Hi all,

I am going from Marathons to Triathlons. I recently asked myself " Am I up for a bigger challenge" Well the answer is obviously yes. I don't want to stop with my running, and I enjoy swimming and cycling so I'm going to join the Ipswich Triathlon Club! have any of you got tips for me?

And what type of bike should I get? money isn't a problem because I'm starting an apparntiship shortly.

Hopefully when I'm 18 I'll go two a Half IronMan then a full IronMan at 19-20....

Cheers,

Chris

Hi,

I recently switched to tris from a running base as well. I'd never road cycled but had done a bit of Mountain biking. What I learnt was that my running background has made me a really solid on the run, and that gives you confidence to go hard on the bike and know you can still make the run.
I also learnt that I was totally unprepared for both the bike and the swim. I thought I was fit but when I started competing with triathletes i realised I was nowhere near what these guys could do. My first swim I was last out of the water.

The other solid recomendation I have had that I really appreciate now is to forget about IMs and Half IM's for a few years. They are a completely different kettle of fish to marathons. The faster you can get in each discipline in the sprint and Oly tris the better your IM and HIM will be in the long run. Remember you want to set your body up for a lifetime of competition, your bodies ability at endurance events will get better and better over years.

My advice form someone who has just crossed over (ie 4 tris) would be to get your sprint and oly training and competitive times the best they can be before putting pressure on yourself to do IM's.

good luck,

Ash

Cheeky bugger, I didn't even realise you'd already ticked marathon off your things to do list, that's what happens when I don't log on for a couple of days I guess.....why don't you check out the Transitions forum. I'm sure the'd be glad for the input.

Transitions

Cheers
Steve

i didn't know you could get a doctors apprenticeship....or is it solicitor? oh wait...brick layer!

i'm suprised no one has given you the bike you wanted a while back either....fiddy bucks was the price bracket wasn't it?

i so wish i could fish like you. do you use worms or prawns?

Hook, line and sinker.. didn't look at post count!

Chris,

good to see your constant enthusiasm!

You found the solution yourself: Join your local tri club and get advise from people with experience. They'll be able to help you and give you training tips. Enquire if they have training sessions for juniors

As for a bike, any bike will do to start with! Just make sure the brakes work well and your gears are tuned. And don't forget your helmet!

Start with the short triathlons and work your way up slowly!

You're in for a bit of a shock

Whyy?

you're a bad, bad man....

Because apprentices are generally the lowest earning workers around. And road bikes tend to be expensive.

But work hard and you'll learn the trade and your pay will increase every year

triathlon is considered a hyper expensive sport, because many triathletes feel they must have expensive bling.
(looking the part is the 4th discipline in triathlon),

..... but if you are content to use second hand gear, and cheaper equipment it can be done at reasonable cost.

you don't have to go for the $800- wetsuit, $10,000- bike, $400- helmet etc.

eg. my wetsuit was a clearance item for $90-. second hand bike for $300-, shoes $120-, helmet $60-, etc.
some money has been spent since then, adapting things, but see it can be done.

yes, yes ... but as the Ro-han also wisely mentions, looking the part is all what it's about - so yeah, it can cost a bit.

And that's not taking into account Race Entry fees. This is where you can really get slugged - $100 TA membership, average fees of $130-150 for Olympic distance, $200+ for HIM, $650+ for IM, etc...

rohan
which shoes do you use ??
KT26 or Dunlop volleys

shoes? as the Yorkshire men say...lookxury!
in the interests of looking the part, thank the lord Kandingo has retired the "Aussie" cossie. also, there will be no more pubic hair or other unmentionables clearly visible in my race photos from now on...my cheap grey tri suit has been retired
(actually, if anyone wants it free, i will post it to you at no cost! serious offer - refer to my profile shot, for the suit that is, the number belt saved me that day. one man's trash is another man's treasure).

to answer the original question, i got a bit of a shock doing a half IM as my first triathlon. i was told it would be easier than the marathon but it wasn't - physically or mentally - because i was underprepered. much as i'd love to do IM, i won' be doing that wihtout a proper build up. you can't cram for these tests Chris. Great to have big goals of course - but take your time and build steadily if you want to be in it for a long time (i have this sentance on short cut key for you).

PH

KT26 (superior cushioning) for longer events. HIM and up.
Dunlop volleys (poor mans racing flats) for sprint distance.

You've done a marathon already? A week ago your only race was a half marathon in 2.5hrs!

lol well yes I've only done a Half Marathon. The longest run I've done it 35Km close enough to a marathon...

IK, it's great you have big aspirations but SLOW DOWN.

How about your tackle one.thing.at.a.time.

Start with that 1:12 HM goal that you have.

You should also know that the best Ironman athletes are easily in their 30's. They have worked hard for many years to build a solid base.

Sorry to give you bad news, but 35km is NOT close enough to a marathon - a marathon is 42.2km!!!

That 7.2km after 35km is hard work - I know - I've done it!!

Very ugly things can happen in 7.2km.

ironkid,
it's not just the extra 7.2km, but there is a big difference between racing 42.2 and just running the distance.
if you're racing, and get it wrong, then nasty things happen over the last quarter of the race.

those nasty things are not just twice as bad as what you might experience in a half marathon if you get the pacing wrong. they're much worse.

Although I've never run a marathon, I've heard enough race reports that the 35km point seems to be the make or break mark.

Plenty of people make it to 35km feeling fine, but that extra 7.2km can be deadly!

Hey Chris,

I think I remember you posting somewhere 'bout that 35k run, but i can't remember how fast it was.

Hopefully we've got some cooler weather in front of us that will make training more pleasant,

Funrunner aka Craig

Err yep, only "break" so far for me. on the quest for sub 3:30, i was comfortable and on track for a 3:24:xx at the 34k trun around at GCM thinking you beauty... finished with 3:36... that's a significant slowing in pace. it's hard to keep the pace even all the way.

ive had 1 great marathon 1 reasonably good one and 2 nightmare marathons and at 35k in all of them i was suffering like a dog so maybe you should think about your comments a bit better or get some balls and do the gcm this year