That's the best news ever! Well it will be til I jump on my bike and feel the wind chill! Actually October might be ok, esp since by the time I get on my bike it will be like 10am or thereabouts!

So now the only 'bad' thing will be that the run is on an oval which means grass... yuck!

Ok, I'm excited now!

whats the link for tri pink SB

Lol it's in the thread I started... and I sent you an invite to the FB group
But the link is: http://www.triathlonpink.com.au/perth_info.html

You have to do it!

Stella, don't worry about the cold - once you're in the water it's fine. I went for a swim outdoors this morning and it was only 21 degrees outside... earlier in the week it was 16 degrees (and I even had one mid-July nighttime swim where it was below 10 degrees! But 26+ in the pool ). Once you're in the pool, the temperature isn't something you even think about! You'll be colder running out to your bike than anything else.

Ah yes but I'm the girl who walks into the ocean on a 38 degree day and shrieks and complains the water is too cold!

Have just found the tri pink ppl have a "mandatory one piece" rule... I dont understand it but leaves me wondering what to swim in! My bathers are a 2 piece and I was just going to wear them (wack on some shorts at transition). I have a cycling singlet that might work to swim in... I run in it (has a handy zip pocket in the back!).

The jaggad site does have the below suit for $19USD...

Thanks for the invite Stella, looks a goer!

If I can get hold of a Speedo LZR suit

I wear lycra crop top under a tight lycra singlet (for the swim as well). Usually the rule is you must cover your top half - eg guys can't do the run-ride without a top on (girls probably wouldn't ever have to be told this). Hence the sleeveless lycra tri-tops blokes wear. I have no idea why they have this rule. Let us know what they reply

The response we this:
Your 2 pce will be fine, no worries, we go off in wave starts of 15 – 20, 1minute apart in the pool in a zig zag formation swim course, works well and no its not a silly question

So I guess they just meant that the participants in the women's only triathlon can't go topless!? Lol!

That's a shame really.

Gday

I have just read through this entire thread and just wanted to add that I have found it really helpful and insightful! As I am training for my first ever triathlon (the Scody "try it out" triathlon) with an aim to go in the Nepean Triathlon in November, then any info I have come across is great, as this is all new to me! :-)

Maybe in the coming weeks I might even think of some questions of my own!?!?!

Hey Stella - you don't want to fluff around too much in transition, the aim is to move smoothly and quickly onto the next part of the triathlon so if you can minimise as much dressing/undressing then you will save time (and lots of stress).

Whatever you decide have a mantra in your head as you approach transition - mine is helmet, sunnies, race belt, shoes for the bike (from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet). Make sure you put on your helmet last or else you can get stuck trying to put stuff on over your helmet and that just doesn't work.

Whatever you plan to wear, go for a swim in it and then get out and run around in it and see how it feels. Just make sure you practice! And be careful of cotton socks because they will get wet and can rub. If you are comfortable then no socks is the best, if you do want socks use thin ones that won't absorb too much water.

You will be going fast (yes, you will), so normally getting cold isn't a problem unless you are doing a long race or it is a really cold day.

Have an absolute blast - triathlons are great fun and the experience of finishing one is incredible!

Hey Stella - you don't want to fluff around too much in transition, the aim is to move smoothly and quickly onto the next part of the triathlon so if you can minimise as much dressing/undressing then you will save time (and lots of stress).

Whatever you decide have a mantra in your head as you approach transition - mine is helmet, sunnies, race belt, shoes for the bike (from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet). Make sure you put on your helmet last or else you can get stuck trying to put stuff on over your helmet and that just doesn't work.

Whatever you plan to wear, go for a swim in it and then get out and run around in it and see how it feels. Just make sure you practice! And be careful of cotton socks because they will get wet and can rub. If you are comfortable then no socks is the best, if you do want socks use thin ones that won't absorb too much water.

You will be going fast (yes, you will), so normally getting cold isn't a problem unless you are doing a long race or it is a really cold day.

Have an absolute blast - triathlons are great fun and the experience of finishing one is incredible!

I had a thought...do ppl dry off, even quickly, in transition? I just cant imagine getting on abike dripping wet... I'd probably slide right off the seat!

Also, regarding brick training... does it lose its effectiveness if I stop to lock my bike up?! Wld be a bit annoying (understatement) if I got back and found it had been stolen!!!

No and no.

