Multi-Sport RacingTriathalons and Adventure Racing have been sweeping the nation at a phenomenal rate. Multi-Sport Racing is one of the few sports where just completing a race is often considered a victory. Learn all about this sport, post photos, meet potential teammates or brag about your performance in a race.
Yep. http://www.usatriathlon.org/ (All my riding buddies are all accomplished triathletes. [img]smile.gif[/img] ) As I mentioned in your thread, you might want to try a sprint distance first to get a taste of what it is like.
There's one right here in town this summer, but it's the day after I graduate from Officer Candidate School! While I theoretically could attempt this, it'd be a pretty bad idea, with no training and all...
There's another one a month later though. My main concern is the swim. I suck at swimming.
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This is a really good first triathlon - but I do have one warning - the run is hard. They bill it as an "out and back with a downhill finish" - read UPHILL on the way out.
The swim is in DeGrey lake - very clear lake - nice clockwise rectangle swim around 3 buoys.
The bike is really nice out and back - a few rollers - but no huge climbs. Like I said - the run is tough at first so don't blow your legs out on the bike - but the downhill finish is fun. The race is well organized and a good spot for a first triathlon.
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kmwest mentioned swimming. If you aren't a confident swimmer - let me warn you about a triathlon mass start swim. Treading water with 100 people - hearing "GO" and the kick fest begins. You will get kicked - you will get behind someone slower than you and have no way to get around - you will probably be a little anxious. If you train by following a black line up and down in a pool - this is going to be much different. A mass start open water swim is a little rough. The best advice I can give - take it for what it's worth - is do what you have to do to just stay calm and get through the swim. For me - that means lots of breaststroke. You also have to see where you are going - I like to breaststroke a few strokes - find my path and then just dig out some freestyle for a while - get back up and breaststroke. Once you are out of the water - you can race your race and go hard and tough.
-FWIW
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I've been meaning to jump in here. My local favorites are the off-road tri in July: Dog Daze
It is in Burns Park so if you can go off road (you just need the bike) it's a great race.
In September yo have the CATS Sprint Tri in Conway: Sprint Tri
But for some reason the link is not working right now.
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It's probably too small of a race for adventure ODB.
Hey I have an idea...ODB's girl...wanna do it with me??
Reading the beginner's tri site, I was thinking that it was too much to try...gear, transition, etc. But the event actually sounds like fun...
From looking at the results I'm figuring the sprint will take about 1.5hrs or less?? At least if I were to do the 3 events separate and then adding together times. [img]smile.gif[/img] That's doable....
I'd love to attempt at least one tri this year. The bike is the only part I don't worry about much...the crowded starts scare me a little (insert chicken cluck noise here). You are a MUCH better runner than I am. We had talked about doing the CATS sprint tri in Conway, that one I know the course since Joe has done it before and i've cheered on the side [img]tongue.gif[/img] What about the off road tri in Burns park, the dawg daze isn't it? That course is tougher, hills and rocks!
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Originally posted by ODBSGIRL: I'd love to attempt at least one tri this year. The bike is the only part I don't worry about much...the crowded starts scare me a little (insert chicken cluck noise here). You are a MUCH better runner than I am. We had talked about doing the CATS sprint tri in Conway, that one I know the course since Joe has done it before and i've cheered on the side [img]tongue.gif[/img] What about the off road tri in Burns park, the dawg daze isn't it? That course is tougher, hills and rocks!
I think the CATS sprint tri in Conway is the same one I'm talking about. August 21st??
I'm just the opposite about the bikes...wouldn't want to attempt my first tri off road since I've never done ANY trail rides. (serious chicken cluck sounds )
Is the transistion stuff as complicated as it sounds? Didn't think about the crowded bike starts I don't think the water ones would bother me...or do all tri's start in the water?
