Triathlon Thread 2009

[hoosmi]

Thanks for the tips! I will definitely be careful with riding on the right (and be listening for fast wheels)! I hate it at the beginning of Disney races where people decide to start a walk interval directly in front of you-- I don't want to do the equivalent of that on a bike. I'm actually neurotic enough about it that I may not try to pass anyone. I'm guessing with my swimming abilities I won't have to worry about too many of the fast people!

I'm such a dork that I looked up times from the other races in this series- if someone had a long bike time and a swim/run time near what I anticipate, then I looked at their pictures- yep, usually had a bike like mine. It's a proud day for me- both procrastinating at work and stalking strangers.

Stego- Thanks for pushing me to think more about bike fit! I have a friend here who coaches tris. She's going to help me find a better bike- either used or at a good shop. (I didn't really like the bike shop where we got Emma's bike- they were a bit condescending and made me want to start yelling "I've done Goofy!!") I'm going to ask her to watch me swim next week too (she works part-time at the Y).

Carrie- I looked briefly at renting a bike, but they're something like $200. I thought I'd be better served trying to find one to buy since I want one at some point anyway. It was a good idea though!

Jen in GA

 

[lklasing]

Hi Jen in GA - I'll be doing the Trek tri with you! I've had a trip to WDW over Labor Day planned since early spring, staying at Fort Wilderness no less. When I found out there would be a triathlon there while I'm there, I decided I'd have to give it a try. I've been enjoying lurking on this board ever since I decided to sign up.

I've been running for years but never anything else, so I've spent the summer in the pool and spin classes. I feel like my training is pretty good, except that I haven't been able to get on the road on the bike very much. (Just once, to be exact, but I'm going to try again tomorrow afternoon.) I'm just too scared of getting hit by a car to get out there and ride by myself, so that has limited me to beginner group rides which have proven hard to work around.

Anyway, I'm renting a bike for the race as we're flying down. I hope it will be okay for me.

I'm worried about the heat for the race - any thoughts?

Where are you staying? I'd love to run into a Disser at the expo!

Leslie

 

[hoosmi]

Leslie- Hey!

I'm right with you! We planned a trip before I knew about the tri. Turns out we're staying at Fort Wilderness- how could I resist signing up?

I've done lots of the Disney road races, but never a tri. The way I see it, it's like the first long distance race I ever did. Sure, it won't be pretty, but as long as I have fun and stay out of everyone's way, it will be quite the memory!

I think I'm going to hit the Expo around 1:00 or so on Saturday. I'd like to go earlier, but the peeps want to hit MK early. Maybe we'll find each other out there! (I registered for the 35-39 group).

We've gone something like 5 of the last 7 Labor Day weekends. It's always hot! I seem to remember a lot of afternoon showers, but nothing that bad. (I finally learned to bring big baggies to put my kids' masks in at Epcot).

A few years back we had to cancel our Labor Day trip because Disney closed for a hurricane. Better safe than sorry, but it was the one trip I'd planned perfectly! That was really unusual though, and the storms even hit us 4 hours NW of Disney.

Jen in GA

Jen in GA

 

[ironz]

I came up short today on the last long workout...

No lifeguard at the pool, so no swim...

100 mile ride (which was good)

6 mile run/bonk (instead of 12)...maybe I'm NOT ready.

Thanks for the insight and encouragement!

Hey, Mike...I've been off the boards for a bit...busy summer with various things going on.

You're going to be fine!
A 12 mile run off of that last long bike ride isn't *really* necessary. Not sure if you had a coach make that training plan or if you came up with that on your own. Many coaches recommend a transition run of only up to about 1 hour, as you're going to be doing other long runs in training anyway. So...esp if you had challenging weather conditions (heat and humidity), you did super!

