The Word "Sprint" Scares Me

[Starfish]

I just realized something. I am interested in dipping my toe into the world of Tri's. So, I am beginning to dream and scheme about the possibility of a 2 year program to be ready for a HIM. And, I realize it sounds pretty dumb to think that a HIM should be my first Tri!

But, it really just dawned on me why I am actually afraid to think about trying a sprint tri maybe next spring or something. I do NOT have a sprinter's bone in my body! I think I am afraid that if I try to do something short, I will be so dead last that it will utterly humiliate and discourage me. Whereas, for long distance stuff of any kind, I always feel that hey, even just finishing is a worthy result.

This must sound sort of twisted...but, I just realized this is how I feel. Any of you experienced triathletes got any words of wisdom?

[Zen]

Don't know what a HIM is but how about Iron girl? I just found out there is a relay component and now I'm thinking about that too!
I met a woman today who is primarily a runner but who wanted to start cross-training. She did her Iron Girl bike component on a 20 year old hybrid with platform pedals. Do it to do it!

[Starfish]

Don't know what a HIM is but how about Iron girl? I just found out there is a relay component and now I'm thinking about that too!

HIM is (I think) Half Iron Man. I have only heard the term Iron Girl here and there on this forum, I think...don't know what it is. Relay would be fun, though. I could do the swim or bike!

Edited to ask: I just checked out some Iron Girl events on a website...it looks like all running? Am I mistaken?

[HillSlugger]

The "sprint" of a Sprint Triathlon is a huge misnomer. I've now done two and I certainly can't sprint 3.1 miles.

Your average sprint triathlon is filled with first time triathletes. There will be speed demons, but most of us are just trying to finish however possible. There's lots on breast, side, and back stroking in the swim. If there are hills you might see people walking their bikes. On the run there will almost certainly be walking going on.

Don't let "sprint" scare you and don't let it keep you from trying!

[crazycanuck]

Right,

HIM=Half Ironman.

Irongirl is a race in the USA only.

Olympic distance 1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run

Ironman is the full kahuna!

To make things sound a bit nicer...down here in western australia we have a couple of classifications for short tri's.

If you're doing the Enticer distance it's the short course. Short course=300m swim, 10km cycle, 3km run

Then there's the supercharge..can't remember the distances at the moment.

If you're new to tri's, do a few enticer distances and venture from there..

C

[KnottedYet]

I side-stroked and doggy-paddled my "sprint" swim.
I kicked BUTT on the bike. (riding a hybrid, thank you very much)
I walked the run.

On the Danskin you can't come in last. Sally Edwards and a few of the elites will do the course with you, and Sally will come in last. And if you are the very last, you get a basket of goodies as a consolation prize.

(and, good lordy me, you get to spend the whole race with Sally Edwards! How cool is that!)

[HillSlugger]

There are like 10 Iron Girl events: 3 triathlons, 1 duathlon, and the rest 5k/10k running events. For 2008 there will be a new triathlon in Las Vegas. Each triathlon has different distances (the one I did in Columbia, MD was the hardest). The events are women only.

irongirl.com

[KSH]

Don't be scared of doing a sprint. There is a lot to be learned from racing sprints and working your way up to a HIM.

There are people of ALL speeds out there. Trust me, I'm not a sprinter, but somehow I gut it out.

For example, tomorrow I have a sprint tri... with a 300 yard swim. I don't feel warmed up in the water until about 600-800 yards in, so that's going to be my warm up. This body is not made for sprinting, let me tell ya!

Doing tri's is a journey. Part of the journey is experiencing all the steps that lead up to a HIM and an IM. It's also nice during HIM training to have some races along the way to keep your training interesting. Honestly, training for 3-4 months without a race, well it's hard to keep focused on a race so far out. It's very common for people training for HIM's and IM's to do sprints/olympics/HIM's before the big race.

Well, good luck in whatever you decide. I say, train for a sprint early next year. It's the perfect first step into the world of triathlon!

