Anyone do triathlons?

running and biking are the easy parts. swimming that long is a nightmare.

Triathlon as a hobby? Ok bro

depends on how long tri is.

I did a half ironman in 2013. At first I was really scared so I trained a lot. A month before the race, I was sick of training so barely trained at all. I finished OK but the run in Miami in early october was a bitch. I also took a NASTY fall 2 miles into the bike on some sand that was inexplicably in the street, where my entire right forearm was gashed and my right leg had a ton of road rash...made it very difficult to lean on my bars from that point forward as the cut would stick to them. The "medical staff" was also woefully unprepared and it was basically a high school football team with a box of first aide supplies. I just grabbed it from them and doctored myself up.

Doing a sprint doesn't take that much of your time.
I also have to totally disagree about the swimming. The 1.2 M swim was very easy. I've always been a reasonably good swimmer. Just realize that even if you bust your arse vs going at a nice steady pace you aren't going to shave much time off your total in a longer race. Once you relax and get the breathing down you can actually swim for a long arse time.

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I just don't want to not be home every night because I've got to be out getting in a training.

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it shouldn't be that difficult

mix up some runs, rides, and swims during the weak separately

then do a brick on the weekends

Almost forgot...

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My issue is that I can't swim "slow". I can't take that nice easy pace without sinking and getting all out of whack. I've got to get the stroke down to take it easy and swim. It'll just take some practice. I'd love to do a half or even full ironman. Seems like the ultimate accomplishment. But I know that will take up most if not all of my free time for 4+ months.

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I was never a slow swimmer either. It's all about breathing. If you can relax and breathe it becomes very simple and almost relaxing. The absolute hardest thing with a triathlon to me is the transition from cycling to running. Unless you're doing brick training and adapting to it, it feels almost impossible on your legs...like you are running in quicksand.

When I was finishing my half ironman, I thought there was no way I would train for a full, but I'm actually thinking of doing one in 5 years when I turn 40 and my kids are a little older/I have more time to train. Will try to do another half in a year or so to drop some of this dad weight.

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How much of your life does it take up

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All of it, if you include the time you spend telling everyone that you do triathlons. You will also have to join a coven or nest of other triathloners.

I have done two half ironman races. The first I trained a lot. Probably 12-18 hours a week. I did this for about 4 months or so.

I didn't have a problem finishing. I didn't figure my salt out so I ended up cramping for most of the run. I'm a big guy so my times weren't stellar.

The second one I ran I only trained for a couple of weeks on top of what I was already doing.

I figured something out about triathlons. One event is going to SUCK. The first one, the bike sucked. The second one, the swim sucked.

Probably won't do another and will most likely sell my Tri-bike.....

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How much of your life does it take up

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If you're already a regular runner then just learn how to swim correctly and you can do an Oly or Sprint. If you want to do a full iron then prepare to not see your wife and kids very much for the next year or two.