Is it crazy to decide to do a triathlon without training for it?
I mean, Just 4 weeks ago I got drafted into participating in my first 5K. My company needed someone in my age bracket/gender to compete in the Kansas City Corporate Challenge 5K. So without any practice besides the weight lifting and swimming I’d been doing all along I went and ran the 5K.
So today an e-mail came out that they need someone in my age bracket/gender for the KCCC triathlon — which starts 7 a.m. June 15 — Father’s Day.
The event has a 500 meter swim in open water on Shawnee Mission Park Marina, followed by a 9 mile bike ride and a 3.2 mile run.
I have been swimming 1000 yards three times a week in preparation for the KCCC swim meet — I’ve just been swimming it in 200 yard increments. So it seems that 500 meters is doable, if I pace myself correctly.
The 9 miles bike ride is the part I think should be the best. Just enjoy a rolling ride. Of course, I haven’t checked how much up and down there is on the course. I would have to do the 4.5 mile course twice.
It is the running after the bike ride that I am not sure how it would go. I mean, the distance is the same as the 5K that I did in under 29 minutes — but after doing the swim and biking?
For that matter, there are all sorts of things I don’t know about running a triathlon. I know the race will be chip timed. And I know people will change from swim wear to bike wear. But how do they change, and do they also change between bike and running? And is the race timed for the changing intervals as well?
For that matter, I don’t have a bicycle at the moment. I am waiting to have it arrive at the bike shop on back order. Hopefully it would come in time for me to get some warm-ups in. But then I would need some means of transporting it to the Shawnee Mission Park site — since I don’t currently have a bike rack for the car.
As you can see, I am toying with the idea, but really need to solve some logistics, plus decide if I really have the stamina — and I have to make the decision by June 3.
At The Rainbow 
I’ve done 4. Biggest things to be prepared for: 1. Swimming in a crowd and open water. This is harder than you imagine. 2. Transitions. Practice getting your bike shoes on, helmet, etc.. for the bike. Practice passing and being passes. “On your left” is your announcement you are passing. If you hear this, yield. 3. The run is last so save something. 🙂 for this.
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I’ve swum in crowds at the water park, so I’m used to crowds that way, and I’m used to open water, just never combined.
I’m not planning on rushing my transitions. I’m not competing that way.
I’m planning on a nice swim pace and enjoyable bike pace. If my 5K experience is anything (see earlier blog on first 5K) it is that my risk will be trying to pace faster and faster in the 5K rather than finding and maintaining.
But, yes, I think I’ll be finding myself toward the end of the reserves when I get done.
Thank you for the advice. I committed myself to it today. Just need the bicycle to arrive so I have what I need.
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