This is odbsgirl, I have hijacked his computer and am too lazy to log off and back on
The swim start is what I meant...I don't swim well enough to be comfy with it. The bike shouldn't be a problem, it's flat and pretty straight and they try to keep cars away,no drafting allowed so you can't get bunched up too much. I thought you were talking about doing the lake degray sprint tri in arkedelphia. I'm on board for Conway. How tough can transitions really be? Make sure you have your equipment organized and socks rolled down to make it easy to put them on right? Unless you're heading for a top spot, can a few seconds in the transition really hurt your time? I'll be lucky to finish ahead of that fat guy that looks like Santa and has the paramedics ready with a defibrillator cause they just know he's going down.
BUT it sounds like you need a trail ride [img]tongue.gif[/img]
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
I think she is, Lisa, the day before your hubby and teammates hurt me. [img]smile.gif[/img]
C, transitions: for your first tri, don't worry about it. Take your time, walk in, walk out, rest if you need to. It's only a little time.
For your first swim, hang back, way back. Otherwise if you run to get up with everyone, you will probably get kicked in the head. Swim time isn't that much anyway. Most of the time is made up in the ride, and then the run.
Yes, I've never done a tri, but again, I've been riding with accomplished tri-guys and gals for 4 years now. I've learned a lot.
Cool. I guess I was confused about the two. Sep 18th in Conway is better, much closer. I don't know why I was thinking they were the same. Guess I looked at too many last night.
Hopefully the swim isn't in lake conway.
I did notice the transition times, 30 secs or so for the winners and 2+mins for the middle of the packs. I won't be that close, but knowing me and my organization skills, 5mins wouldn't be out of the question.
Why start wet? that's weird! Do you ride your bike in a wet suit or bathing suit? I only have a mountain bike.
I do need a trail ride, still need to get fat tires back on though...
You can get a tri suit, which can be worn for all three. But if you don't want to spend the cash, swim with a thin pair of bike shorts, or for a sprint, you can just wear your bathing suit for the whole thing and throw on a pair of shorts for the run. One important rule; go nude in any transition area and you are disqualified, so no changing out of stuff down to your birthday suit.
Okay, time for someone who has done this race to step in. This is a large but very well run race. The start is in waves based on age mainly.
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You will be able to stand up in the lake before the start. You'll swim out around some bouys and back in to a beach where they have pieces of carpet for the run/walk to the parking lot wher the transition area is.</font>
No place to change clothes so if you are not wearing a tri suit just have some bike shorts ready to put on over your suit. Have your socks already rolled down to the toe so you can just roll them on over wet feet. Put your shoes, helmet and gloves on and take your bike out of the transition.</font>
The bike section is only about 13 miles and except for small hill in the middle it is fairly flat. So don't worry about chafing, you'll be done before you know it.</font>
When you get back to the transition you change out your bike shoes for running shoes and leave all your cycling gear. You can run in your bike shorts or switch to some running shorts over your swimsuit.</font>
Your now on a 5k run and you can do that standing on your head . Finish up the race and go get a massage.</font>
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
So if I don't have clips on my pedals...I can bike with my running shoes on and save some transititon time? Would clips really improve my time that much?? I like being to have my feet free. [img]smile.gif[/img]
The clips will leave your legs more fresh for the run. You really should learn to ride with clips, or at least good toe straps. It allows you to use pedal force all the way around and distribute the work load onto your entire leg instead of just youur quads and glutes when you have just a pedal. But don't try clips on your race for the first time - get used to them first.
I ride with clips on the road but for mountain biking I prefer flat peddles. I know this goes against most tradition but in a lot of races I do it pays to be able to jump off and run with the bike.
Hey it's your first race and you are new to the bike, do what is comfortable. Clips and shoes will also set you back $100 - $300. I have seen people in this race riding mountain bikes so don't worry about the equipment as long as you feel you can ride it comfortably for 13 miles.
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Today's mighty oak was once just some nut who held his ground!
Thanks. I'm a seasonal rider and when it's nice I take my mountain bike with skinny tires out for 25mile rides, so 13 will be fine on my bike, but I guess I won't have the same speed.
Maybe if I'm really having fun, I'll look into a road bike. I like the sturdiness of a mountain bike, though. [img]smile.gif[/img]
I don't think the water ones would bother me...or do all tri's start in the water?
. Finish up the race and go get a massage.</font>
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