Did my first tri this weekend

[Pyannyplayer]

Sunday I completed my first triathlon! It was a sprint, but challenging none the less. The swim was tough for me, but the bike and run were AWESOME!

I appreciate all that you talk about here. I felt CRAZY to even consider doing one as I've always been overweight until now (was 260, now at 149) and I've NEVER been athletic. A friend talked me into this....and I DID IT!

My next race is August 12th and I have lots of questions. Mainly, what do you all do to improve your swimming? Personally, mine stinks! It's better than it was, but I'm so slow! I think I could WALK in the water faster.

Anyway, thanks so much for just being here! I LOVE TRIATHLONS!

Lorie

[KSH]

WAY TO GO LORIE!

What an accomplishment... first the weight loss... and then completing your first tri! Be PROUD lady!

Swimming... improving and getting faster... the ultimate question.

If you are really serious about getting faster, you will want to look into some private coaching lessons. Swimming is all about form. You can swim all you want, but if your form is bad and there is no one to coach you towards good form... you won't see a lot of improvement. Sure, you might get more endurance, but your speed won't be greatly improved.

If I were you though, I would look at your times for each event compared to your age group, and figure out where your time is better spent training. How much would it really help you if you trimmed 5 minutes off a 300-500 yard swim time? Would it take you 5 places closer to first? Or only 1 place up?

Whereas, maybe trimming 1-2 minutes off your cycling or running MPH average might gain you more.

Generally speaking... all the time you put into trying to get better on the swim... is usually better spent getting faster in the other 2 events. Keep in mind too that the really great swimmers out there, were probably competitive swimmers at some point in their life. You really can't catch up to that.

Best of luck and in the end... do what is FUN... and keeps you enjoying the sport!

[Lise]

Lorie, congratulations! Isn't triathlon wonderful? I can't explain why I love it so much, myself, but I do.

I'm with KSH about the swimming. It's the discipline I train the least in, just because it's a pain to get to the pool, etc. But I took two private lessons at the Y last year, and improved a few things about my form. I know I could improve more, but I'm not willing, at this point, to invest the time and energy. The swim portion is the shortest part of any tri, both in distance and time. So my goal is to have some endurance, get the swim behind me, and then do my best ride and run possible.

One thing I like about getting older: Fewer women in my age group! Although I just bounced into the bottom of a new group, 45-49. I look at the times of the three best in my age group, and break down where they have superior speed. It's usually the run.

Lise

[Pyannyplayer]

I think I will look into some private coaching for this summer; I think that would help me a bit. I really just want to feel a little more "adequate" at it. I've also found it hard to get into the pool (times the pool here is open are rare, indeed, for just a lap swim). It's much easier to bike or run!

Biking is really my forte, running comes next for me, and swimming is way, WAY at the bottom. My goal for this race had been just to finish, not really race yet, and I did just that. Now I want to improve my time in all areas.

I hadn't thought about seeing how others in my division did on each event....what a great idea! I was just looking at total times. I think I'll go do that right now!

Thanks again! I really, REALLY love triathlons and can't wait to do another!

Lorie

[Brina]

congratulations, that is awesome.

I will reiterate what the others have said - with swimming form is important. Get a coach to look at your stroke and make corrections. After that it is just about endurance.