Unless its really cold you don't need to dry off your body as you will dry off quickly once you start riding. You won't be dripping wet by the time you run from the water to your bike, its usually atleast 150m away. Lots of people do use a towel on the ground in transition to stand on to dry their feet before putting on socks and/or shoes.

The time it will take to lock up your bike is not a problem for a brick session. Your legs will still be feeling the effects of the ride and so you will benefit from the brick. Sometimes I come home after a ride, change my pants, go to the toilet, grab some food and then head out for a run. I still consider this an effective brick.

All this and much more you will learn once you do a few races.

StellaB, agree with MissZ on both accounts.
I did a tri once where the apparent temperature was 4oC. The water was warmer than standing on the ground and once I started racing it was the warmest I felt all day! Did all this in a tri suit, no wetsuit.
Pity it was so cold waiting before and after the race

Locking your bike doesn't take too long. I'd probably take just as long putting my runners on (I race in cycling shoes).

Going for a swim in cold water isn't much different from going for a run in cold weather. Once you're in the water and swimming it takes no time for you to acclimatise and you won't notice the cold. I've done water polo training in an outdoor pool in Toowoomba in August years ago at 5.30am! We couldn't bare to get in the water, but once the coach threatened us and we got a lap in we were ok.

Here is my secret to adjusting faster to cold water. I get my kids to do it now that they are learning to swim, and I swear it works. Get your whole body wet as fast as you can. Jump in and leave your head out and you will be cold. Get your whole head under the water and I swear you won't feel as cold!!!

I haven't swum properly in 20 years, haven't ridden a bike since uni (17 years ago) and had never run in my life. But started the c25k in May and a week or 2 after that committed to doing the BRW tri at the gold coast next year with one of my wifes boss's. At least I can't back out of it

The toowoomba tri club has a series of 6 tri's starting very soon. I will probably do some of them once I've done the 10k or half at the toowoomba marathon in October. They have 2 distances - 400mtr/12k/4k (there abouts) and 250mtr/6k/2.6k. Something like that. My running is way off the mark time wise - can't manage 6min/k yet. But depending on the bike course I think I could manage 30k+/hour on the bike. And in last years results one person took 18mins to do the 400mtr swim, but did good times on the bike and run. Still, it's only like an hour event. If there's anything like these in your areas I'd go for it if I were you guys. Most of you are already superior runners and your fitness and determination will carry you through the swim and bike sections. Then it's just kick butt for like 4k.

My wifes boss did say practice going from the ride to a run. He said it is by far the hardest part of a tri, and can be the weirdest feeling, even if used to it.

I have always been fascinated with tri, and have always wanted to do it. I'm only just learning what physical determination is now with my running. I'm hoping to go to Noosa next year too. Will see what happens.

Luckily I'm a person who is proud in just trying - I don't need to win to feel good. Heck, after my B2B I don't even need a good time

Hi All,

First up, great thread, plenty to read and absorb. Secondly I have one question on cycle training- how much 'real time' on the bike do you need? At the moment I do most (4 sessions mon-thu) of my bike workouts at the gym using a HRM to control the resistance so that I stay within my targeted range for that session, then on Sunday I head out into the real world for my 'long ride' of about 2hrs. I hope to be able to do my first olympic disctance tri in the new year. Do I need more time out of the gym?



Cheers
Steve

Hey Steviecat,

As much time on the 'real' bike is always better than a stationary bike, but it generally comes down to circumstance. If you can't get out on the real bike for some reason or another then the gym bike is better than nothing! There are other threads talking about the muscles used are different (can't remember which ones, but I'll let you search for them rather that me!). My advice is if there is no reason you can't ride the 'real' bike, then just DO IT!

PS. It is also so much more fun

Howdy,

Having recently started swimming I'm trying to understand the purposes for some common training aids before I make any purchases (apologies if this has been covered but I've searched and could not find). I Would also like to know if anyone thinks some are higher priority tools than others.

1.Hand Paddles- are these for stroke correction and/or upper body strength? If stroke correction do I need to use under instruction or would I work it out?

2.Pull Buoys-upperbody strength only?

3. Flippers-Leg strength only?

4.Kick board- technique?


How often would each be used in a typical training session or should each training session have a focus thereby only using one or two for a portion/all of the session.

Has anyone come across any training programs they would like to share that incorporate these?


