Hi everyone,

I would love a suggestion for my first triathlon. I will be somewhere around the Sunshine Coast in April. I am happy to travel a couple hundred km's either way as we are heading off on a east coast trip from Melbourne 22/2/2008.

I am looking for a beginners mini triathlon, I don't want to turn up to a short course one and compete against experienced triathletes and finish 2 hours after they do . Can anyone suggest a really nice easy one where I will be amongst other first timers and slow runners like me.....is there such a thing!!!

My last question is do you think my training is sufficient. I am either running, riding or swimming most days. When we travel I plan to continue this and add surfing most days. I can run 3km, swim 300m and ride up to 20km. But I never put them all together and wasn't planning to until the day. Will I survive?

The other question is can someone give me a rough guide line on how fast I should be able to
run 3km
swim 300m
ride 10km
I realise we are all different and have different strengths, but I just want to know a rough idea of a reasonable times for training.

The last question, I promise! I have only been planning to do this for the last 2 weeks, will I have enough time to train between now and April? I am reasonably fit already and have always been running, kickboxing, surfing etc.

Thanks in advance!

rossi77

Rossi77

This looks like it may be perfect for you.

My QLD geography is pretty poor and I have no idea where the Sunshine Coast is in relation to Raby Bay but the distance looks perfect for you(400/15/4).

Given what you can do so far you should have no problem completing this event in April.

As far as speed goes for each discipline you are correct - everyone is different and most short tris are participation/fun focused.

But to give you a very rough ball park figure........I am pretty slow but I would hope to run 3km in about 21 mins, swim 300m in about 10 mins and then cycle 10km in about 20-25mins (if I've done my maths correctly).

Good luck.

wt

Thanks WT, thats exactly what I want to know, can you tell me one more thing? What is the enticer race? I like the shorter length of that one to start with.

Great location, Cleveland is just out of Brisbane.

Thanks again

An enticer is usually 250/10/2.5

wt

Rossi for the beginner events how fast you can do each of those is largely irrelevant. When I started tri's 5 years ago I could run 2km (with a few breaks), and ride 10km so I was in a similar situation to you (although I could swim 1500m). I was incredibly slow on the run (8min/km) but have now advanced to just slow. Overall a modest aim would be for around 45mins total for the three sessions. Actual events would have each leg slightly less but you'll likely slow down when you put them all together.

Thanks Dave, I guess I will never really know then till I put them all together, might have a bash next week and a run and ride, or swim and ride etc.

Hi Rossi
the enticers are designed for ppl in exactly your situation. there is no pressure about times and they will wait no matter how long it takes for the swim - i observed that they son't start the open/elite/age groups before the very last enticer swimmer is out of the water.
re: putting the sectors together....i think it would be worth trying to do some "brick" sessions as they are called for the bike-run transition. it feels quite weird when you first run after riding the bike. the legs feel like they are dead. but is just differnet use of muscles and adjust after 500m-1k. it's worth doing some short runs at least a few times so you know what to expect. its not a "chasing a good time" issue but confidence issue that you don't get a surpirse on the day.
plenty more questions for you no doubt, once you commit to the day....will watch with interest
enjoy the lead up. good luck.
PH

ok rossi (and others) I am here to admit that first tri of that distance took me 1hr. However the next one was 45mins. We all live and learn and tri is certainly a learning experience. 1st tri got stuck in wet suit and went wrong way on bike (despite excellent marshalling). My friend has put on wrong shoes i.e runners instead of bike shoes 2 tri's in a row makig his transitions memorable. Another of our friends takes so long in transition we are thinking of buying him an armchair. We are all participating and having a great time so Rossi just get out there and live it.
enjoy your holiday

Wow, he must be an Ironman!

If there WAS an armchair in T2, I would certainly use it!