I was just thinking about you the other day...maybe I "sensed" you had posted to me!
I'm so excited for you! You've done the bulk of the work....when will you start your taper? 3 week taper? I can promise you that you will have a zillion doubts during taper...."am I ready?" "did I do enough?" etc.... What I can also promise you is that you will not gain any more race fitness in the last couple of weeks, but you CAN do something to negatively impact your race. So, when you think you want to do a little extra in the next few weeks...DON"T. Can tell you a great story of a friend who had to cut her bike ride short on the last longish ride 2 weeks out from her first IM due to illness (she ended up in the ER with dehydration trying to push through). Then, to "make up for it" she did a longer ride than she should have the last weekend before race day and wrecked her bike and had big road rash for IM day. So don't do anything stupid!!

I know I haven't come up with my old RR from IMMOO. It's challenging, but you will have fun!
I can PM you some stuff.
I DO have a great writeup on all the bags...special needs, transition bags, etc...that is a big difference from the usual tri stuff. I didn't send you that already, did I?

I can PM that stuff to you, or PM me your email and I can send it that way. Whichever is best for you.

Anything else? You're going to be an IRONMAN! yay!

 

[ironz]

Hi, gang....I've totally been off the boards, but still doing the tri thing. Time to get caught up! Sorry I have been missing.

Carrie...hi!!

Stego...hi, to you, too! Will try to respond to the PM later tonight or tomorrow. Very excited for your fall racing!

Hoosmi....I'll agree with Stego on the bike fit. That will be key, for performance, comfort, and safety. Hopefully one of your friends can help with that. If you don't find another bike, *maybe* some adjustments of the tilt of the handlebars or the stem length can help, but most people don't want to be too crunched up on the bike. I have a pretty tight position, but a) I'm shorter and b) I'm on a tri bike and am more aero sortof crunched up.

I don't think that having fast people fly by you like Stego suggested is going to be a big problem with the Trek women's series, with more of a beginner type draw to the race. But you'll definitely want to be able to hold your line, ride right except to pass, etc. Test out if you want toe cages on the pedals. It'll be a flat course, so not as key to be 'stuck' to the pedals as on hills. Most important (again ) to be safe and comfortable.

Sounds like a fun time....I won't be racing at WDW again until the Goofy. and didn't do the 70.3 out there this year. A shorter race would be super fun!


As for me....busy summer...lots of work travel, a little fun travel, and some tris. Only did one long race, the Kansas 70.3 (I think that was my last RR on here?). Did a cycling trip to Oregon in July, with a decent amount of riding on some good hills. The ride up to Crater Lake was hard, but well worth it. We rode around the rim of Crater Lake one day, which was stunningly beautiful. I even hiked down to the lake surface and took a quick dip! I lasted all of about 2 minutes without a wetsuit, as the water temp was between 45 and 50 degrees! But it was cool to say I swam in Crater Lake (deepest in the US). Took another vacation after the cycling trip and did NO workouts, like "normal" people vacation. haha!

Did 2 sprint tris in August already. 3rd in AG at one, and 1st in AG at the other! yay! I still suck at running, and will need to continue to work on it, in a big way. Good thing I can hold my own on the swim, bike like heck, and transition with the best of 'em! Next tri is on Sunday (another sprint).

Next year is Goofy and then Ironman St. George in May!

 

[lklasing]

Leslie- Hey!

I'm right with you! We planned a trip before I knew about the tri. Turns out we're staying at Fort Wilderness- how could I resist signing up?

I've done lots of the Disney road races, but never a tri. The way I see it, it's like the first long distance race I ever did. Sure, it won't be pretty, but as long as I have fun and stay out of everyone's way, it will be quite the memory!

I think I'm going to hit the Expo around 1:00 or so on Saturday. I'd like to go earlier, but the peeps want to hit MK early. Maybe we'll find each other out there! (I registered for the 35-39 group).

We've gone something like 5 of the last 7 Labor Day weekends. It's always hot! I seem to remember a lot of afternoon showers, but nothing that bad. (I finally learned to bring big baggies to put my kids' masks in at Epcot).

A few years back we had to cancel our Labor Day trip because Disney closed for a hurricane. Better safe than sorry, but it was the one trip I'd planned perfectly! That was really unusual though, and the storms even hit us 4 hours NW of Disney.

