Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

[kisstuck]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

I think your hubby's gonna do fine in the swim. He is preparing and now he knows what to expect. The fear of the unknown has bee the downfall of many an athlete. He's going in with his eyes wide open this time!

Start biking with whatever you have on hand or can get your hands on! When I first started exercising last spring, I started biking on an OLD 1954 Schwinn beach cruiser. Nice wide springy seat, upright handlebars, smooth ride! It's a real dream! Unless I am training, I will go for that bike every time. It's just a joy to ride and the important part is that you are performing the motion. Getting your legs and back into biking shape takes repetition. Starting out with any bike will get you on your way.

Today was rest day for me. Tomorrow is a medium run, Thursday long bike and Friday is swimming.

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Sounds like a plan Jessi. Yesterday I biked 12mi on hills...it was a good workout! Last night I met up with all these gals in our church who want to do a triathlon...they've begun training, so to speak....We had a great leisure ride....the weather here in Atlanta is just right and ripe for activity.
I will run today at the Greenway. My friend will power-walk, and I will trot along side her...she is very strong as a walker, and I can get a nice jog in...
Every night Keith and I go to the pool and He swims....he is making great progress.
Swimming takes alot OUT of you in the beginning....It flat wears you out!

Jessi is training RIGHT, she is alternating each sport, so that her body rests...I am due to do a mini and keep up that ability to go 1hour and 30 mins...

[CDRAKE1234]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

hiya ladies and gents~
oh the tri....
it's only..hmmm...7 months away..wow 7 months. I'm not getting to into it yet and I don't know why. I've just been soo tired lately...I didn't even work out after work yesterday and don't feel like it today either...grruuuffff....
I really need to get my run in and some weights today. So maybe I will go lift and then run tonight.
I biked/lifted on Monday. I just need to get my rear into gear and WAKE UP. Work has been soooo long tonight. Ready to go home!

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Hey drake! How you girls over there in Kansas do all that you do and work all night is a mystery to ME!!!!!
What are your winter plans to support your effort and that race 7 mos away???
Do you belong to a health club place?


SOOOO, EVERYONE, QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT???

How will you support this idea of a triathlon? You cannot just "enter a race", you have to have built a base of fitness in each of the sports...
You should be able to swim approx 22 laps in a 25 yd pool for a sprint level.
You should be able to bike 15 miles for a sprint level
You should be able to run a 5k for a spring level
You need to be able to endure 1:30-1:45 mins of constant movement....

My first swim I trained at 22 laps....this next race I only need to swim 16 laps, but I understand the whole open water swim now, so I push it using more breast strokes to strengthen those muscles.
I maintain week rides on the bike at approx 12-20 miles, twice a week.
I maintain running once or twice a week at 2-4mi, and because I run less now, I am always very very fresh and feeling great when I DO RUN!...that's been magical for me, to be feeling so good after having had days off.
Running has started to really be a chore, and it is again such a pleasure in my life!

Yesterday the pool water was sooo cool to me....I did not enjoy myself at all and got out...I am up for another early morning swim tomorrow and now with the temps in the 50's this is all very eye opening to me....because we are gonna freeze at this triathlon! I am now contemplating wearing a sweat shirt for the bike ride! If I was chilly in early sept...can you imagine Oct?

[Kinyo]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

You're a great inspiration Jess, you rock!

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Thanks Kin,
Yesterday afternoon went down to the pool and swam 2 10min segments. Meaning, I did not stop doing laps for 10mins straight and then I took a minute rest and went back to another 10, up and back laps.
My swim was a reflection on the rest and recovery I had to give myself after swimming that mile! I literally did not swim Tue til Friday. My swim was fresh and powerful because all those muscles were rested.
Then I met up with a friend and we took a 10 mile leisure bike ride....just enough to burn off dinner.
Today I meet girls who are "tri serious" and they jog 3 mi. Then one of them is coming to my pool....We are forming a small group of 'wannabes" and they have begun to train....

