Every year I like to try some new type of race or running distance. This year that new race is a triathlon. I signed up for couple triathlons this summer and did my first one (an Olympic distance ) on 6/4 in Boulder, Colorado (http://www.withoutlimits.co/). Note: For those that don't know an Olympic distance is: 1500 meter swim, 40 k bike and 10 k run. If you are curious about other triathlon distances look here: https://totaltriathlon.com/triathlon-distances
I decided to do this one as my first triathlon because it is not that far away from my home and I had heard this race is well organized and a good one first time triathletes. Also the second triathlon I am doing is also in Boulder the first weekend in August and is in the same area so this was a warm up race.
The end result is I finished in around 3:15, I was hoping for 3 hours but am very happy with my time and not needing a water rescue during the swim!. Some of the highlights and how I approached training for this event:
- I rented a sleeveless wet suit (they recommended them because we have had a cool spring and the water temp was supposed to be cold, it turned out to be perfect!). Always try on your wet suit before hand and make sure it fits right. Mine did fit but it was a bit snug in the neck, I got badly chafed but didn't notice it until after I was done and for the next few days (because it hurt like hell!). I will be renting a size bigger for the next triathlon.
- Before I started training for these triathlons I can honestly say my swimming ability is best described as "It would be hard to drown me". I have no background in swimming (in fact I had never taken a swim lesson until I started training for this!), so I watched lots of videos on You Tube and took some swimming lessons from a Masters swimming group coach. All of this really helped because it was the event that I was the most nervous about. The swim was my slowest event but I expected it, I just did not want to burn up a ton of energy trying to complete this portion of the race. When you first see how far you have to swim in open water (almost a mile) it can be kind of intimidating. But I took the approach of swimming from one buoy to the next so I wouldn't go off course. The course is a huge rectangle with 4 buoys on your right, then a right turn, swim to another buoy, turned right again, then pass 4 more buoys on your right back to about 50 yards down the beach from where you started. The only issue I had swimming is near the end I got a cramp in my calf which made it difficult to transition out of the swim to the bike as I was trying to shake it out. I ended up taking 4-5 minutes which was a bit too long.
- You set up your transition area so you have everything out that you need as you need it. I had my bike gear on top of my bike and my running gear on top of towel next to my bike. This worked out perfectly because I didn't forget anything.
- My goal on the bike was to finish in about an hour and not let anybody pass me. Nobody passed me but my time was a bit over an hour although I was happy with the result.
- Transitioning from bike to run was another place I ended up wasting time. I tried to use the Triathlon mode on my Garmin watch and ended up trying to get it to work right because you have to hit the right buttons for it to go from each event to transition mode then on to the next one. Next time I will just use a specific event mode so I won't have to worry about it.
- My running goal was to finish in under an hour and not have anybody pass me. I finished right around an hour (part of it was me getting my watch to running rather than triathlon mode because I could not get it to time things right) and I passed a lot of people with nobody passing me.
- Overall it was a great experience and I have no bad things to say about this race because they are really well organized. If you are interested in doing a triathlon and are a first time this company runs some really good races: http://www.withoutlimits.co/ .
- Race swag was a hooded sweatshirt and a pint beer glass which is great because I have a ton of race t-shirts.
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| After finishing |
- Ask triathletes, swimmers and cyclists for advice, most of them will give you lots of helpful training and competition tips that really do help.
- You can spend a lot of money on equipment in no time, figure out what you want to spend on and what you want to save on. I bought a road bike at the end of 2015 from a triathlon shop and they fit it out for triathlons. I saved a bunch by going when the store wanted to clear out inventory during their slow time of year. I am renting wet suits because I just don't feel the need to buy one. I swim in pools most of the time so there isn't a need for one and the only open water we have in Colorado are reservoirs and lakes and doubt I will be swimming much in them.
- Get your biked fitted by a professional. It does make a difference in comfort and speed particularly as you go longer distances.
- Learn how and what you can eat while biking because that is when you refuel.
- You don't have to wear a tri suit, shorts or shirt, wear what works for you. I found out out that most triathlon gear does not fit me right or is uncomfortable (seriously do any of these guys lift weights because the tops are sized for someone with no upper body muscles). I have found some tri shorts and one top that will work but the rest of the time I wear standard running or biking gear.
- There will be good and bad training days.
- You burn a large amount of calories training so you have to raise the amount of fuel (food) you are eating or else you will lose strength and size and your training will suffer. Just make sure you are eating good protein/carbs/fat and not junk.
- Brick workouts are the foundation of triathlon training. Most days I get at least two of the three events in and sometimes all three, some weekends I will do the a complete swim/bike/run workout to simulate a triathlon so I can get used to moving from one to the other.
- I feel much more comfortable in the water now but don't know if I will ever really like swimming. I have started to like road biking and am glad I got a good road bike that I can use even if I no longer want to do triathlons (previously I was into mountain biking but I don't do that barely at all anymore).
- You will need more sleep and rest when you are in hard training mode. It can't be very difficult to fit it all in but luckily my family understands the time commitment this takes and are supportive.
My next triathlon is this one: http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/events/americas/ironman/boulder.aspx#/axzz3oemWGVgt
I decided if I was going to do triathlons I was going to train to eventually complete a full Ironman (I run marathons so I figured this was just adding a swim and bike ride on before them, yeah great rationalization there!). Most of my time the last few mnonths consists of: working, training, nutrition and trying to get enough sleep. The training for this takes up most of my free time (I am a golfer but have not played or even hit a golf ball this year because I don't have the time and don't want the distraction from preparing for this race).
My goal for the Boulder Ironman is to finish within the time allowed, that is all. I have no illusions about an overall time other than making the cutoff times in the swim and bike. My brother has done a few different Ironman triathlons and he is going to come out to Colorado to do this one so it should be a fun event weekend. Personally this as one of the bigger challenges I have undertaken due to the swimming involved and my lack of experience in that area.