Thanks
Steve

Toys are probably best employed under supervision of someone who knows what they are talking about. Sure you can use them when you want but swimming is so technique heavy that if possible, swimming with a squad is essential.

Briefly though to answer part of your question.

Paddles will build strength and also technique. If you have a poor push and recovery, paddles will show it up pretty quick. I use my paddles with just the middle finger attached so that if I get the push to recover phase wrong (the bit down near your thigh) they pull clean off my hand.

Pull buoys have a heap of uses but most people end up using them to swim faster in the pool instead of sorting out their body position properly.

Flippers will build some leg strength I guess if you do lots of kicking with them but the also have a number of uses. For example, they can be used to aid in some hypoxic swimming as legs chew up a heap of oxygen when kicking with them. I think the most useful part is using them to propel you in the water a tad quicker to work on catch technique properly.

Kick Board. Pure swimmers have uses for kick boards but triathlon swimmers do not. If you want to do kick sets, I would suggest doing it with flippers and no board but with both arms out in front and head in the water and every time you breathe, push your head up using your hands in the manner you would in the catch phase of the stroke.

In summary, go to squad

Thanks Plazbot. I'll try finding a squad in the western suburbs.

Cheers
Steve

Just saw you are in Bris.

My squad at Yeronga swim 5:30 Tue and 6am Sat as well as 6pm both Mon and Wed. These squads are run by a triathlon coach who is a reasonable swimming coach. Allan is his name. This is a part of a club called East Coast Cycos which I don't think you have to be a member of to swim. This is my tri club.

There is another squad also there that runs Tue and thur at 7am for 1 hour as well as 12:30 Friday. These are run by a swim coach who is outstanding. Trent is his name. trent also does valley Pool sessions each day at 12:30, 4:30pm (advanced, skip this one) and 6:15pm on Mon and Wed.

Both are 10 bucks a squad with $4.10 pool entry. Trent also does multi visit deals for I think 10 for $65. allan also does full triathlon programs.

Don't worry about skill level with either as there is the entire spectrum at both.

Both very worthwhile.

Thanks again Plazbot. I think the 6pm Mon and Wed suites me best.


Cheers
Steve

Noooooooooo Steviecat,

Sounds like we're losing you to the "dark side"!!!

Seriously though, hope all the cross training helps out with the injury and you're back fitter and faster sooner. If my swimming was stronger and I had enough time, I'd be doing it too.

Funrunner aka Craig

Plaz why is that? I generally swim with a swimming squad (as opposed to tri sqaud) and I dread the boards coming out, mainly because my kick is terrible. It sounds like you might provide me with an out

Mostly, triathlon swimmers do not kick much beyond 2 beat. Kickboard sets are pretty much a waste of time as they are devoping something that you just will not use technique wise (fitness benefits do exist though). I say this based on a mostly long course focus. there is likely a requirement to swim like a swimmer in sprint and slightly longer races. Knocking out 3.8km with a 6 beat kick is going to ruin your day most likely. This is why I am happy to train with a triathlon swim coach as opposed to a sole swim coach as they focus on the triathlon swimmer.

Watch a few 800 an 1500mtr swim events and check out their kicks. It's really about keeping the body on top of the water and in line rather than adding to speed.

I've been assessing what I'd like to try next year. I plan on doing some of the local toowoomba tri's (about 400mtr/10k/5k) and am doing the swim leg in a team at mooloolaba hopefully. Then it's the BRW at the Goldie and Noosa at the end of the year.

I can trudge through the 10k runs, I don't think 40k on the bike will be a problem either, though again maybe not that fast. But like everyone else I was worried about the distances you have to swim and where you have to swim them, even though I squad trained for years as a kid.

Well I've had 3 swimming sessions so far in the last two weeks. The first two after a warmup I was stoked to do a 400mtr which I think was somewhere between 7 and 8mins. Today when I finished the 400mtrs I decided to keep going a bit longer. 45mins later my family turn up to tell me my boys lesson is about to start and I'm annoyed 'cause I hadn't stopped doing laps in all that time. It was the longest continual swim I've done, even from back in my squad days. I kept losing track of my laps (especially in the 25mtr pool) but I think I did somewhere between 2k and 2.25k in that time. Plus 300mtrs warmup. Now I just need to get over the whole ocean swim thing. But I'm stoked with what I did today.

Bring on the tri's!!!