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Click to view tridook's profile Rookie 2 posts since
Jul 9, 2007

Feb 3, 2006 3:40 AM

newbie looking for advice 2

Alright,let start by thanking you guys for the replies and the support. I should have been a little more specific last time around so i'll try this again. I signed up for the Benbrook tri on May 7th. If I recall correctly it consists of a 300yd swim, 13.8mi bike, and a 5k run. I already feel alot better the race with the replies I have gotten so far so thanks again. A little bit about myself: I'm a team leader for a small infantry unit thus the confidence on my feet. The amount of training I can get in really depends on how much time we spend outside of the wire. Luckily, the operational tempo has slowed down somewhat, allowing me to get some training in. We aren't allowed bikes here but we do have a small gym with a couple of treadmills and a stationary bike. I've been trying to train 5-6 times a week rotating between running, biking, and upper body circuit workouts. I try to do transitioning 2 times a week, 1 long run day (hour), long bike ( hour), and 2 interval days. just something i came up with so if i should adjust any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for the work out,pegasus. looks tough but definetly do-able. I wouldn't say that I'm overly confident about the bike-run i just know that I can grit it out if anything else. Its good to hear that I have a fighting chance with the swim! well, thanks again and any more suggestions would be appreciated. ooh-rah pegasus and thanks again for the support guys.
Click to view Joe_H1's profile Community Moderator 1,072 posts since
Jul 9, 2007
1. Feb 3, 2006 10:00 AM in response to: tridook
you're doing great one workout I'd recommend is a BRICK (Bike Run ICK) it's a bike ride followed immediately by a run. it gets your body used to making the blood flow transition from cycling muscles to running muslces quicker. doesn't have to be race pace or all that long of a run (1mile) but it's great workout to help you find your running legs on race day. 300yd swim? shouldn't be a problem. get home safe and good luck!
Click to view duggar1's profile Expert 55 posts since
Jul 9, 2007
2. Feb 4, 2006 2:32 PM in response to: tridook
It looks like you already have the makings for some brick workouts with your gym setup. Once or twice a week follow up that 1 hour on the stationary bike with a mile or two of running. If you haven't done a tri, you'll never be able to appreciate the uniquely dead feeling in your legs as you come off the bike and start the run. Take short quick strides, make your foot-strike directly below your body and keep you knees low so you don't rely on your quads for running. They're dead meat from the bike anyway so don't expect them to be much use for the rest of the 5K run.

Getting the maximum performance out of your body in a tri is very much about good efficient, economical technique in each of the 3 legs. The quality of your technique will determine the energy you use to move yourself forward, and you want as much left for the run as possible. Your technique will also determine which muscles you use for each sport. This is especially important when transitioning from the bike to the run if you are a long striding, knee lifting runner. You ideally want to use different muscle groups when biking and running. I would highly recommend getting your hands on a book titled, "The Triathlete's Guide to Run Training", by Ken Mierke.
Web site, http://www.Fitness-Concepts.com/ . It will give you the full biomechanical understanding of how to adjust and optimize your running technique, as well as how to improve your bike technique so that you will run faster. This book is a lot more than just running technique. It has almost become my tri coach.

Your chosen triathlon has a 300 yd swim, which means the few weeks you have to train when you get back will be just fine. Here too technique is important. If you have a sloppy swim stroke you will exit the water winded and may have to take it easy for the first few miles on the bike. You probably already have all the upper body strength and cardio conditioning you need, so your limited time may be best spent improving your technique. I recommend the book "Total Immersion, the Revolutionary Way to Swim Better, Faster, and Easier", plus the companion DVD "Freestyle Made Easy", both by Terry Laughlin.
Web site, http://www.totalimmersion.net/index.html . If you follow Terry's methods and do the drills he shows on the DVD exclusively for a couple weeks, the swim portion of your tri will be a cakewalk.

I know I'm putting a lot of emphasis on technique, but that doesn't mean you don't have to put in the miles. You really want to be fit, but you also don't want to waste that fitness on inefficient and counterproductive movements. So, again I highly recommend the above books and DVD. And good luck in your tri this coming May.