Hi All,

I've always wanted to do a Tri, hence coming here, as my run leg will be my tough leg.

We're a one income family - I'm currently studying and being Mum.

I have cap/goggles/ togs for swim leg, mtb/helmet for bike leg and shoes for run leg.

I'm wonderng, if I do the swim in my togs, then what do I do for transition to bike? Then run? Do I whack my spunky Big W running shorts over the top? Or should I go for the togs with the longer legs in them and do the whole thing in those? Which begs the question about support for the breasts? I don't want to jog with them bouncing around - they are not that big, it's just I don't like it and don't want them to end up looking like footy socks with a tennis ball in them, hehehe.

I'm just thinking of how I should this, seeing that money is definately light on.

Thanks in advance,
wannabe

Hi Wannabe,

I was in your shoes not so long ago. My biggest concern was finding something comfortable to swim and then run in. I found the solution was to wear a sports bra under my swim suit. The bra & the swim suit are both cross-backed so it didn't look too funny - in the end I didn't care as long as I was comfy. I just threw a jersey on for the cycle.

Next question is, what kind of bike are you riding? If it is a road bike you might need to invest in a pair of bike shorts for padding. Even better are tri shorts which don't hold all the water in the padding. I purchased a pair of tri shorts which I wore for all 3 legs. If you find a style/brand you like at a tri or bike store, you might then be able to pick them up online for less. You should be able to avoid spending alot of money as you already have the bare essentials. Perhaps a bra & tri shorts can finalise your wardrobe for the exciting event

Hope this helps.

L2R

Can't give any first hand advice about boob management, sorry.

For my first tris (ca. last century) I did the swim in bike nicks, then the first transition involved a quick towel rub and putting on t-shirt, socks and shoes (I really don't like riding or running without socks). The bike nicks dry pretty quickly on the ride apart from the bum/saddle portion, and you don't get chafed. Then I run in the nicks.

For my most recent tri (first in a long time) I shelled out for a wetsuit because I was worried about the water temperature. But I still wore bike nicks underneath for the subsequent ride and run.

So perhaps find some nice nicks (I like the 2XU ones but cheaper ones would be fine as long as they have a good comfy insert) and a supportive top.

Hope this helps.

slowmo

Hi Wannabe

Welcome and good luck with your first tri! I am sure you will love it.

If money is light on then don't buy anything until you do your first one and work out from there what you will need if you keep doing tris. It sounds like you have most of the bases covered - shoes, bike and helmet - these are essential.

There are lots of variation on what you can wear:

1) Just a pair of swimmers (but this can get a bit uncomfortable on the bike and run, particularly if you have larger legs that rub together or are a bit fuller in the upstairs department)
2) Swimmers with a sports bra underneath (you can wear an ordinary bra but it doesn't look that good as it will show underneath your swimmers, if you have a crop top style one, or even a swimming top, preferably made with lots of lyrca not cotton so it dries out quickly and doesn't rub)
3) You can add a t-shirt, singlet or top and pull on a pair of shorts for the bike and run - remember you will be wet so try not to use cotton clothing
4) You can swim in a pair of lyrca shorts or bike knicks if you have them,

I did my first triathlon in my swimmers with a sports bra (crop top style) underneath my swimmers.

Two ideas:

1) If you can get down to watch a triathlon before you do one, then you can get a sense of what people wear - choose a novice beginner triathlon so you can check out the 'first time' racers. Or else have a look at the triathlon websites at photos from the event - Triathlon ACT website has photos from their novice events that you could check out.
2) If you can, then have a practice swimming, cycling and running in the gear you plan to wear then you will soon know if it works or not!!

Also, most races will give you a swim cap so the organisers can work out which wave you are in - you get to keep it and it is a nice momento from the race.

And don't worry about a race belt for your number - you can just pin it on your top, or make your own race belt out of a piece of elastic with two safety pins!

Best of luck - let us know how you go!!

Hey, I'm in the same boat, I don't want to spend money on all triathlon stuff till I've tried one and see if I like it, especially when I will come last, nothing worse than someone with all the gear and no idea.

I have decided to do it all in a pair of swim shorts and tankini type swim top which just looks like a sport bra for the water. I may well put my cycling shorts over the top with a singlet for the cycle and then just take off the bike shorts and run in the swim shorts and singlet.

Its a tricky one to work out what to do with it all, I made the mistake of buying a Triathlon magazine today and was overwhelmed with all the stuff I don't have and wouldn't have a clue what to do with it even if I did. I just keep thinking that everyone had their first triathlon once upon a time!

I wish you luck and keep us posted on your progress, do you have an event in mind? I'm looking at doing something on 3rd Feb, need to decide which event first but that is the aim.. How about you?

Hey Everyone, thanks for the replies, definately useful.