Jen in GA

Jen in GA

Hey Jen - our stories sound very similar! I'm very excited about the race but very nervous. When do you arrive at WDW? We get there on Wednesday, and are staying in one of the cabins. Are you in a cabin or camping? We'll probably miss each other at the expo, as I'll be going in the morning while my family sleeps in after a night at MNSSHP. (Nothing like staying out till after midnight a couple of nights before a race!)

Hope to see you anyway! Stay in touch about what you decide to do about the bike!

Leslie

 

[wtpclc]

Trek Tri-ers - What are your distances?

Leslie - I am so heat intolerant. However, startign with a swim adn a bike helps tons. Make sure you stay hydrated, but, unless things get incredibly hot, I would think you'd be ok.

Betsy - Good to see you! Sounds liek a grat summer! WTG on that 3rd!!!! (BTW, yes, you did post KC, thanks!)

 

[lklasing]

Trek Tri-ers - What are your distances?

Leslie - I am so heat intolerant. However, startign with a swim adn a bike helps tons. Make sure you stay hydrated, but, unless things get incredibly hot, I would think you'd be ok.

Betsy - Good to see you! Sounds liek a grat summer! WTG on that 3rd!!!! (BTW, yes, you did post KC, thanks!)

Thanks for the reassurance about the heat. I've been running throughout the summer in the heat, so it won't be a complete shock, but I know the humidity is so high down there. I have to obsess about something so it might as well be that. (Swine flu or a hurricane striking before the trip are the other two obsessions!)

I think my distances are pretty good, but I'd very much welcome any feedback. As this is my first triathlon, I've really been making this up as I go along. I've been swimming a mile at a time, about 3 times a week, for the past 6 or so weeks. (Lesser distances 3-4 times a week for about 6 weeks leading up to that.) A few short swims have been in the lake, so hopefully I've gotten over that hurdle. Biking has almost always consisted of spin classes of 45-60 minutes each, about 3 times a week. (This is definitely where I could have done better. The classes are TOUGH but it's got to be different out there on the road.) I've been running about 15 miles a week, with long runs once a week anywhere from 5-7 miles. Any feedback??

I just got back from a lunchtime run and was thinking about tapering. I'm a little over 2 weeks from the race. Given that it's a sprint, what do y'all think? I'm sure that Wednesday through Saturday (with race on Sunday), I won't do any real training, other than hoofing it around WDW. Should I cut back any before I leave, or keep going like I am now till then?

Thanks very much for any responses! I've been enjoying reading about everyone's tri-plans!

Leslie

PS - I just re-read your post. You may have been asking about what the distances are for the race. If so, ignore all of the above! The race is a 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike and 3.1 mile run.

 

[hoosmi]

Another daily pesky update!

I woke this morning with a new sense of purpose. I'm complicating things too much! To heck with buying a bike and possibly making a hasty, expensive mistake- I rented a hybrid bike (you were so right, Carrie!). The next few days I'll keep running and work on my swim technique. I signed up for this thing to have fun! If I do another, then I'll worry about the details.

Carrie- it's 1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run. And then grab your medal and head straight to the parks!!

I'm really impressed with everyone's training here! This is some hard stuff. I am very happy to report that after pretty consistent weeks of 25-30 miles for the last couple of months, I've finally started dropping some weight... once I started swimming/biking. Very interesting...

Jen in GA

 

[wtpclc]

Jen - Woo hoo fro teh bike! Long term or jsut for teh race? Very cool!

Leslie - I meant race distance, but I'm glad you posted the other. You are so ready for this!!! You are doing more than I am doing for my olimpc (miles swim, 25 mile bike, 10K run). You will rock!

 

[twoWDWfools]

WTG on our Danskin Tri competitors!! That's one I'd like to do one day (there is a closer Danskin tri but hey, that one is Disney).

Betsy - HI! Good to hear from you again. I've set a goal of a 70.3 for next year. Do they have the multiple gear stations as well? If so, any sharing you'd like to do would be great.

Carrie - where are you staying next weekend? Trying to decide if I want to grab a room instead of driving back and forth.

Stego - Hi again!

