Triathlons?

[itisatruth]

Thinking about trying to do a triathlon next year (July 2010) and was just wondering if anyone has any experience with them. It's a .5 mile swim, 15.3 mile bike ride, and 3.1 mile run.

I'm not doing it for the competition - I've just always thought about it and think now would be a good time - I'm 40 and just really want to take charge of my health (my parents are both dealing with health problems).

I think I could do the swim and run - with training - but I've never been a good runner and kinda worry about that part.

So - if anyone has ever done one.....how long did you train for it? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[totfit]

I don't really know your current level of fitness, but to do a mini-Triathlon such as this it would be doable for most anyone with the time you have allowed yourself. If you began walking/running 3 days a week, swimming one or two and biking once a week or so, you would easily be able to do it. There would be not need at all to push yourself to overtrain. Just slowly build up your fitness level.

[itisatruth]

Originally Posted by totfit

I don't really know your current level of fitness, but to do a mini-Triathlon such as this it would be doable for most anyone with the time you have allowed yourself. If you began walking/running 3 days a week, swimming one or two and biking once a week or so, you would easily be able to do it. There would be not need at all to push yourself to overtrain. Just slowly build up your fitness level.

And here I thought I was doing so well....only to find out it is a mini-triathlon, lol

Seriously, thanks - you helped make it seem definitely doable. I'm in average shape I think. I mostly want to get back into shape like I was around 10 years ago. My dad has cancer and my mom has an auto-immune disorder. Them dealing with those things has made me want to take charge now instead of waiting until I have a problem and trying to fight it then - I'd rather be proactive.

Right now I do cardio at the gym 2-3 times a week, play tennis, do free weights, and try to run up and down the bleachers at the high school once a week.

I thought about trying to be ready for it by this July - but it's my mom's 60th B-day and I want to be with her for that.

Like I said, the running part was what worried me - so I think I'll start like you said.

[Freepath]

I like to run. I think anyone who does cardio the way that you describe could handle this. I’ve done one of these. I think it’s called a sprint distance triathlon. The biggest surprise that I had was the swimming. I am a strong swimmer, but to maintain a freestyle crawl stroke for half of a mile is quite a bit harder than you might imagine. I had to resort to all kind of embarrassing swimming styles in the name of finishing.

Another issue was access to a pool. It sounds like you belong to a gym, but a lot of times it’s difficult to get the chance to practice in the pool. If you are a fairly slow runner, you should be able to run 3 miles in around 30 minutes. If you can run 1-1.5 hours non stop, you will most likely have the endurance for something like this.

[dave47]

Go for it, with training you should do it comfortably.
One of the lads at work did one and said that the swimming was the hardest part.
I guess the cycling would take about an hour or slightly over, I enjoy getting out on the bike and that is the usual distance I do.
With the run, my teenage daughter wanted to run a 10k(3.1 mile) charity run last year so she came out with me for 20 minutes or so. If she wasn't talking she was moaning the whole time, but come the day she flew round.
When I first started running I only attempted ten minutes, which would be about a mile.
Gradually increase it every few weeks and by the time you can manage half an hour you will be comfortable with it. I have been running now for about a year and a half, and can manage a couple of hours. So far I haven't picked up any injuries, and think this is because I try not to push myself too hard.
I don't know how long the swim would take but the whole thing combined sounds like a good two hour workout which you have plenty of time to prefer for, best wishes with it all.