Northern Beaches, PMSL at the "all the gear and no idea"! I'd rather look loserish and come last I think.

Initially had the date of April 20, but now not sure as some social events have cropped up and may push it to March sometime. Geez. I'm only going for the sprint distance. I think I'll do okay in the swim, except for the kicking and such, the bike ride I will get through, it's the run I'm worried about. Hence coming here.

I'll be a real greenhorn though, but guess there's nothing like a baptism of fire hey?

Wannabe

Well perhaps you should see if there are any 5km races in Feb or March and give yourself a chance to see how you run in a race type environment?

I have done a few running races and came to learn that those with the brand new shoes and flashy kit that stick themselves right at the front were often the ones that came nearer the back than the front. I think the triathlons are a bit different in that the better you get the flashier stuff you get but we always used to call them the ones with all the gear and no idea, perhaps a bit unfairly but hey!

I think if you've got the determination and are keen to enjoy it no matter what, you'll be fine ( says me whose never done one..)

Hi Wannabe.

I dont have much to add that hasnt already been said, but just wanted to pop in and say hi!

Runitloveit had some great suggestions in her post, as did everyone else. I did my first year of tris in just one piece bathers and a pair of tri nicks over the top. I even pinned my number onto my bathers before the start so i had less to do in transition. The biggest tip i can suggest is make transition as easy for yourself as possible, the less you have to do the less likely you are to forget stuff.

This year i have a tri suit and a race belt, which i would recommend if you end up wanting to do more, but i wouldnt bother for now if i were you.

I wear just my normal running bra underneath and yep it holds a bit of water after the swim, but keeps me cooler on the run so i dont mind. But crop tops are good too. Its personal preference.

Good luck with it all, i hope you have a blast, and look forward to hearing about your progress

Hi Wannabe
I was thrilled to read your post as I'm in exactly the same position as you, although in reverse (I will explain)
I've also always wanted to do a tri, and am thinking of doing my first in March. I'm currently struggling to work out what I will wear, as like you, I'm not keen to run in bathers. Hearing that others wear their sports bras underneath really helps - I think I'll do that. I've found a speedo tankini top in their SWYM range which looks like a racer back running top, but you can swim in it also. They have "bottoms", but nothing longer in the legs than boy cut shorts, which I think is too short for riding/running. I'm also having difficulty finding tri gear in Adelaide - does anyone know where you can get it from, or a good online store? (And what are tri nicks - is that just another name for tri shorts?)

The reverse part is the fact that I'm ok with the run and the bike ride - but terrified about the swim! I'm doing a short course which is very short - 160m swim, 8km bike, 1.5km run. I looked at the distances and thought its hardly worth putting on the sandshoes for a 1.5km run, 8ks on the bike - well I'm pretty fit should be able to manage that - but 160 m swim - isn't that like a marathon!!!! Now I know to all swimmers its incredibly short - but to me who can barely swim freestyle - its quite a challenge. I'm just trying to swim each day and work on my technique and am hoping that by March I can manage the distance. I'm not registering until I'm sure I can do it, and somewhat competitively of course- dont want to be coming out of the water 10mins after everyone else. Oh and did I mention that until recently I haven't ridden a bike in many years - and in fact will need to buy a road bike? LOL - just a few challenges ahead of me. Wanna pair up? - I'll run, you swim!

Superchick

Cycling nicks have a big padded crotch/bum bit (chamois) to make cycling a bit more comfortable.

Tri nicks have the same padded chaomois but it is much thinner - this gives you some padding on the bike while making the transition to running feel a little less like you are trying to run wearing a nappy

I only learnt to swim 2 years ago and have done a number of enticer triathlons and this year have moved up to sprint distance tris. My advice on swimming (and heaps of other things for that matter) is to practice, practice, practice.

You will get there by March I am sure.

wt

Always have a spare pair of goggles! In case your regular pair decided to break on race day, it happens!

Hey Superchick,
Cute name!!

I buy stuff from www.scody.com.au and also www.totaltriathlon.com.au and would definitely recommend them both.

Also www.aquashop.com.au if you need anything swimming related.

Tri nicks are just like bike pants but with less chamois between your legs. They are designed to give you a bit of comfort on the bike, but not as much as standard bike nicks, so that they are also comfy to run and swim in but dont hold water. Edit: oops sorry wildthing just said what you said, while you were saying it?!? whatever that just meant.....
Hope that helps, good luck with it all. I hope you have a ball.

Fast Gear / High Five also have some products and usually ship immediately...

http://www.fastgear.com.au/

this is a great offer De Soto women's top

Superchick, if you have the basic mechanics of freestyle in place (no matter if you're REALLY crap at it right now), and are basically fit, you will easily be able to swim 160 metres within about 4 or 6 trips to the pool. Plenty of time before your first tri.

