Newb question

[HillSlugger]

I have been out of the game for almost two weeks - I had an infection which put me out of commission as far as training goes. I am only just now starting to get my energy and wondering if I should go ahead and do the tri anyway from a total newb point of view, to experience it. It's this coming Sunday. It has been so disappointing not be able to train. I don't have to train for the cycle part, I could do that in my sleep - the distance is less than one way commute to my work - but I am not the strongest runner and my stroke could use my work. I took a swim coach for an hour and she said that I was pretty good, I just needed to work on a few basic things to get even better. But I have not been able to practice. Anyone else go into a tri without lots of training?

Lots of people do it every weekend; I'm too OCD to do that myself. What are your goals?

[e.e.cummings]

My goal for this tri is just to get through it and learn the drill. There are so many basic things about a tri that I am not familiar with because I have never done it that doing it without feeling a big pressure to go fast may be a good thing.

[HillSlugger]

My goal for this tri is just to get through it and learn the drill. There are so many basic things about a tri that I am not familiar with because I have never done it that doing it without feeling a big pressure to go fast may be a good thing.

So, as long as you won't be in danger during the swim, then go for it!

[e.e.cummings]

I don't think I will drown, but I wonder if I will finish within their time limits. They say it starts at 8:15 am and are giving medals at 9:30am (not thinking that I will be among those medals, I am just interested in finishing at this stage, given the downturn in my training). Is the cut-off the medals or are people allowed to finish beyong that (is that a stupid question?) My only worry is my running, when I am not up to par, my running suffers.

[HillSlugger]

I don't think I will drown, but I wonder if I will finish within their time limits. They say it starts at 8:15 am and are giving medals at 9:30am (not thinking that I will be among those medals, I am just interested in finishing at this stage, given the downturn in my training). Is the cut-off the medals or are people allowed to finish beyond that (is that a stupid question?) My only worry is my running, when I am not up to par, my running suffers.

If there are time limits they are usually stated separate from other events like awards.

[OakLeaf]

well this is sort of encouraging ... if I'm going to do the sprint in July I'll have ten weeks after the marathon to figure out how to swim.

[e.e.cummings]

The weather tomorrow (for my tri) is supposed to be terrible - it might even snow. Oh the humanity! My first tri...

The one thing that doctor has told me is to not leave my wet tri shorts on - this is going to be fun. There is really no change area, just next to the bikes at the transition area. I guess I will try to make a quick change by putting a towel around me and do a quick switch. Think I can get away with that? I can leave the wet top on and throw a top on over that, but wet bottoms are a no-no according to my doctor for my particular ailment. The bottoms will never dry fast in the weather we will have tomorrow.

Anyone else do a tri in chilly, bad weather? Did you change out of wet things? It is a pool swim, by the way...