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

I've been resting since swimming half a mile on friday and then biking 11 miles. I went outside and did a huge amount of yard work yesterday and even tho I went to the park to really push for milage on the bike, I found my self very tired, so I didn't press it...that of course is my new attitude, NO OVER TRAINING. This morning I was biking, but it's misty-rain, and too slick.
Yesterday afternoon I was at the park while my daughter ran and I happened upon a group of people who were waiting for a charity run to finish...there was a guy who had been there since 6am and was on his final lap and was completing 52miles right then. I waited with them, talked bike riding, marathoning and triathons!!!! It was great fun, one of the guys admitted he too was on atkins and loved his new life! We had a great time buzzing about different endurance sport. I explained I would never go back to just jogging, now that I'd found the refreshment of tri sport, changing things up every single day....
The #1 thing people always thing is IRONMAN and the #2 thing is, "I don't swim"
There are 4 levels of triathlon, Sprint, Olympic, half IM and IM (Iron Man).
My sprint race had 1,000 participants! The Iron Man Hawaii is the world championship and it's by qualification only, but there are many many Iron Man races all over the world.
Yesterday Keith did a mini, He swam 10mins, biked 4 and then jogged 1.5. He was walking when I found him on his course...something I've never seen. It seems it was too much on his calf muscles and they were cramping, He had to walk it out.
My 149lb husband came home and ate a massive meal....carbs coming out the gazoo! I smiled weakly and thought how at times I've come in starving and had to really figure that one out!

[funkychickenchica]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Hey everyone

It's been a super busy week at work teaching during the day and respite at night. I'm as exhausted as all of you and I haven't really worked out yet! Well I went to the YMCA today and signed up for a membership. They were waiving the $50 joiners fee this weekend. I was going to wait until Januray, but why wait. I went to check out my friends bike this weekend...the tire needs replacing and the gear thing is preetty rusted. I may have to go out and spend the money on the bike. I figure I can at least train at the Y on the bike for now. It is about a mile to the Y from my house. I am planning on building my running stamina so on the weekends I can run there to workout and then walk home. I will also use it hopefully to do some back to back training-swimming and then biking home. My plan is to get up and get to the gym for 5:30 each morning. I find I am not exercising when I get home at night. Thanks for this great thread..it is really helping to get my motivation started (very slowly, but started at least!)

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Heidi, girl you are one motivated chick! I am so proud ofyour for joining the Y, it will provide alot of winter options as you build your base and begin to train....

Remember the great site, www.beginnertriathlete.com

[funkychickenchica]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Thanks for the link Jess...I registered and will check out the site over the next couple days. I can be a motivated person in theory, but the follow through has always been lacking. Although I have always thought about doing a triathalon and now I am "beginning" to train.

[CDRAKE1234]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Hey Jess~ Sounds like you've been a busy bee!
Things are going nice tonight at work...not too bad...yet!
I haven't done much this weekend, well...with the exception of walking all over several neighborhood garage sales...I've always liked a good sale. 1 Person's junk...another persons treasure!
I have joined a fitness center here at work, but it doesn't have swimming...so...I'm going to have to drive 50 miles to the nearest indoor pool...I think I will be doing that no more than 2x a week! That is alot of driving time! 2 hours almost, plus the time to swim/workout...grrruffff!
Well, better get back 2 work!

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

CD in the beginning you will feel like you spend more time in the car than in the pool. It really takes time to build up endurance for the swim. It's not like going for a 3mi run or a 13 mi ride, it's tough stuff! But slolwly progress is made....In the beginning I would be gasping for air and totally wiped out from the whole thing, legs shaking, arms like jelly! My husband is in that state right now, we did our bit lake swim and he got out shaking! He has two weeks to build more endurance. We are going back to the lake this weekend and train some more.

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

Hey my friend PartyTrouble over in STAC is considering a Sprint level triathlon in Dec! How cool is that! She is soooo pumped up! Makes me want to go train away on my off day...but I'll be good and rest my body....It's tired!

[funkychickenchica]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

So I got up and went to the Y this morning at 5:40..YAY me! I did the bike. I only have like 30 minutes. Since I was late, I only had 20 minutes. I tested my bike endurance having not done it in a while. I know it's not the same, but I did 20 minutes-7.3 miles. I found out that tomorrow I have a training at 7:15. I will have to leave at 6:30am. I am now bummed because I will nt make it to the gym before I leave which will break the routine (

[Outback Jess]

Re: Triathlon Dreams, Tips, and Training

How frustrating Funky, how great to do over 7 miles on the bike..that's a great beginning! It's so exciting I know. Remember we are heading into the winter and seeking ways to build a base and sustain it all winter long....there are some long times ahead.