Sprint Triathlon questions

All I can say is that the biking portion takes the longest to complete of the 3 legs, thus I wouldn't skimp on a bike.

Recommend you do not go out and spend a ton for gear on your first. If you don’t like it, then you just blew a bunch of money. And it is an expensive sport. No tri suit needed. Recommend top and bottom. Get a good thick pad on bottoms. Good pair of running shoes. Any bike will do for first one. I have seen people ride mountain bikes on their first. 12 week training schedule. Train each discipline twice a week. Make sure you take a day off per week! Start at about 1000m swimming, 12 miles biking and 4 miles running per week. Peak at about 2000m swimming, 35 miles biking and 7-8 miles running per week. Most important is to have fun on the race.

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All I can say is that the biking portion takes the longest to complete of the 3 legs, thus I wouldn't skimp on a bike.

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Time and difficulty are not the same though. And I guess difficulty is a bad way to describe it. The run is always the toughest. When I was doing sprints and olys, I was doing 10 to 13 mile long runs. A 5k at the end of a tri feels like a 10 mile run.

My suggestions are to get comfortable in the water, but also know where to place yourself in the swim. I was comfortable in the water, but my first tri was a wake up. I positioned myself in the middle and finished in the middle. But the idiots who start with a bang crawling on top of me only to have to pass the later will make the swim feel twice as long. I soon learned to start in the back to the outside. Passing on your terms is easier than getting passed in my opinion.

The bike is the longest, but easiest. The hard part is knowing to stay within your bounds. Unless you are truly competing, it shouldn't be at a level 10. 18 miles isn't chump change for a sprint, so keep it in mind. You should have a spring in your step when getting off the bike.

Running is running, but definitely practice running a mile or 2 after your bike rides in the weeks leading up to the race. Your legs will feel like sand bags, but you get used to it and it goes away after you get moving.

Tri shorts are a must in my opinion. You need the thin chamois to bike and still run. You can always swim with no top, then put on a cycling shirt, but it isn't fun when wet. I have a few kits somewhere if the OP wants to pay shipping, You can have them. Got out of tri about 2.5 years ago and couldn't fit them to save my life . I am 5'11" and weight about 165-170 at the time.

Lots of great advice. Thanks!

I’m doing a half Ironman in October. My friends and I are putting together an Olympic in June.

Can anyone recommend a good trisuit? We’ll be open water swimming in the Gulf so I won’t need a wetsuit for the Olympic in June. I also need recommendations for:

1) Goggles
2) Clip-on aero bars (which I won’t use for the Olympic but will need for the 70.3)
3) Swim cap
4) Wetsuit

I got this one last year on sale and it’s been solid. I’ve done a couple of sprint tris in it as well as many brick sessions and like it a lot. More comfortable than I thought it would be, especially in the heat of the summer.

For the goggles, I just picked up a $15 Speedo pair at Academy. Same with the swim cap. Can’t help you with the clip on aero bars as my bike already has them. Maybe check FB marketplace? There is also a good FB group called Tri ‘N Sell It where people post lots of good items for sale. Good luck

I use nothing but TYR spec ops 2.0 goggles. Have tried several others but those are the best for me. Don’t need swim cap. Different brands fit differently for everyone. I wear a kiwami tri suit, TYR full wetsuit and Roka skin suit for warmer water. I wear those because they make a XXL size for me in those particular suits (6’4”, 215). I agree with the comment of don’t wear a full suit in warmer water. The extra float will not out weigh the internal heat. Make sure you have a solid hydration plan for the week leading up to half. Also have a solid pre race food plan and during race nutrition plan.

Forgot to mention...work in brick workouts during training.

Yeah, that is the best price I've ever seen on a wetsuit if they have your size.

I have a code to get the Volt suit for $100 at any time. Don't want to just leave it up as it is something I have from a previous coach, but would definitely share for a short period if anyone needs it. I think I was able to get the swim skin for sub 100 as well with that code.

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I personally can't wear a one piece suit. I'm not sure there is one brand better than others. There is just different fits.

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And to add to the general theme of what Cdawg said...I love a one piece suit and hated separates. Only time I ever wore a top and bottom was when I did an ironman in case I had to shite as it sucks getting a one piece back on when sweaty. But everyone is different. I also really like having sleeves. I had (sadly I put on 35 lbs since then) a very thin frame and really like Castelli gear. But if you have any sort of thickness on you, you basically have to wear an XXL in their gear. You really just have to try out several things and give yourself enough time to make returns if it doesn't fit.

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2) Clip-on aero bars (which I won’t use for the Olympic but will need for the 70.3)

Go to your local bike shop and talk with them. I would go ahead and use them for the Olympic unless it's super hilly

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