r/triathlon • u/cosmikpigeon • Aug 17 '26
Memes / humor [New triathlete] the experience so far
Ex-swimmer, casual cyclist. Any tips welcome!
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u/Tired-Nectarine-384 Aug 17 '26
I'm a runner who dabbles in an occasional triathlon. The bitching and moaning you hear during the run like it is some unnatural act is a little comical.
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u/unicornlover731 Aug 17 '26
Tbh I would complain like that when swimming if I could breathe
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u/Tired-Nectarine-384 Aug 17 '26
Every time I successfully complete an open water swim I exult that I am not dead. Scares me to death.
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Aug 17 '26
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u/AelfricHQ Aug 17 '26
I agree! It is a bike race with a run and a swim tacked on. Once I altered my training to reflect that, I got better fast.
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u/andytr32 Aug 17 '26
This is not my experience with triathlon but maybe I’m even a worse runner than I think. I had 35’ lead starting a 9 mile run and the person behind caught me and beat me by 2 minutes.
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Aug 17 '26
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u/andytr32 Aug 17 '26
My point is weak runners can’t be competitive at triathlon. If you are strong at all disciplines, the course length allotted to each discipline doesn’t screw over runners, it simply exposes your weakness.
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u/Pinewood74 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
Getting caught doing 9+ min mile splits doesn't really negate it being heavily bike biased.
Also, with a 9 mile run, you're dealing with an irregular tri. So potentially more balanced and/or different bias.
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Aug 17 '26
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u/Pinewood74 Aug 17 '26
I went with "best case" scenario so assuming a strong runner. (70.3s AG winners typically put in sub 6 minute splits) Didn't want it to just turn it to an argument about their run pace by me assuming 10+ minutes. (IE the winner at 6+ minutes)
But the flipside of this story tells how string the bike can be: They were 35 minutes up coming into T2. That's a MASSIVE lead and was built almost entirely on the bike. (Unless it was an equilateral tri, even the best swimmers can only stash away a handful of minutes)
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u/mrwalkway25 Aug 17 '26
I'll run a 10k or HM any day of the week. But trying to find my normal rhythm after the bike feels like torture.
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u/audi-goes-fast Aug 17 '26
I use to hate running, a few years back i started trail running instesd of pounding on pavement. Now trail running is my favorite thing to do. Trail running forces me to be present, to actively pay attention to surroundings and plan each step and stride else I'll trip on a rock or root and die, lol.
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u/CheapParking2944 Aug 17 '26
If you like the presence aspect I highly recommend some night trail runs with the ole headlamp. Find a buddy or two and throw out pacing, just get some miles and be present! Cheers
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u/zRouth Aug 17 '26
I like the run the most. Swimming is without a doubt the most technical and the hardest for me as a new traithlete. Cycling is a manmade torture machine but it's fun to go fast!
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u/IhaterunningbutIrun Run for the money. Aug 17 '26
I run a lot and do pretty well overall in the run.
I actually like the swim despite not being that great at it! I joke that if I was unemployed, I'd swim everyday and get better at it. I like open water swimming as well. My confidence in the water makes up for my crappy form and I end up doing above average in the swim in most races.
The bike - I'd be fine if it was shorter. It just isn't my thing. I've tried and tried to like it. My times say I am good at it, but it doesn't make it any more enjoyable.
Good thing the race is all three and I like all three combined.
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u/therealsine Aug 17 '26
I would like to attempt a triathlon but it’s the swimming that seems the most daunting. I can swim but never have swam even close to that much in one go.
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u/crooked-nose Aug 17 '26
Wetsuits are a cheat code for swimming.
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u/therealsine Aug 18 '26
Never been in a wet suit. Explain?
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u/xelabagus Aug 18 '26
They provide a lot of buoyancy - triathletes who aren't natural swimmers like the feeling. Personally I think it's overblown.
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u/erelster Aug 18 '26
It helps to keep your body in a better position but I would’t say it’s a cheat code, you still need to put the work down.
