's not that I mind getting muddy; I just don't have as much fun. Fortunately, it's a dry climate here. When we do get rain, we tend to stay off the trails until they can be ridden without damage.

I know, I know. A mountain biker who doesn't like to ride in the mud. I agree. Something IS wrong with that.

[CorsairMac]

ROFL - actually I was thinking more along the lines of "a girl whose ID is DirtGirl and she doesn't like to get dirty?"

[Dogmama]

How often do you brick?

(Really dumb question) who takes your running shoes & helmet when you transition? Do you have your sweetie standing by or...?

I'd like to do this. I've been running more & finding that I kinda enjoy it. Now, all I have to do is find one around my area...

Do they break into age brackets? I just turned 50, so maybe I could kick some a**?

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Dogmama
How often do you brick?

(Really dumb question) who takes your running shoes & helmet when you transition? Do you have your sweetie standing by or...?

I'd like to do this. I've been running more & finding that I kinda enjoy it. Now, all I have to do is find one around my area...

Do they break into age brackets? I just turned 50, so maybe I could kick some a**?

During du/tri season we (I dunno why but bricks are more fun with a group) do a bike/run brick at least few times per month.

One thing you can do if you time is limited: do your normal, planned bike ride. Transition and do a short (10-15 minute run). That way you get to at least experice the wobblies.

We usually transition at someone's house. Set up all of your running gear in a garage/enclosed porch or other safe place.

Triathlons are broken into either 5 or 10 year age brackets. There are some pretty tough 50-year old women out there!

[Dogmama]

Pedalfaster - thanks! Since the rain Goddess has seen fit to show her face on weekends, I will try to brick at the gym between spinning classes and the treadmill.

I wasn't clear before - sorry - during the actual race, who takes your things?

[pedalfaster]

Originally posted by Dogmama

I wasn't clear before - sorry - during the actual race, who takes your things?

During the race your gear lives in the "transition area". Most races have these areas roped off and have course marshalls guarding the exit/entrance. Only registered racers with numbers are allowed in the area. Most promoters have some sort of rack for hanging your bike. Hang your helmet on your bike (handlebars work well). Have energy drink and/or water ready to go in your bottle cages. Lay a towel next to your bike. Place your bike shoes (unless you feel ready to try the shoes-on-the-bike trick!sunglasses and running gear (shoes, hat?) on the towel. Some people use the towel to sit , as they transition. I prefer to stand and use the time putting on shoes to stretch.

If the weather isn't cooperating for riding, I'll sometimes do winter bricks: spin inside on the trainer for ~30 minutes, then go outside (I'm warm by then) for a 30 min run. I actually LIKE to run in the rain

[Dirt Girl]

ROFL - actually I was thinking more along the lines of "a girl whose ID is DirtGirl and she doesn't like to get dirty?"

I have loads of fun in the dirt. I really just don't think mud riding is fun.

[annaria]

Hi Ladies!
One of my goals for the year is to participate in a duathlon this August. It's a 2 mile run/12 mile bike/ 2 mile run, and I did the biking leg in 2003 (on my mountain bike) as a favor to my friend who runs. Well, this year we are both going to go solo. My goal is to finish as I'm not much of a runner. Any tips on what to do in the next eight months to prepare myself? I will be on a road bike this year.

The course is almost all flat for the running but rolling and overall slightly downhill on the return for the ride.

And to show how much of a novice I really am at this (and how much I didn't pay attention the year I was there):
1. Do you wear bike shorts and run in them or go for the biking comfort and deal with the padded shorts for the run?
2. Do you take the time to change shoes or just wear running shoes, giving up the advantages of clipping in to the pedals?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Eight months is a long time to prepare for a duathlon. What are your goals? If it is only to finish, then it should be fairly easy. How often do you workout now? Most duathletes have similar training schedules with triathletes, without the swim. I did my first duathlon as part of my training for triathlon. How much do you run now? Go to trinewbies.com for training tips for beginners.

1. I wear trishorts - comfy enough on the bike, comfy enough on the run. Regular bike shorts are too thickly padded for the run.
2. I'm definitely faster with clipless pedals. Have someone teach you to mount and dismount your bike with the shoes attached to the bike. It makes transitions faster and you get maximum style points.

[Dirt Girl]

Eight months is a long time to prepare for a duathlon. What are your goals? If it is only to finish, then it should be fairly easy. How often do you workout now? Most duathletes have similar training schedules with triathletes, without the swim. I did my first duathlon as part of my training for triathlon. How much do you run now? Go to trinewbies.com for training tips for beginners.

I'm in the best shape of my life, but I'm not one of those gals who has been an athlete since forever. Prior to taking up mountain biking, the most I'd ever done was play organized softball for 20 years and there was a year or two when I walked for three flat miles a day to release work stress. I have no doubt that by starting now, I'll be able to reach my goal of finishing. I've toyed with time goals, but I think it would be best to save that for later. I really don't want to get into the competition mindset as another one of my personal goals for the year is to not compare myself to others and to concentrate on doing my own thing. As I've never done this before, I have no idea where I'll be timewise, so I can't try to beat my own time this year.

Between lack of snow and illness, this winter hasn't been a normal workout schedule. I just started getting back to things in the past couple of weeks. I hope to jog twice a week, lift twice a week, stretch whenever possible and have two to three more days of aerobic activity (hiking, XC ski if possible, step aerobics or ride) which is currently my weakness. This riding season I hope to road ride 2x a week and still keep my 3-4x a week mountain bike rides. This might be tough for me if I keep up the 2x a week jogging. We'll see. I haven't jogged (and I do mean jog as I'm not fast enough to say run) more than about 2.5 miles at a time. I don't have the runner body type and it is not a natural thing for me. I've always been more of a sprinter type person. That's why just the goal of finishing is a big deal for me at this point.

Thanks for the response and the link! I appreciate it.

[DirtDiva]

Now this is my idea of a triathlon. Well, in a team so I didn't have to do the running part; running's just so, well, hard.

[lyz2814]

I am so excited to see some du folks here. I'm doing my first in October (the Cape Henlopen Tri/Du), and am already wondering about training. With the temeratures now at 20 degrees

[Crash]

Hi all,
I just decided to do my first Duathlon in 2 wks. The check goes in the mail today before I allow myself to think.
I have been training for the 5/3 Riverbank Run (25K) May 13. Can't say I am happy with my long runs. I love to cycle and thought this would be a break. I know I am not being sensible about this! I will be doing a long run 3 days before the Du. I haven't practiced transistions or blocks... Darn I should have put that ck in the mail before I wrote this. Oh well, I will do it for the experience. I will probably have to run/walk the run legs. Okay, my fears are off my chest. Now the positive HELP
crash

[CorsairMac]

Sometimes ya just gotta be like Nike and "do it"! Sounds like you're nervous, excited and a tad anxious but I'm betting you're gonna do just fine! Mail that check - you only live once!! and let us know how it went!

[skibum]

I say go for it!! I've done two duathlons and have never practiced transitions or done bricks. You can still do fine without that. Your legs may feel a little rubbery when you get off the bike and start the run but that feeling will fade.

I've noticed that a lot of people are out there just for the fun of it. I've seen people walking and people pushing their bikes up a tough hill. But they're out there doing it and most of them have a huge grin on their faces.

If you've been running/riding regularly, you will do great. Have fun and let us know how it turns out!