[Tri Girl]

Yay- Starfish is joining the clan!
I did 3 sprints this summer, and I was by no means sprinting during the events (ok, I was- but my idea of a sprint has nothing to do with me actually moving fast). Don't let the word sprint scare you. There are people who are out there for less than an hour and those who are out there for 2 1/2+ hours. Chances truly are very good that if you train properly, you'll certainly not be last!

If you go to www.trifind.com, it has tons of races listed by state. www.usatriathlon.org also lists events. Check them out and see what races are near you.
I'd definitely do a few shorter tris before doing a half. Just because during those dress rehearsals you work out all the kinks and get a good routine established. My first couple tris were a bit of a learning experience, and really helped me get better at transitions, nutrition and pacing.

I'm SO excited that you'll be joining us for all the fun- they really are the most addictive thing I've ever done.

[Starfish]

Yay- Starfish is joining the clan!

I'd definitely do a few shorter tris before doing a half. Just because during those dress rehearsals you work out all the kinks and get a good routine established.

I'm SO excited that you'll be joining us for all the fun- they really are the most addictive thing I've ever done.

Whoa there...I don't know that I will. I find this intriguing but frightening, due to my performance anxiety issues. And, it would be awhile, because I can't run with this excess weight I'm carrying...and I don't know if I can even run once it's off. Got a bad knee.

But, I'm working on the weight issue this winter, and plan to really up the bike performance with 2 LONG, HARD goal rides next summer. Hoping to cross train for weight loss and to stay healthy for the bike, so wondering how training for a first little Tri next year would mesh with an all out effort for PB performance on the bike.

Really appreciate everyone's comments. I'm a bit of an obsessor, if you can't tell. (Edited to add: I'm big on trying to find courage and doing what I'm afraid of...but I am a big chicken deep down.)

[teigyr]

Starfish, I'm not the least bit fast and I despise sprinting. I haven't done a tri yet but I'm obsessing enough about the upcoming one so maybe that counts. I chose a sprint because of the distance. I think there are so many learning curves going on, it would be nice to know the little things before I moved on to distance.

A friend of mine's husband (under the Lake Stevens tri thread!) did that one as his first tri. He never wants to do another one. I think had he started out shorter and built up to it, things might be different.

The sprint distance is daunting to me. I'm not a fast cyclist but I'm consistent. I don't want to race. I don't run fast. The swimming, uh, yeah. We'll see about that one I'm doing it for the experience and this will let me know if I want to continue with the small ones for fun or move up to more distance and training.

Oh also as Knot said, many of the womens only ones are very friendly. There will be the elite racers, of course, but a lot of women are there for the fun, challenge, and experience.

[KnottedYet]

I missed the Seattle Danskin this year, cuz of changing jobs and losing insurance and such.

I'd really like to do it again next year.

Maybe we could get a TE group going for the Seattle Danskin Tri next year?

[Starfish]

I'm doing it for the experience and this will let me know if I want to continue with the small ones for fun or move up to more distance and training.

I've been following your progress & questions with great interest on the other threads. I think you're brave, and of course what everyone says about starting small has to be true!

I just have this picture of a gun going off and everyone sprinting away and just getting toasted.

Like KHS said, I, too, am not even beginning to warm up with a 300 swim, for instance. I am just not a fast mover.

Guess I ought to go watch a sprint Tri and get a realistic picture. Probably more fun going on than all the monsters-eating-people I'm imagining.

[Starfish]

I'd really like to do it again next year. Maybe we could get a TE group going for the Seattle Danskin Tri next year?

Hmmmm. Enticing. Wonder how it will work out for my 2 goal rides in late June and early August. I wonder how training for a Tri would mess with my training for a couple of long climbing rides?

[KnottedYet]

The starts are in waves, like every 5 minutes.

On the swim I got toasted, but it wasn't that noticable because I was always ahead of the latest wave who just started (they'd pass me later, but then another new wave would've started, and so on)

By the bike the racers were pretty well steady-stream, with a few of us passing the bejeebers out of the folks who had passed the bejeebers out of us in the swim.

The run, it was still pretty steady stream of racers, no one really looking like they were in the lead or in the rear. Everyone I'd passed on the bike passed me during the run. Cuz I walked. Quite a few folks walked, or run/walked.

There were lots of folks just having fun.