Triathlon Thread

[no1bankteller]

Whilst this is a cycling board I noticed that in "Post your ride" thread there was significant discussion regarding Ironman, 70.3 events etc. Granted that some of this was perpetrated by me but at the same time there seemed to have been significant discussion about this prior to my coming on board. I am therefore hoping that the mods will allow this thread to remain here.

Anyway!! The point of this thread is to share any experiences with Triathlon.

It could be BRW, Sprint distance, Olympic/Long Course or 70.3/Ironman. How did you get started? What are your goals? Do you train with a club or on your own? Anything at all you would like to share?

My first tri was about 5 years ago - a BRW. Never though that I would do anything more then that. Slowly though over the last 5 years I got hooked. The first season was spent doing Sprint distances and over the last few years I have focused on 70.3 and just finished my first Ironman.

When I started I remember talking to my coach and saying that I would never do an Ironman and Olympic distance was what my goal was. I am 40 now and for most of my life the exercise of choice was weights, cycling and little else. Somewhere along the way I got hooked, learned to swim and started enjoying running too. Ended up going with the flow and enjoyed it so much that I will end up doing a few more.

I hope that one day my son and I can do a tri together and the old man can give the young buck a few pointers along the way .

 

[Freakie]

Been a triathlete for 16 years. Started as a 16 y/o doing the BP Junior series. Have raced all distances from 300/8/2 upto Ironman. Finished 3rd at the 2009 World Championships (my last race...injuries) in the sprint distance format.

I have had the past 2 years off racing due to injuries and wanting to spend more time with my young family. Have just started training under a new coach again with a goal of going around the 4.25 mark at Shep 70.3 and then try and qualify for Kona next year, not sure which Ironman I want to do yet.

I also have a new ride which I will put in the other thread as soon as I finish building it!

 

[Freakie]

Actually to help those how have limited Triathlon knowledge:

Distances are usually reffered to in the following format swim/bike/run. eg. a 300 metre swim, 10km ride and a 2km run would be displayed as 300/10/2.

Age Groups: Athletes are grouped in 5 year age brackets, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34 and so on.

Enticer Distance: Usually around the 300/8/2 or 400/10/3 distance. These races are designed to encourage new people to the sport and are usually held before the main race (very early in the morning!)

Sprint Distance: Can either be 500/20/5 or the true distance of 750/20/5. Thease are the most common races in the major cities, eg the Gatorade Series in Melbourne and QLD. The winners usually finish in around 52-55 mins.

Olympic Distance: 1500/40/10, this is the distance the Olympics use and is the main distance Age Group athletes race to qualify for World Championships. Considered one of the 2 prestigeous distances along with Ironman. Winners usually finish in 1hr50min

70.3 (or Half Ironman): 1900/90.1/21.1, A popular distance that requires a fair bit of training. The winners usually finish in around 4hrs. Australia have approx 5 70.3 races.

Ironman: 3.8km/180.2/42.2, the toughest race. Australia have 2 Ironman races, Port Macquarie (IM Australia) and Bussleton (IM Western Australia). There is a 3rd rumoured race to start in 2013, IM Melbourne. Challenge Series run races over the same distance (just not legally allowed to be called Ironman), they have a race in Cairns. You can qualify for Kona at Ironman branded events if you generally finish in the top 5 of your age group at IMA or IMWA (or any other IM around the world).

 

[Freakie]

Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie) entries opened on Wednesday, was suppose to be at 12pm but ended up being 1pm. 1450 entries were snapped up in 31 minutes (I was one of them). They then released another 100 entries on Thursday at 12pm, sold out in under 60 seconds. Entry was $695, a cool $1m+ in 32 minutes for the WTC (World Triathlon Corp).

Triathlon in this contry is booming!

 

[blue gunslinger]

Cannot believe it has already been a week since Busselton 70.3
The most beautiful place to do it
Beautiful clear water to swim in, a peaceful forrest ride and then seaside run

 

[no1bankteller]

Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie) entries opened on Wednesday, was suppose to be at 12pm but ended up being 1pm. 1450 entries were snapped up in 31 minutes (I was one of them). They then released another 100 entries on Thursday at 12pm, sold out in under 60 seconds. Entry was $695, a cool $1m+ in 32 minutes for the WTC (World Triathlon Corp).

Triathlon in this contry is booming!

Ironman Melbourne was supposed to be announced on Wednesday - it was apparently postponed due to the budget. Rumour had it that it will be on the first weekend in February 2012 and be held at Docklands.

Entries will go on sale sometime in June - better be on the ball and get in early .

 

[no1bankteller]

Cannot believe it has already been a week since Busselton 70.3
The most beautiful place to do it
Beautiful clear water to swim in, a peaceful forrest ride and then seaside run

Quiet few of my friends did it. One really close friend did Port Mac half and then Busso half back to back (she is a gun elite competitor though).

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Freakie, your bike collection is insanely awesome.

 

[Freakie]

Freakie, your bike collection is insanely awesome.

I got a new one on the weekend, will put up shortly. MMM bike pr0n.

As for IM Melb, will be announced very shortly (to take the heat off the cancellation of IM China), I've already entered..

2 IM's in 8 weeks = Pain.

 

[no1bankteller]

I got a new one on the weekend, will put up shortly. MMM bike pr0n.

As for IM Melb, will be announced very shortly (to take the heat off the cancellation of IM China), I've already entered..

2 IM's in 8 weeks = Pain.

Not quite as bad as that but I am planning on doing Ironman Melbourne Feb 2012 and Challenge Barcelona 29/05/2012.

Not much time to recover between the two though

 

[Freakie]

Entered Shep HIM today as well, get in quick it's about to sell out as well...

 

[no1bankteller]

Entered Shep HIM today as well, get in quick it's about to sell out as well...

I refuse to do Shep ever again. The swim in that mud bath is terrible... Never again. enjoy the mudbath I hear its good for your skin.

 

[Freakie]

I refuse to do Shep ever again. The swim in that mud bath is terrible... Never again. enjoy the mudbath I hear its good for your skin.

It's not that bad. You must hate swimming