Another Newbie here

[LIGirl]

I am venturing into the world of triathlon! For the past 3 years I have been a gym person- at the gym 6 days a week for a combination of cardio classes and strength training on my own. About a year or so ago I started running, probably around 3X/week as well. Not long distances, but running... So now I find myself signed up for a sprint tri which is 11 weeks away. I started my training last week. Aside from flopping around our pool, I had not swam laps in many many years! So that was interesting. I am able to swim the race distance in the pool, but very slow.
Today I tried my first brick. I rode 8 miles on my bike, then ran for...10 minutes and it felt like I had 40 lb concrete blocks attached to my legs! Is that normal? Is it something that will work itself out with training? I was only 2 minutes into the run and I am thinking to myself "how in the world will I run 3.1 mi on race day???"
I can see how this can become very addicting! I am already thinking ahead to next year, wondering how many races I could do next year!

Laura

[Skeezix]

Welcome! I'm sure the more experienced ladies here will be full of tons of more advice for you that my little novice self can offer!

For me, I think doing the bricks really helped me be prepared for that sort of weird leg feeling so I wasn't too worried about it on race day. Did, however, not do a swimming/biking brick and was wholly unprepared for that feeling. It really freaked me out on race day. So make sure you do a couple of those too.

[LIGirl]

Thank you skeezix. The swim/bike brick will be harder to do- the transition will probably be a lot longer than race day, but I will try a couple of those as I get closer to race day. I know that when I get out of the pool my legs feel very heavy so I definitely want to see how it feels to get on the bike.

[Tri Girl]

Welcome to the madness! They don't call them bricks for nothing- my legs feel more like massive boulders when getting off the bike. Do them once a week or more (a shorter and a longer one for variety), and your legs will grow accustomed to the feeling and muscle memory will build fast.
You'll have so much fun during your first tri. Just remember that you'll never have that first experience again, so enjoy the day to the fullest.
Glad you're here!

[colby]

They don't call it a brick for nothin! (Oh wait, Tri Girl already said that)

You'll get used to the feeling, it goes away after about 10 minutes. I do a brick every week, and longer ones on some weekends, and now it doesn't really mess with me mentally as much. I am able to tell myself it WILL go away. If you have to do a run/walk combo, it's not the end of the world - the point is to have fun!

Bike to swim is a little weird, but when you get stronger at swimming, you will be able to practice using your upper body more and your lower body less. This is a hard lesson for anyone who comes from a swimming background, but it pays to save the legs for the bike and run, when you need them most!

Don't worry, you'll be hooked in no time.

[teigyr]

My problem with swim to bike is I am just plain ditzy when I come out of the water I've heard of other people be brain dead during tri's so expect that, maybe. I have a screaming orange bike that I had marked really well in my first transition and my husband still had to stand on the sidelines yelling "it's over THERE! Your bike is over THERE!" as I walked by looking for my bike.

Re the bike to run...yeah. It hurts. What I found on my first tri is that it hurt if I run and it hurt if I walked so I might as well run. On my second (have only done two) the start of the run went through a chute around the park where the tri was. It meant there were spectators for about the first 3/4 mile. I cursed under my breath a lot but refused to walk and I even tried to look very very confident and brave. I don't know how well I pulled it off though...

Have fun. I think the first (and in my case the second and probably third or fourth) is about learning and enjoying yourself.

[HillSlugger]

They don't call it a brick for nothin!

Is there an echo in here?

As has been said, it gets easier the more you do the bricks.

Does "LI" stand for "Long Island"? I grew up on the Island.

Welcome to TE and welcome to the addicting world of triathlon!

[LIGirl]

MDSlug- Yes LI is Long Island. I live in Massapequa now. Where did you grow up? I am doing the TOBAY triathlon up in Oyster Bay Harbor.

Thanks all for the input.

Another question- anyone do any Total Immersion classes? I feel like I am wasting so much energy when I swim and I think I need someone to correct it. I was thinking of taking a couple private lessons just to work on my technique so I don't waste so much energy. Any input?

[HillSlugger]

MDSlug- Yes LI is Long Island. I live in Massapequa now. Where did you grow up? I am doing the TOBAY triathlon up in Oyster Bay Harbor.

Thanks all for the input.

Another question- anyone do any Total Immersion classes? I feel like I am wasting so much energy when I swim and I think I need someone to correct it. I was thinking of taking a couple private lessons just to work on my technique so I don't waste so much energy. Any input?

I grew up in Long Beach. Graduated in 1979. Haven't been back since about 1997.

[LIGirl]

Used to walk to boardwalk in Long Beach when we lived in Rockville Centre, after I had my daughter.

[teigyr]

I've done Total Immersion classes. They helped but I don't practice enough. I also get impatient with drills. (Yeah, I know all swimming requires drills )

I think it's worth it because you will learn concepts to help you know what you're doing. I don't think it's perfect and I know there's been a lot of debate on TE regarding the method but it did help me. I didn't, however, walk out of the class thinking "yay, I can swim!"

[LIGirl]

Thanks Teigyr. Any other suggestions? I know I must be doing something wrong (or alot wrong) when I swim... I just want someone to tell me what I should do to correct it. I don't even know how to go about drills. I have just been getting in the pool and swimming, trying to improve my time.

[HillSlugger]

Consider taking some lessons. It did a world of good for me.

[teigyr]

Definitely get lessons, either TI or another type. I had several lessons before my first tri. Even though I could "swim" when I was younger, I assumed that I could still swim and I couldn't.

As an instructor observed me, she asked if I felt I was rotating enough. I said yes. She said "that's odd, because you're not."

It's difficult to know what you're doing on your own because it's not like you can see yourself. I even got a coach to do some open water swims with me and that made a HUGE difference. I didn't become much of a better swimmer but he taught me rest methods and ways to relax myself in the water. Open water doesn't creep me out that much but when I saw the weeds waving around at the bottom, I started thinking about seeing body parts down there. I'm strange that way. The coach told me to appreciate the beauty when you're out in the middle of the water and notice how peaceful it is. I can still hear his voice when I swim

You've got time and I think it would help you tons. I waited until about 4 weeks before my tri and I muddled through though I should've started earlier.

I think you will have a fantastic time on your tri and you WILL become addicted

[LIGirl]

As I sit here reading up on some stuff I am already looking at some other possible dates for races later in the season! I have found one in October but I don't know if I am pushing it as a beginner- a race in the end of August, then one in the beginning of October? or is 6 weeks enough recovery?