From: mvm@vader.harris-atd.com (Matt Mahoney)
Subject: Re: A zillion questions...
Reply-To: mvm@epg.harris.com (Matt Mahoney)
Organization: CAE Design Center, Harris Corp., Melbourne, Fl.
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 15:46:40 GMT

jrb@Ingres.COM (John Black) writes:

>2. Do most triathletes train in open water?  If not, how does pool training
>	translate into open water swimming (particularly in the ocean or in a
>	wet suit)?

The skills you will need for open water are:
1.  Swimming in a straight line without lane lines.
2.  Breathing on either side (especially when there are waves).
3.  Sighting buoys while swimming straight toward them.
4.  Swimming in a crowd while getting kicked and elbowed.
5.  Swimming in a wet suit.

Once you develop these skills, you can maintain them in races and do
all your training in a pool.  Definitely try some open water swimming
before your first race.

>1. How much cycling gear do contemporary triathletes bother with for the 
>	cycling leg of a tri?  I know helmets are normally mandatory, but what
>	about cycling shoes, gloves, shorts, jersey, sunglasses, etc.?  Tinley
>	says he forgoes the shirt and gloves, and cycles in his swimsuit (which
>	is padded in the crotch).

For rides under 10 miles, I wear only a swimsuit, helmet and running shoes
(no socks) with toe clips.  Over 10 miles, I switch to clipless pedals.  Over
50 miles, I put on bike shorts over my swimsuit.  I never wear a shirt
unless it's cold.  You don't need gloves if you use aero-bars.

By the way, a $60 clip-on aero bar will add 0.75 MPH and a $300 disk wheel
will add 0.25 MPH.

Be sure you know the rules about drafting.  You must be 3 bike lengths
behind the bike ahead of you or 3 feet to the side.

>2. What happens if you get a flat?  Are you allowed to change wheels (assuming 
>	you've got support somehow)?  Or do you just sit down and fix it (and
>	lose 5 minutes)?  What do the pros do?

No support is allowed.  Carry a spare tube and a pump or CO2 cartridge.

>1. Running hurts my knees and tendons more than other sports.  Any suggestions
>	on ways to train which are easy on the body?

The aerobic benefits of biking and swimming carry over into running,
allowing you to reduce your mileage.  Concentrate on speedwork and long
slow distance, and eliminate junk miles.  Lift weights to strengthen
all muscle groups, whether or not you use them in your other training.
This will help support your joints and protect against tendonitis.
I run 15 miles per week and have run several marathons.

>1. How much support are you allowed in a race?  For example, do they allow a
>	spouse or friend to ride a bike/motorcycle/auto beside you during the
>	cycling/running leg?

Not allowed.  The race should provide water every 1-2 miles on the run
and every 15-20 miles on the bike.  Longer races should provide a sports
drink as well, and sometimes fruit.  In any case, carry 2 water bottles
on the bike.

>2. Are roads typically closed on the cycling and running courses, or is traffic
>	a constant worry?

Roads are usually open to traffic but major intersections are controlled
so you don't have to stop.

>3. What are typical transition times for experienced triathletes for the swim-
>	bike and the bike-run transitions?

About one minute.

>4. I've heard triathletes end up injured a lot.  What are the most common
>	injuries and what are their causes?

Tendonitis from overtraining, especially running.  If it hurts, back off
on your mileage.

>5. Just curious, not serious.  How do you qualify for the Ironman events? 

A few large races offer Ironman qualifier spots to the first 1 or 2 in
each age group.  These races are extremely competitive.  For instance, at the
Gulf Coast Tri (a 1/2 Ironman), to qualify in my age group (35-39 male)
which had 2 spots for 60 competitors, you would need to swim 20 minutes
per mile, bike 26 MPH, and run 13 miles at 6:00/mile.  I'll probably
never be that fast; I have a better shot at the 4 lottery spots picked 
at random from the 600 competitors.

There are several Ironman distance events that you don't need to qualify
for.  (e.g., the Great Floridian, which I did last year).

--------------------------------        _\/_
Matt Mahoney, mvm@epg.harris.com       |(TV)|  Drug of the Nation
#include <disclaimer.h>                |____|

Newsgroups: rec.sport.triathlon