10 replies to this topic

[Ninja]

One of my new years resolutions was to get back into Trialthons which I haven't done since about 2002. Originally I had thought I might be able to get myself ready for Mooloolaba in March but I realised that was more of a fantasy. (hopefully next year)

Anyhow I went for my first swim this morning before work, I had thought it wouldn't be too hard to get back into swimming as I have been keeping myself fit. The arms seemed to work fine along with the legs, then it got tricky as I had completly forgotten how to breath while swimming (i think I made more spluttering noises than an outboard motor). Once I had recovered from the initial shock I ended up doing around 10 laps and was hapopy for myself, moreso for getting out of bed at 6:15am to swim rather than the swimming itself

Anyway I just thought I would share my experience with everyone, feel free to laugh (I know I did), I'm others may have had some similar experience at some stage as well.

Next swim will be Friday morning and with any luck I will be a bit more prepared for this one and get some kind of rhythm back.

[Muzman]

G'Day SimonMac

I can totally sympathise mate.

I did Ironman WA on 2 December and was very comfortable in the swim, then got the celebratory tatt, and then Christmas - all of which meant I didn't swim for a month.

Did a Club Triathlon last week with a 500m swim and nearly drowned! I couldn't get a breath to save myself and then of course I started to panic and it got worse!

Am now back into my regular swim training and it all comes back pretty quick, but I for one am not about to laugh at you.

M

[wannabe]

I used to do swimming in my early teens. I didn't work out how to breathe and swim til I was around 22, years after I'd quit.

I just thought that in my last ever 100m butterfly race that I'd hit the wall from exertion. After I worked it out, I realised that breathing in and out on the breath for butterfly and holding your breath during the stroke was probably not the best idea and definately the reason why my arms felt like lead and I felt like I was breathing steam for the last 25m.

Recently I worked out how to breathe and run, so that's even cooler. Only just started Couch to 5k, though so very early days.

I'm sure Friday will be a better day for you in the pool.

Wannabe.

[Peterhorse]

No laughing at this end. Sounds very familiar. I reckon you've already done enough swim prep for Mooloolaba this year (tri has been pretty much a duathlon even for me so far - all those early/cold starts to the day in a pool for a few extra minutes? i'm just a sook about swimming).

[Ninja]

Unfortunately this year I will be staying Maroochydore the week before the Triathlon at Mooloolaba as all the accommodation was booked out. I am thinking of taking my bike with me and just pretending I am doing a tri

I actually found that when I did the tri's the swimming in the ocean/bay was alot easier, so with any luck by the end of the year I will be in some kind of form to do some tris.

Congrats Muzman on IM WA, I have always wanted to do one and originally set a goal to do IM OZ before I turned 30. Im now 31 and no where near getting one done - maybe by the time im 35 it could be a possibility, just need to work on the swimming and running.

[Tigergirl]

SimonMac, on Jan 16 2008, 08:56 AM, said:

Anyhow I went for my first swim this morning before work, I had thought it wouldn't be too hard to get back into swimming as I have been keeping myself fit. The arms seemed to work fine along with the legs, then it got tricky as I had completly forgotten how to breath while swimming (i think I made more spluttering noises than an outboard motor). Once I had recovered from the initial shock I ended up doing around 10 laps and was hapopy for myself, moreso for getting out of bed at 6:15am to swim rather than the swimming itself

Anyway I just thought I would share my experience with everyone, feel free to laugh (I know I did), I'm others may have had some similar experience at some stage as well.

Next swim will be Friday morning and with any luck I will be a bit more prepared for this one and get some kind of rhythm back.

I felt exactly the same way a couple of weeks ago. Decided I wanted to go in a few of the biathlons at Boy Charlton Pool this summer - 4km run + 300m swim. Thought it wouldn't be too taxing as I used to (going on 12 years ago now) be a decent swimmer and train at a semi-reasonable level.
But the first time I go back in the pool I felt like a beginner. Managed 20 laps but half of that was breastroke! Have now done three sessions and I know I can swim 300m straight at least but I certainly won't be troubling any of the frontrunners. I still feel like I need to see a coach for some stroke/ breathing correction - my whole technique feels really inefficient.

[littleblackpug]

SimonMac, on Jan 16 2008, 11:01 AM, said:

I am thinking of taking my bike with me and just pretending I am doing a tri

Just take the bike down to the main street, wearing the sluggo's of course, cruise around looking fit (or in some cases, not so fit), and you'll fit right in

[thinkpink]

Welcome to my world simonmac, I drink or inhale bucket loads of water each time i swim. Having said that I am starting to getthe hang of it. Only managed to persevere remembering how hard it was to breathe when I first started running. Still will stick with novice tri this weekend. Oh and normal pedals, goodness only knows what the nieghbours think if they have seen me (gracefully) falling of the bike as I try to master cleats????

[Ninja]

thinkpink, on Jan 16 2008, 03:42 PM, said:

Welcome to my world simonmac, I drink or inhale bucket loads of water each time i swim. Having said that I am starting to getthe hang of it. Only managed to persevere remembering how hard it was to breathe when I first started running. Still will stick with novice tri this weekend. Oh and normal pedals, goodness only knows what the nieghbours think if they have seen me (gracefully) falling of the bike as I try to master cleats????

I found cleats to be easy to get used to , although I have recently switched from Look to Shimano and have found it a bit different. I wonder if there are any novice tri's around sydney in the next few months, although I think I might wait until the end of the year.

[EverReadyBunny]

Hi SimonMac,

I completed empathise with you.

At least having done tri's before you know you can get back there. I am a virtual newbie with the bike and the swim as well. I thought my biking was okay until I did my first IM half at Port Macquarie and I was within a whisker of been timed out. My swim is .. I want to say dismal but need to put a more positive spin on it .. not my strongest discipline.

I haven't even started using cleats yet and managed to fall off my bike yesterday when I left the gear change a bit late on a hill and the chain came off. I looked a real gumby as I fell into the traffic.

Last week I decided to step up from swimming once a week to a huge TWICE a week. I am still in that mood that I can't believe I don't get a gold star or 5 every time I get out of the pool as it is such an effort.

Getting started and getting to the pool is half the battle. I suspect it won't take long for your former form to come back. Hang in there.

[Ninja]

Old habits die hard and the alarm went off at 6:15am this morning and I got up had a stretch and then went back to bed, I think the excuse was that my legs were hurting from RPM last night

Will need to do some swimming over the weekend.