 I've been trying to improve my fitness after a crap year and I have entered a triathlon. The best motivation for me is signing up for a race that is a bit tougher than what I can do – that’ll get me out training!  This time I’ve ventured away from my ordinary MTB stuff and doing a 600m swim, 42k road ride followed by 10k run. I have been training reasonably and I think I can finish it, swim and bike no probs but I will get slaughtered on the run… Oh well, it’s just for a laugh and should help my mtb fitness, too! Any triathletes out there? Any tips for a novice very welcome!
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 Brave  But im sure u will be fine
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 Good luck, you will have fun. I did a duathlon the other month to motivate myself and I was miles behind the top guys but really enjoyed it. Let us know how you get on.
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 'We' did a Duathlon Trio, Jumbly, Ali and moi. Yes it was great. I've signed up for the Hit the North one. Don't really like the idea of transtion from swimming which has put me off a full tirathlon. Good Luck 
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 We all enjoyed the duathlon we did and like you viewed it is a bit of fun and a way to focus the fitness a bit, don't get put off by the serious competitors! I did a team tri last year, and have 2 friends who do a lot of tris. Transition seems to be fairly critical, have a few practices at home, knowing how to lay your kit out and feeling organised will save flustering and panicking on the day. You'll enjoy it I'm sure! Good Luck!
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 Good luck, I did my first tri today and I'd say spin your legs a bit quicker as you're nearing transition, stand on the pedals to get some stretching in and then as you go from bike to run initially jog rather than run. This helps get your legs used to running and stops you falling over or into a barrier as I saw somebody do today. The run isn't so bad and if need be run a bit, walk a bit then run again. Get some lock laces as trying to do laces can be a mare. Great fun
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Ruddy 'ell is that the Dude we know and love???!!! Well done matey, sorry just realised I haven't replied to your text.
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Oh yes ... drunken bets can get me into a load of trouble ! Great fun though
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Right thats it I expect you to be on the next one we do !!
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Honestly...depends on how fit you are already. Having done a sprint and trained for it I dont think I would do one without lots of training...its very tough and I wouldnt do one again...Duathalon however definately.
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 Go for it, you'll probably surprise yourself with what you can do given a bit of adrenaline flowing round your system and other people to "compete" against. As its a "first" just do it for the experience and don't get hung up on times or anything like that. I've discovered in the last year how motivating signing up for an event that's out of your comfort zone can be, which reminds me.....need to enter the Pendle Pedal (a road event, can't believe it).
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I'm doing the pendle pedal this year Julbags, did it last year as well. Great fun. Entering events does make you push yourself.
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Still can't believe I'm doing a road cycling event, ha ha. I've never spent more than 2 and half hours in one go on my roadie, some long road rides in the next few weeks for me....60 miles (short one for me) will probably kill me given my paltry amount of bike miles this year. Sorry for hijacking your thread Anu!
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No probs - the cycling part of the triathlon is going to be a bit of a new experience for me as my road biking experience consists of commuting on a hybrid... I don't actually own a road bike so I'm borrowing one from a mate. (his winter bike as he wouldn't let me get my hands on his precious carbon beauty...) I'm hoping to pick it up this week so I can get some practise done before the event. I'm off to a local running club's training session tonight, hoping to get some tips that will miraculously make me run faster... hee hee!
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If you get any running tips Anu pass them on to me please! Good luck
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Unfortunately I didn't discover any magic "run-faster" tips... instead we spent an hour doing intervals and uphill sprints... It was tough but at the same time it was good fun. Considering how achy my poor legs feel today, I'm sure it was good for me!
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That sounds hard, the idea of a running club just scares me! i know I'm a slow runner it would kill me off!!
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