I should learn to say no!

Paul C.
on 2/17/11 2:32 am - Cumming, GA
So all of my friends and associates know that I am big into fitness now and working towards some very lofty goals.  What most of these people don't know is that many illnesses have affecred my family and I have a hard time saying NO when it comes to my family.  From things like Relay For Life which benefits cancer, which has affectted many people in my life some survived some have not, to Diabetes Research , my wife has had type 1 since she was 18 months.  No I am healthy and enjoying life and accomplishing things I never dreamed possible I find it hard to say NO when an event targets something that has affected my family, I will probably be doing a half this year for JDF.

The latest to arise is a friend asking me if I would like to do a small Tri with them
Small
400 yd swim
10 mile Bike
5K run

what makes it so hard is that it is for a Transplant foundation, yet something that saved someone close to me twice during their life, but wasn't available a 3rd time. 

So now I sit here saying I can swim pretty decent and could make 400yards, my gym has a pool so I could work on time.  I haven't been on a bike in ummm well I won't say how many years but they say once you learn you never forget, and I can run 5K.  Can I do all of these in 1 day, I believe I can, but the bigger question is.  Should I do them all in 1 day.

If I decide to what would be a decent bike?  I'm not looking to lay down $$$$ for a Triathalon bike at this point maybe in 5 or 100 years I will be ready, but I have considered taking up cycling, if I survive spin class in 4 weeks.

Thoughts on if I should or Not?
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op  (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03      
      First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (
PR 2:24:35)   
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
superconducting
on 2/17/11 2:50 am - Montgomery, NY
 do you really not already know the answer you're going to get ont his forum?   Dude you know you gotta go for it!  You can get a used road bike pretty cheap that'll get ya started until you're completely addicted.  Check out Craiglist.  


Sue M.
on 2/17/11 3:27 am - Nantucket, MA
You've got this!

Perfect excuse to start riding a bike again!  I need one of these to get me on a bike.

Spin class and cycling - two VERY different things.

I'm excited for you!
Read my blog, BARIATHLETE   I run because I can.

First 5K race October 4, 2009   (34.59)  PR 5/22/11 (27:26)
First 5 Mile: January 1, 2011 (50:30)
First 10K: July 4, 2010 (1:03.26) New PR 4/10/11 (1:01.14)
First 10 Mile: April 11, 2010  (1:46.15)
First 1/2 marathon: June 13, 2010 (2:22.21)  PR: 5/1/11 (2:17.30)
First Marathon: October 16, 2011: 5:47:20

Goofy Challenge: January 7-8, 2012
If you think you can, you can.  If you think you can't, you're right. - Mary Kay Ash
nate2009
on 2/17/11 3:50 am - Lebanon, OH
Have fun , you know you want to do it !
    No longer about weight , it's all about living.            
Seht
on 2/17/11 3:55 am
If you don't want to lay out big bucks for a bike.

Craigs list

Freecycle if you have one in your area.  It's an online group through yahoo where people give away stuff they aren't using any more rather than throwing it away.   I have seen bicycles given away.  Anyhow it doesn't hurt to ask.

You are probably looking at 600-1000 for a road bike.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/?gclid=CMPwk8n6j6cCFQUSbAodCy-cbw

Ebay

Check your local riding club.  Often you can find people selling their old gear.

Many stores have sales right now because they are still trying to get rid of last years models.

I know it's a lot of money to put down on something you aren't sure you are going to do or even like, but if you think you might, then put at least enough into it that you aren't going to hate it because the equipment is crappy.  The money I spent repairing my "cheap" bike would have been enough to have gotten me into the next level of bikes and I probably would have been much happier.

If you haven't done a spin class, you are probably going to be surprised.  It is a great experience, but you will probably work harder in that class than you will during the race.  They have you for 45-60 minutes and they will have you sweating at the end of the class.  I'm not sure of your speeds, but your whole triathlon won't last that long, or if it does it will be pretty close.

I was looking back through some of my older races, and my first tri was very similar in distance
400 meter swim 8 mile bike and 2 mile run and it took me 59 minutes.
So add on another 8 minutes to the bike and another 10 minutes of running and I would have been done in 1:17
You may be faster or slower, I'm not sure, but that should give you an idea of the time.

The first time you do something - It's going to be a personal record!

mcarthur01
on 2/17/11 4:35 am - Cumming, GA
i'm going to be out for the next 4 days but should be in the gym on tues or wed morning next week.  i can fill you in then regarding the local bike shops and options etc. 
Where are we going??  And why am I in this handbasket??

right now.  somewhere.  somebody is working harder than you.

Katie H.
on 2/17/11 8:42 am - Charlton, MA
Totally unrelated to bikes and such...but my accountant told me that I can write off race admission and mileage to and from races that are fundraising for a non-profit (Wounded Warrior, Special Olympics, Relay for Life, etc...) on your taxes...just an FYI...  it IS tax season after all!!  :)

"Running has the power to change your life. It will make you fitter, healthier, even happier."   ~Selene Yeager, "Let's Get Started," May 2010 issue of Runner's World

RunnerGal
on 2/17/11 9:22 pm - Canada
I had a BLAST at my first triathalon, people were incredibly supportive.   My only issue, is they wrote your age on the back of your calf, so it really stung when the 72 year old passed me on the bike leg....sigh....

I did my first tri with a hybrid bike since that is what I was used to.  I even saw people there with bikes with baskets on the front, you don't need to go all crazy and get a road bike.

My only advice/tip is to make sure that you do a few "brick" workouts - run after you bike and bike after you swim.  Running 5km is one thing, running 5km after biking as fast as you can for 10 miles....is just NOT the same thing, your muscles get all confused....you should be ready for that. 

Have fun with it!

The miracle isn't that I finished...the miracle is that I had the courage to start -- John "The Penguin" Bingham
  
Paul C.
on 2/17/11 11:13 pm - Cumming, GA
Well I got the responses I was expecting, I guess part of me was looking for a devil's advocate to say it is in 3 months that is an aggressive schedule.  I know this is not the crowd to do something like that though.  So I talked it over with my wife, since there have been issues with my workouts and goals that have caused some friction.  Since this will be done in memory of my Aunt who we, and especially my wife, were really close to her answer was "There is no way you can say no" I was actually shocked by her response.

So I emailed my friend and told her I was in.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op  (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03      
      First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (
PR 2:24:35)   
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
superconducting
on 2/18/11 3:40 am - Montgomery, NY
 :)  on this forum?  Heck Dan convinced me to run a 5k my first week on this board after just starting to run ;)  

The bike and the run are all about training, pretty straight forward.. but the swim.. to me its really about form.  Took me a month of regular swim workouts to get the form right such that I could go for long distances without needing to stop to breathe or getting a mouth full of water, so don't waste too much time before you start getting swims in.  Once you ge tthe form, 400m won't be a big deal.  Just as an example, I couldn't do more than 20m at a time when I started (in early Dec).  I worked it up to 400m within about a month, and then the next workout I knocked out a 2km.. just gotta get that form right :)  


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