On Fri, 07 Jul 2006 12:54:18 -0700, Siam wrote:
> I am a little nervous. I am not a great biker, swimmer or runner. I
> wanted to do a Sprint but my cousin convinced me to do the Olympic. So
> I signed up for it.
>
> I have been working out at the gym for 5 months doing weights and
> cardio 6 days a week. But nothing outside.
>
> Hired a triathlon trainer and he said with dedication, I will finish.
>
> Still, I am wondering if I should take it easy for my first one.
>
> I ran 3 miles yesterday in 29 minutes. I have been swimming 30-45
> minutes everyday. And I am able to do an hour spinning class. Just
> got my bike back from the shop so will start doing that.
>
> Thanks for any advice. Scared, excited, nervous, etc.
Ok, with that, you've got the fitness. What you really need to do is to
get some miles on the bike as a top priority. That's where you need to
learn the most. General bike handling, out of the saddle stuff, and of
course, you have to learn what it feels like to try and run off the bike!
So bike, and bricks, I'd say. The last Olympic I did, I managed 3 hours
just, as opposed to the 2:15 of my fit days. The crew running the event
were fabulous supporting me over the end of the run ( or should it be
waddle??? ) - that really helped ( thanks again, Ironbridge - but not for
that climb on the bike especially the third time! ).
As for the event itself - in 15 years of racing, I *never* managed to
start the swim slowly enough, but after half drowning and getting my sh*t
together, the rest of the swim and the race went enjoyably. Just don't get
too wound up ( yeah, right! ). On the bike, make sure you take in loads of
fluids ( practice this, so your body's ready for it ), and don't push
too hard. Ease back off for the last few minutes of the ride, to let your
legs recover. Then all you've got to do is a 10k run! You'll feel really
weird at the start of the run - I'd practice the transition as well - but
it does get better. Remember, you can walk: the order of the 3 events is
designed with safety in mind. I sweat really badly ( even when I was
70kg! ), and used to suffer a terrible 'hangover' after events, so had
loads of fluids at the finish to try and reduce this.
All I can recommend is to listen to what your trainer is saying: he knows
what's coming, and if possible, try the multisport aspects on your own
before the event - transitions, bricks, getting out of a wetsuit, that
sort of thing, because they're the things that you won't be ready for.
And, above all, enjoy the event. Enjoy the social side of the event, and
don't forget to sign up for the next one
Good luck,
Steve