If you don't have the basic mechanics, save yourself the struggle and do a some stroke correction/learn to swim classes. Stroke correction is always a good option anyway to avoid reinforcing bad habits.

No need to wait until March before having a go at this. You will be ready for it in a few weeks and will probably be over-prepared for it by March. By that I mean you will do it and then think "I wish I did this earlier" or "I wish I chose a longer race".

Superchick,

I nearly choked when I read you said 1.5km isn't really worth putting on shoes for. It's funny how different things are for some people. I would probably *just* make 1.5km if I tried today. As for swimming, I did 1Km straight down at the pool today and did another 1.2 in kicking and drills.

Takes all sorts.

Still I am determined to conquer this jogging thing, perhaps I'll never be a runner. But at the very least I'll change my mantra about running from "I only run if my life is in danger" to "I jog three times a week".

Wannabe

Just curious here,

If you swim in the bike/tri nicks, do they fill up with water while you're swimming? Do you wear them over the togs or underneath? Could I wear a pair of lycra bike pans under the togs?

My figure is far from desirable at the moment, but hopefully this training I'm doing will see me at least a bit smaller by race time. I hope so!

I don't know if the budget can stretch, but I was thinking of those fancy togs with the knee length legs that swimmers wear for racing, but it might be a bit over the top.

I guess I could bear my guts if I really had too, I would apply some fake tan to make it a little less sickening for the spectators, hehehe.

Wannabe

I wouldn't swim in bike nicks but I swim in tri nicks just fine - as far as I know virtually all triathletes do!

When I "race" I wear my tri nicks on the bottom and then sports bra, crop top and then tri top on my top half. Many layers I know but I have excellent flotation devices

This works just fine for me. One day, when I actually get to race in my wetsuit, I will have to reassess my wardrobe.

wt

hi Wannabe. Glad to say that I didnot fill with water in nicks. Thje ones I wore were meant for tri and have less padding, still enough to stop chaffing but ok to swim and run in - didn't even notice padding. I bought mine from on line tri alliance, not sure of comparison prices.
Have now bought tri top and am a bit concerned because it has pockets in the back - read on a thread here about pockets filling with water, hope wet suit stops this!! I like to have gear it makes me feel like runner trathlete no matter how far back in the field I am???
Keep going with the running, I thought I would only swim to save myself, although the water would still have to be calm for me to do that. Ran 13k the other day but was equally proud whem I completed 500m in pool that night.

Wild thing do you wear the shirt in the swim? I think that's what you mean.

Maybe I should get some tri nicks and then I can do sports bra and crop top and a shirt over the top?

Thanks to everyone for all your advice, it certainly is making this alot easier!

Kyls

I wear a tri top over the top not a shirt. My tri top is quite fitted and therefore easy to swim in.

You could always swim in a sports bra and crop top and then put a t shirt on in transition for the bike/run legs if you wanted - many do.

Tri nicks would be a good purchase - they usually set you back about $60-90 but will last for ages and are worth the $$$

wt

Thanks Wild thing.

I followed one of the links above and saw some really nice pink tri pants and a matching crop top. Maybe I could get those for the race and just add a singlet over the top and then work out after my first if I wish to buy more.

Now I just have to shift a decent amount of weight to make sure I get my money's worth on them.

Wannabe

just wanted to let you know tri knickers and top went well tody, very comfortable. But realy just here because I am stoked. I did my second novice tri. Didn't get stuck in wet suit, didn't swim with my head out of the water and didn't come last. It was such an improvement I can't believe it was me!!
Had a good race passing several people on bike leg including the guy I had picked as my marker. Didn't pass him until nearly at T2. He passed me at beginning of run staying just in front, I passed him going up hill 500m from home, could hear him breathing down my neck, I gave everything left to sprint the last 20m but so did he and pipped me at the post. Adrenaline is still rushing, we both had a good race, he commented what fun it would be if half dozen of us were similar speeds and could race each other in that way, it certainly made me work harder and enjoy myself even more than just competing (I will always be stoked that I am able to compete).

That's so cool! I love it when you pick a stranger at about the same level to actually race against, it gives you such a good focus and no matter who crosses the line first, you both did a much better time than you would have without the push of competition!

Congrats on the whole race thinkpink, sounds like it went really well all round.

Thanks so much Think pink for coming back and telling me how the gear went!

I'm so stoked for you at how well you did. What a buzz. Makes me so excited to do my first novice one. Still I need alot more training under my belt first.

Here's hoping I'll be able to drop off enough weight so I can splash out on those pink ones I was looking at! Noice, very noice.

Again, well done!

Wannabe

Well done Think Pink, sounds like you had a great time!