AFM: did my second tri last weekend (super sprint). Really have to work on the swim. Transition times were fine, bike what I expected and the run fell apart due to severe pain in my calves. Turned out to be my shoes (second time it happened and both time legs were fine w/in 5 minutes of removing them). Next one is the Super Sprint in Chicago next weekend.

As for next year's goal, right now I'm leaning toward Steelhead.

Later!

 

[wtpclc]

Liz - I'm staying at the Hilton (race hotel/expo location). We don't know CHicago that well adn we stayed there before fo Chicago Distance Classic, so it works fro us.

 

[lklasing]

Carrie - thanks for the encouragement! I'd love to rock, like you said, but I'll settle for not drowning in Bay Lake!

I'll report in after the race and let y'all know how it goes.

Leslie

PS - Still hoping to get any thoughts on tapering - do you do that before short races like that? How long?

 

[wtpclc]

Leslie - Unless I am doing a race striclty as a training run, I always giv emyself some taper. Makes your body crave tteh work out adn heals the smaller muscle issues and such. I would start tapering next week at the latest. JMO.

 

[FireDancer]

Hello everyone. I don't post on the triathlon thread but some of you will recognize me from the monthly thread and some others.

I belong to a gym with a lap pool now and will be hitting the water to work on my swimming in preparation for competing in a tri in the not too distant future. I am not a terrible swimmer but need to work on getting from point A to point B in something resembling speed.

I had a question for all of you veterans. I have a gift certificate to Dick's sporting goods and will be getting some goggles for the pool and, when the time comes, lake. Is there anything I should look for other than just how they feel. I know running and cycling, but am starting from scratch on the swimming part. I imagine like running and cycling there is a bit of a learning curve in the equipment and would appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance.

 

[lklasing]

Leslie - Unless I am doing a race striclty as a training run, I always giv emyself some taper. Makes your body crave tteh work out adn heals the smaller muscle issues and such. I would start tapering next week at the latest. JMO.

Thanks! Gotta love a taper!

Leslie

 

[twoWDWfools]

Hello everyone. I don't post on the triathlon thread but some of you will recognize me from the monthly thread and some others.

I belong to a gym with a lap pool now and will be hitting the water to work on my swimming in preparation for competing in a tri in the not too distant future. I am not a terrible swimmer but need to work on getting from point A to point B in something resembling speed.

I had a question for all of you veterans. I have a gift certificate to Dick's sporting goods and will be getting some goggles for the pool and, when the time comes, lake. Is there anything I should look for other than just how they feel. I know running and cycling, but am starting from scratch on the swimming part. I imagine like running and cycling there is a bit of a learning curve in the equipment and would appreciate any advice.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Frank and welcome to the addictive world of triathlon!!!

Sorry can't be much help on the goggles as I went to local tri shop and they fitted me with a pair. They need to fit well and provide good field of vision. I'm sure the far more experienced folks we have out here can provide more info.

Good Luck and by all means ask away!

 

[mkymsehi]

Frank,

I use Aquasphere goggles (tinted). I got them at Sports Authority. After I purchased them, they came out with a smaller version which fit me better, but I'm waiting to get a pair of those later.

http://www.aquasphereswim.com/us/

http://www.aquasphereswim.com/us/products/seal_tnt_blk.html

 

[wtpclc]

Good to see you here Frank! DH and I both like our TYR goggles. I think comfort is the best bet. If theyt're comfortable, chances are they fit right. One guy who fit me was an irtonman and the one who fit dh owned a tri shop (Thanks MIke) adn they both said about the same thing.

 

[laxdef69]

Just a quick drive by for me, I'm wiped and the kids first day of school is tomorrow...


1) Love the TYR goggles...go try on lots of them. Press them to your eye sockets...they should stick without the strap...try opening your eyes really wide in them, too...they come in lots of shapes and depths, since faces do too!


As far as swimming goes, this appears to be a pretty good (and free) tool for stroke work.

http://www.swimsmooth.com/

Thanks for the encouragement here...it helps me breathe when I start to panic that maybe i haven't done enough!