Thinking about triathloning?????

[giantrock]

Hi all I am looking at maybe starting at getting into Tri. I am going to be honest and let you all know that I am not the best swimmer always came last in High school and I am not the best runner either. I am 30yrs old and am totally unfit. What would be a great training plan for me and where do I start other than getting on that bike, getting in that pool and going for a run. I would really like some kind of plan to be doing that I can stick at and build on... Please help me I would really like to give this a go and achieve this goal at being a better runner, swimmer and cyclist..........

[Veronica]

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/

This is a good place to start.

Veronica

[alpinerabbit]

well, I just went the "get on that bike" way, then added some running, then learned freestyle. I started the biking thing at 33 - you still got 3 years to laze around

up to now I just went with "as much as I feel like" and it's brought me through 2 seasons.

You don't have to win, you just have to finish.

[eclectic]

I got on the bike for fun, then got back in the pool for fun, then one day thought hmmmmmm if I can bike and swim maybe I should just learn to run and do a tri - I did my first one when I turned 50 so both you and Alpine have LOTS of fun years ahead to do them.

Seriously if you have already been a swimmer even if you came in last at least you won't be starting from scratch and I think that would be the hardest thing to learn because it is technical.

For the running portion I like the Couch to 5 k program on coolrunning.com
I went by time not speed.

Good luck and let us all know how you are progressing. There are a lot of amazing women on here who were/are very supportive of me when I lept into the tri world.

and as an aside I am NOT nor ever have been what a person would call athletic (I was a band, theater, art kid but I have learned w/ tris everyone is so supportive and encouraging that even if you are one of the "glad to just be here" kind you feel part of all the excitment.

I love them

[katluvr]

I biked first, then added running and the did some duathlons...but I don't feel complete...this year I WILL do a tri. So just work on all three separate then build to combining. I must admit, the tri community is awesome...even more supportive and "close" than biking or running communities (at least that is the way it feels around here!)

[badger]

I'm thinking about doing one in March, too!

I may break into it slowly by doing the sprint and work myself up to the Olympic length.

I've been swimming with a Masters club for the past 7 years so swimming won't be an issue for me (I'm 37).

Then I started commuting to work on my bike, and have been joking with people that all I need is to pick up running and I'm set for a tri!

So I'm going to actually stop kidding and have recently started on a treadmill. I used to run long distance as a kid but stopped when I got to highschool.

I'm pretty sure I can finish it (either length), but I want to make sure I'll be upright and mobile the next day!!

[HillSlugger]

I'm thinking about doing one in March, too!

I may break into it slowly by doing the sprint and work myself up to the Olympic length.

I've been swimming with a Masters club for the past 7 years so swimming won't be an issue for me (I'm 37).

Then I started commuting to work on my bike, and have been joking with people that all I need is to pick up running and I'm set for a tri!

So I'm going to actually stop kidding and have recently started on a treadmill. I used to run long distance as a kid but stopped when I got to highschool.

I'm pretty sure I can finish it (either length), but I want to make sure I'll be upright and mobile the next day!!

I highly recommend that you start with a sprint and move to Olympic later. Beyond being able to do the distances separately, there being able to do them back to back to back, as well as working out transition issues. You are more likely to enjoy the experience of your first tri if you start more modestly and work up.

[badger]

Yeah, I think so, too. Why push myself too hard and end up having a bad experience and never aspiring to do more?

I know times won't matter to me, so I don't need to rush-rush-rush; I just want to be able to finish it in good shape.

[Possegal]

My niece, my friend and I have decided our first foray into triathloning (?) will be as a relay team. We're signed up for the nation's triathlon in September. I get to bike. I'm just not sure exactly how this will all work, so I guess I have some researching to do before then. Eventually, I would love to try one all by myself.

[tulip]

I've been toying with trying a triathlon, too. My main concern is the time required to train. My gym membership expires and I want to join the Y, which has a Masters Swimming program. The Y also has spinning classes and V02 max tests and such. My gym does not have a pool and frankly, I don't like going there (college age mostly, obnoxious music in every room, etc.)

So, I'm thinking about it...are two masters swimming sessions per week adequate for a sprint tri? I don't see how I can fit four swims per week into my schedule, but I could do two.

[HillSlugger]

I've been toying with trying a triathlon, too. My main concern is the time required to train. My gym membership expires and I want to join the Y, which has a Masters Swimming program. The Y also has spinning classes and V02 max tests and such. My gym does not have a pool and frankly, I don't like going there (college age mostly, obnoxious music in every room, etc.)

So, I'm thinking about it...are two masters swimming sessions per week adequate for a sprint tri? I don't see how I can fit four swims per week into my schedule, but I could do two.

I've done 5 sprints and am planning an Oly this summer and I get by on 2 swims per week. It can work.

[Veronica]

It probably depends on your swimming background. I did my HIM with only swimming about once every two weeks - won the swim in my division too. But the mile was my swim event in college, which was awhile ago, (yowza! more than 20 years!) but I don't think your body totally forgets. I'm lucky to have lots of upper body strength naturally too.

The sprint swim distance seems to vary. It seems to me that if you are swimming twice a week and doing the same or more distance than your event, you can complete the event. Maybe not fast, but you can complete it. But I'm not a coach, only know what I did.

Veronica

[tulip]

That helps, thanks. I used to swim masters, although I never competed so I don't know how I measure up to others (I was in the middle lanes--there were faster swimmers and slower swimmers).

I think 2 swims a week would work for me. The proof will be in the race results, but I'm not worried about winning, just finishing for myself, and getting myself into a more balanced exercise routine.

I certainly admire triathletes!

[alpinerabbit]

definitely plenty, tulip, you can do a few long easy swims if you can fit them in but you will be plenty fit. concentrate on running/cycling fitness, bricks.

[DrBadger]

oh man, I might be joining the tri club as well.... after biking for a number of years and this past year running 2 half marathons I was looking for a new goal....well my gym is starting a traithalon training program in Feb with a USTA coach. 4 weeks of conditioning and then moving into more specific tri training. we get a 4 week personalized work out schedule, 3-4 sessions with the coach a week, nutrition info and e-mail and texts from the coach every day. I think this just might kill me

so, we will see....info session on Jan 31, and program starts on Mon. Feb 2.