UKC

Ive set my self an aim, of training to do triathlons/ironman something similar when my knee is fully recovered, as i can obviously start biking and swimming, as a easier exercise at first. And im hoping my previous running hasnt dipped too much with my time off.

However my questions are:

How do you train for it?
Is it basically go for a swim, then bike then run.. or heavy gym sessions of weights too? Im not a salad dodger, so i have seen inside the gym, i cycle, swim and run regular (well before the op).

What sort do you recommend, a local run one? Or deep end of Ironman 70.3 etc? Do you get "welcomed" when starting or is it like the 'League of Gentleman' when popping in for a pint?

Im also not one of these that goes out and buys a top of the range triathlon bike straight away either, so do people turn up on their normal road bikes etc?


Any other tips/advice please post.

Cheers Rob

In reply to RCJ:
One of my friends has started doing triathlons this year and has got most of her training knowledge etc from joining a club. They have regular training nights and also enter team events. I'd recommend that route

In reply to RCJ: I'm a "vet" of 5 or so tri's now, started off with a couple of sprint tri's to break you in then you can build up distances if you want.
all you need is any bike, speedos and running shoes to get you going

Get on http://www.tritalk.co.uk/ if you want to enter a whole new world. Debates about 3 pebble slab and FBD being E1 will all become a distant memory when you start eyeing up £3k+ Tri bikes!!

Main tip I'd give you is get used to running off the bike as its really odd!!

In reply to JamButty: Done a couple now and really enjoying it.
There are some famous books of training plans you can get from tri shops but I'd second joining a club though I have and they're great.
. Warning its addictive (just back from cycling too and from a 4.2k swim)

In reply to RCJ: Don't worry about the bike too much is my guess, I do a lot of work for Ironman UK and even on Ironman events I see the odd mountain bike (not many mind, maybe one per race). But on Olympic and sprint distance tri's they are quite common... so if you have a road bike, you have a good start...

In reply to RCJ: Start local and short. Sprint or Olympic.

Normal roadbike is fine.

On race day you won't be welcomed. You and everyone else will be in your own trance like state and will basically ignore each other

Be prepared for a long, long build to get trained up to the full distances (18-24 months), can be done quicker but you will get injured.

Train 12-20(+) hours a week, spread across SBR.

Open water is very different to pool.

Download programs off the net if you can't join a local club.

Check out firstoffthebike.com and slowtwitch.com

Cheers
LD

In reply to RCJ: Work part time in desk job.

In reply to RCJ:

I did my first super-sprint (200m, 20k, 2.5k) earlier this year. I'm a regular salad dodger (15st) but otherwise healthy.
I did the swim bit breaststroke. Didn't know how to do the front crawl properly, so didn't even try. Did no swim training at all beforehand.
My bike was a £250 halfords hybrid (replaced the MTB tires with 1.25" road tires). Training consisted of occasional 10k (and one 20k) rides around Saddleworth (a bit hilly).
Running involved an old but decent pair of trail running shoes (that I normally use for hiking). I'd been doing some running since Christmas of varying lengths, but mainly <5k.

Came in at 1h 11m, which wasn't bad going considering. I've got my next one on Sunday, and I've even learnt how to swim front crawl (badly).

Turn up, register, play nicely with the other children and have fun.

In reply to Lurking Dave:
>
How true. I did my first competitive open water swim earlier this year and it was interesting to see the contrast pre and post race. Beforehand everyone is in their bubble and - if anything like me - silently dealing with their own apprehension and nerves. Post race, what a difference! Its all euphoria, excitement and very friendly; sharing of cake and recounting individual experiences of the race. I imagine this phenomena is the same for most competitive sports though.

I'm looking to do my first next year - just as a target for exercise generally.

Have set it as 'sprint' on run keeper, but am tempted to go for Olympic as a real challenge. Perhaps a bit stupid as a first event, but I do like to do things properly .

Certainly going to need some training, but for the 'sprint'; can do 5k off-the-cuff fine (not fast, but don't need a massive amount of time to recover) and similarly I don't see the riding being a problem if I don't really push it.

The swimming however, I'm terrible at. I can do front-crawl (only one I learned bar back crawl), but mostly it involves splashing the people next to me while being beaten by someone using doggy-paddle to move forward.
Some adult-improver lessons or whatever in order methinks.

In reply to geebus: Yeah, the swim would be my weakness too. I was actually quite a good breast stroke swimmer as a kid, but never really nailed the front-crawl - it was always exhausting. I can't imagine swimming a mile using it, but I can easily do a mile breast stroke. I think like you suggest, I probably also need a bit of expert help!

I have also just set myself the tri challenge, having done 2 half marathons in the last 12 months I needed a new challenge and thought the variety might be nice.

I am lucky where I work having tapped into a group that has decided to train for a tri in Sept and I have to say none of us are 'athletic' types. They have all come on leaps and bounds and the team encouragement is helpful.

Bike wise I have invested in a Decathlon Triban 3 for £300, but I am told that people do use mountain bikes when starting.

I would also recommend a book by Joel Friel on triathlons for beginners and I'm finding it quite insightful and has suggested hint, tips and training plans.

I am yet to experience the ‘welcoming committee’ at an event, but I must say a few of the ‘brand’ bike shops I have frequented to date have been quite rude, intimidating and unhelpful and I fear being a small female is not helping as they don’t stock much in my size in the way of shoes and specialist clothing. Although I have sussed out a few gems of shops where the staff have been fantastic offering advice and I am learning to gain knowledge from reading, you tube videos and my insightful and experienced friends.

The advice I have also had is start with sprint distances.

Good luck!

In reply to RCJ:

Signed up for a hlaf iron man 5 1/2 weeks before it.

It's in 2 weeks time.

I had all the kit other than a wetsuit. Got a coach from word of mouth to write me a 5 week training plan. Have been doing 20hours a week since. Mainly intervals, with one endurance session for each a week (run on Weds, open water on Sat and bike on Sun). Other bike sessions are on a turbo and followed by a short run to get use to the transition.

Will see how it goes!

In reply to RCJ:

If you don't know how to swim properly, get some coaching (individual/tri club/adult improvers class/whatever suits).
Any bike will do over shorter distances - I did my first tris on a £200 mountain bike with slicks. I would do a local short race first.

In my opinion, triathlon as a sport takes a pride in being welcoming and encouraging to newcomers, so don't fear being a newbie.

I'd second the suggestion of joining the tritalk forums.