Tri/Duathlons

[pseudo_vegan]

Anyone ever been in one? Lately I've gotten really into fitness...diet, exercise, just fit and healthy in general.

I owe it to...erm...a friend for my recently sparked interest in tri/duathlons. I'm seriously considering signing up for one in July (five months of training) but I have a couple of problems:

a.) I don't currently own a bike and won't have money to purchase a decent one anytime soon, so that will cut down on my training time

b.) I was nearly drowned when I was about five, so I've mild hydrophobia and regardless of if I learned to swim or not, I don't think I'd be able to swim any great feat in time for an actual competition...

I've been looking in my area and sometime there's going to be a women's only duathlon--run/bike/run--and I'm *seriously* thinking about signing up. It's kind of exciting and it would maybe make me feel a sense of purpose to *really* train for something...

So...have any of you ever participated in either of these events? Are they hard? Exciting? Etc...Do you have any training tips for beginning/first-timers? Thanks in advance for any responses!

:nigel: Cheers!

[CaptainSwab]

I've done a sprint tri before. It is actually what got me into running marathons.

I thought it was very exciting. In my opnion, the other competiters at tris are the nicest people at any other race I've been to. Many of the faster people stayed behind to cheer us slower folk in.

I trained mostly on bike for the race but after doing it I discovered that I actually LIKED running (yes, it was true after all the years that I thought running sucked) and so I got more into running races.

I wouldn't worry about buying a top of the line bike for your first. I used my old rusted K-mart bike and there were others out there like mine. :)

They have training plans at www.trinewbies.com They also have forums like we do here at VB and the people there can give you tons of tips.

Good luck!

[pseudo_vegan]

:hi: Thanks!

:nigel: Cheers!

[VeggieBiker]

If you want a bike for the race that's a step up from a KMart bike, some bike shops will allow you to rent a high/medium-end bike for a day or so for not too much money.

[zoebird]

trinewbies is great. often, when you sign up for a race, people from trinewbies will be there to cheer you on. it's totally fun. :)

[PAvegan]

I've participate in 2 triathlons:

the first triathlon I did I decided to do it the night before the race. I entered without having ANY training whatsoever other than the fact that I was a regular runner. So, I almost drown in the swimming part... the hilly bike course kicked my butt majorly, and then I breezed throught the 5k run. Came in 2nd to last! HA!

my second attempt at a triathlon I did as part of a team and I did the biking part. Even with training that same hilly course majorly kicked my butt and I couldn't even sit down for at least an hour after the race and my legs were sore beyond belief for I can't even remember how long!

ut overall it was an exciting experience and I would definitely do it again.... with the proper training. So, if you are thinking of participating in one make sure that you start your training early!!! The sooner the better! And you may want to invest in a good trainers book for triathlont aht can give you some ideas for workout schedules so that you make sure you are getting enough training in each area. Good luck!

[zoebird]

oh duh:

trinewbies.com

also, garage sale bikes work great. you may need to get new tires--but that's affordable if the frame fits you. so, go to a bike shop and ask what size frame you need. then, hit some garage sales and find a frame that fits you, and then drag the bike back to the shop and get some moderately priced tires. you should be able to get a decent bike for about $25 all said and done. perhaps another $25 if you need some labor done to the bike--like new brakes or something.

[DappledDiva]

Does anyone have any tips on what to wear for a tri? That probably sounds so stupid :-/ but I'm taking a class at a local gym, and I am the only female in it. How do you do the whole bathing suit/top/shorts thing? Do you wear a swim cap? Do you take it off?

[rainbowmoon]

Gosh, I am REALLY interested in the idea of doing a tri. The idea of training in three disciplines sounds much more fun than just running, biking, or swimming. Whats held me back has definitley been the expense of it all- I don't have a bike, they say you need a wetsuit, ect.ect. Also, its hard to find events in my area. But someday, I'd love to do one.

[CaptainSwab]

The tri that I was in provided swim caps for us. The caps were colored depending on what heat you were in.

As far as what to wear, most of the women I raced with wore bathing suits for the whole race, some threw shorts on before taking off for the run. I wore bike shorts and a lycra style top with a bra. My chest is too large to be running with only a bathing suit on. :) The soggy bra was kind of uncomfortable but I had no idea what else to use.

[annabanana]

Could someone please outline the general procedure for a duathlon? Like, between run/bike/run do you immediately get on or off the bike, or is there a waiting period of some sort? Or is there a specified area where everyone's gear is and everyone just kind of dashes for their own? I'm thinking of doing a duathlon this summer and would like to know what to expect...

[Pigeonwhole]

I just singed up to do a triathlon in June. I entered the fat tire division so that I can use my mountain bike and I don't have to buy another one. Its not that expenisve b/c most everyone has a swimsuit, shoes, and a bicycle. Just use your old bycicle and there is no need for a wetsuit unless the water is freezing. I hope it doesn't kick my ass too bad and my goal is to finish so I think it's pretty achievable.

[pseudo_vegan]

Yo necesito un bicicleta... :(

I want to do this duathlon in July...if I got a bike by the end of the month I would have 2.5 months to train...which methinks wouldn't be so bad, because the duathlon is a 2.5-mile run / 15-mile bike / 2.5-mile run ...which I reckon, if I got a bike...I could do.

::le sigh:: I need to get up off my butt and DO something about this urge to duaaaaaaa!!

:nigel: Cheers!

[CaptainSwab]

Do it, do it, do it! You'll love it. :yes: Just go on the website, and register right now. Pay the money. Then you HAVE to train for it. :) hehe. As far as bikes are concerned, I just did what piegonwhole did and signed up fat tire and rode my k-mart rusted bike. :) No problem. There were plenty others like me.

Annabanana, I have not done a du (would like to though because it is hard to find a place to swim for a tri). The tri I was in, there was a designated place for all our stuff. They had racks where we put our bikes and we were able to lay all our stuff out nicely on a towel so when we came out of the water we were able to pick up our bike helments, that had our sunglasses in it, etc, etc. We just ran straight out the water and to our bikes, got all our stuff on and then we had to run our bikes out to a desginated area. Coming in, we had to get off our bikes and run them in again to the designated area and dropped it off and took off for the run.

[DappledDiva]

Well, I just wanted to update and say that today we did our first "trial" triathalon. I had to get it done in a class period, so we were only able to do a 400 swim, bike for 10 minutes (not so realistic, but it was just to get a taste of it) and a 2 mile run. I didn't expect to feel so good afterward, and I ran better than I usually do. So much fun!

[veganrider]

i have completed and won a number of duathlons. im learning to swim so i can start doing ironman distance 3.8km swim 180km bike and 42.2km run. i can do marathons no probs and race bikes at international level and with out drugs. all vegan mostly raw.

do your base training. get a cheap safe bike from a second hand shop. get some good trainers from ebay or something. i cycle up to 950 miles a week here in australia. i eat like a demon. up to 40 kilos of bananas a week. im lean as. super skinny. thriving on mass quantities of fruit. read about the subjects your interested in and only take advice from people who have what you want!!!
keep focused and carbed up and stretch gentley after every workout. 2 minutes a day will give you massive results. consistancy is the key. any questions feel free to ask.

go and push your limits!!

[CaptainSwab]

:wayne:

[markc7]

Obviously veganrider knows alot more about this than I do. But my one piece of advice would be to pick up the book "Triathlon 101 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0880118113/qid=1112108810/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-0847435-6744724?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)". It's a great resource and step by step guide for new triathletes and duathletes. I was especially impressed by all the little tips and tricks in there.