Triathalons?

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Does anyone here compete in triathalons?

I am thinking of doing the "coast to coast" next year in NZ, but have to do lots of training before, as I am sort of fit...but not fit enough to do that yet. It's not exactly a triathalon but it involves running, cycling, tretching through rivers on foot and kayaking. I'm not sure what to call that.
If I'm not ready for it in 2009 then will have to do it in 2010.

Anyway...What are your training regiments?...Any advice on how to prepare for this?

I do triathlon, and I also work in a triathlon shop/training center in the summertime.
Feel free to PM me if you have questions - if I can't answer, I can ask our head coach or one of the other people who volunteer in the shop (who are all competitors also). We all do short and long distances.

I and one other person also do what you're talking about, which is called adventure racing around here. We've both done legs of the Great Canadian Death Race, among other things.

So, as I said... feel free to PM with questions!

Yeah, that would be an Adventure Race here in America as well.

Haven't done one but I'd like to.
I also want to run a 50 and 100 miler someday.

Yes, I used to do them! (Also did marathons, although I am pretty much devoted to trail running now.) I did sprint distance (I didn't start doing them till I was 46) and enjoyed them very much. I think, had I started earlier, that I would have enjoyed adventure racing as well. I have done a lot of logistics/support for my employer's adventure race team--nothing like a compulsive detail-oriented person to have the right tool for any mode of equipment failure.

wsmac--if you ever do the Angeles Crest 100, I am an aid station captain there!

Anna

i'd like to do triathlons someday. my problem is that i don't really like running but i love swimming and biking. i've got bad knees and i don't exactly have a "runner's build" (i'm short and wide, 5'8.5"-5'9") but my knees are getting better.

I do, however, do a lot of endurance exercise as a rower and biker.

What you'll want to focus on first is developing your aerobic base. To do this, you'll be doing long cardio at low intensities in the aerobic fat-burning range (generally this means you should be able to have a conversation). when i say long, i mean around 1-2hrs. after that you can work on anaerobic threshold and speed work depending on the requirement for the race you're thinking of doing but first and foremost you need to get your aerobic system up to snuff.

I haven't competed in a triathlon - but I intend to soon. I have been an athlete all my life and am trying to find my next sport now that age has pretty much ruled out any more semipro football.

I'm working on building my aerobic base now. I'm built like a linebacker, carry a LOT more muscle than your typical triathlete, and my entire athletic mindset is 150% effort over 20 yards with a violent goal. Football. I really need some guidance on how to learn to pace myself for endurance sports.

well when you start it's going to feel painfully slow. before rowing i was used to sprinting sports, so the idea of doing one hour straight of cardio at a constant pace wasn't very appealing. if you have a heart rate monitor it can be very helpful for keeping it in the ideal range, but if you don't have one a good rule of thumb is you should be able to talk. start slow and work your way up until you find the ideal spot for long cardio.

most people i see in the cardio room at my school are doing around 20 minutes of cardio. sure this will benefit you to some degree, but if you really want to train for a long distance sport you've got to go much, much longer. aim for at least one hour straight of whatever you're doing.

Yeah. My cardio sessions are up to an hour now on the elliptical. I'm trying to maintain most of the muscle I carry since I like having it but I think that's going to be a challenge. There is a 5k near me next month and I'm planning to run that as a test. Anything under 40 minutes should be good - I could probably do 35 but I want to use this as a pacing exercise more than a time trial.

As for cardio I'm just getting used to the "be able to talk" concept. My idea of cardio is in the 145-150 range for extended periods - run until you throw up, stop long enough to wipe the vomit off your chin, and do it again. You're right about training in the 125 range being painfully slow. I find my mind wandering all over the damn place whereas I'm used to thinking "just keep going - breathe later - and don't die".