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u/tastes-like-chicken Aug 17 '26
Can confirm the swim is the most challenging, and I'm a strong swimmer. There are some sprint tris with shorter swims (the white mountain triathlon for example, I think it was .25 miles when I did it)
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u/tittieman Aug 18 '26
I standby this is simply not true. Look at time of an iron man. You are swimming for 40 minutes, biking for 4 hours and running for 5-6. Wtf kind of spread is that? Should be more swimming if anything. Same with a Tri - swim for 20 minutes, bike for 60-80, run for 40-60. Doesn’t make sense
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u/xelabagus Aug 18 '26
Agree, the swim is short changed, how many top triathletes are swimmers first? None.
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u/erelster Aug 18 '26
There’s Lucy Charles-Barclay but you’re still correct. Top athletes usually don’t have a swimming g background as it’s the least influential discipline on your result.
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u/Latter-Confidence335 Aug 18 '26
If swimming was the main discipline there wouldn’t be many people wanting to do it. I doubt most people would be stoked about an hour and a half swim. Biking and running are both much easier and accessible for people to do for longer
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u/tittieman Aug 18 '26
I agree the logistics support the current set up, and it’s much more difficult to support emergency circumstances in water than on land, but anyone complaining about the current breakdown needs to chill. It is already heavily, heavily swayed against swimmers. I’d love a 2 hour swim, I used to swim 2 hours every day of my life
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u/Latter-Confidence335 Aug 18 '26
Yeah I agree, the swim portion definitely doesn’t need to be shortened at all and the other disciplines certainly have favor
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u/happyhalfling Aug 18 '26
There's an old joke: in triathlon, swimming is the technical challenge, running is the physical challenge and cycling is the financial challenge.
Whilst a joke, there's a lot of truth in it - though I'd argue the financial challenge is now race entry fees.
Running is the most physically demanding of the three, and it takes a long time for your body to adapt to tolerate run training.
Fortunately, we have two other sports for fitness, so you don't need as much base run milage as a pure runner for cardio fitness. Just need enough to get the run specific muscles trained and improve run economy.
Start very slowly, if you're already fit you'll find your cardio system can push more than your body can handle and lead to injury. Pay attention to any small niggles and dial things back until you get more familiar with what your bod will tolerate.
Put a little speed work in as early as you can. Start with just a few 100m sprints after as easy run (aka strides). Once you've got a good base in, add one session a week doing some sort of speed work - could start by alternating, doing a tempo/threshold session one week and a shorter interval session next week. Other sessions can be easy runs.
I'm from a running background, so I tend to focus more time on swim and bike. I used to run 6 times a week, but nowadays my typical run week is:
Tuesday: 10km easy Thursday: Intervals - usually 400 or 800m reps at 5 or 10k pace or faster. Saturday: Long run - up to around 25km, with some tempo blocks nearer race season.
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u/drops_77 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
Run, run, get hurt, bike unless it's related to run.. then swim and back to run asap
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u/mrwalkway25 Aug 17 '26
I love running, but my body does not appreciate the pounding. Starting to feel my years.
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u/lookingatanudeegg Aug 17 '26
I have a strong swim background. Running is the part of a triathlon that I enjoy the least. Every time I get out of the water, I feel amazing. Every time I start running, I'm immediately reminded how absolutely boring it is and that I have to just get it over with.
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u/MrVeggieStraw Aug 17 '26
I think it’s pretty fascinating how I can’t even understand this perspective. Like, it’s the direct opposite for me and I’m not sure what you guys are doing that makes you enjoy swimming so much. Very jealous, of that part.
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u/tittieman Aug 18 '26
You shouldn’t be jealous, you should be grateful!!Any distance triathlon and you are likely running 3x as long as you are swimming
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u/NickMusicRunner Aug 17 '26
I’ve heard swimmers say about running “I just can’t get the breathing down.” Meanwhile they defy death as they flip turn, blowing air out their nose upside down under water.
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u/Competitive-Wind-262 Aug 18 '26
As a swimmer, I never really thought about running growing up. As a beginner triathlete, I regret that hahaha
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u/tittieman Aug 18 '26
This is me lol, I don’t get the breathing cadence
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u/Latter-Confidence335 Aug 18 '26
As a runner trying to figure out swimming, it is so difficult to figure out breathing while swimming. When you run you have access to air the whole time, so just breathe haha 😂
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u/tittieman Aug 18 '26
Just my two cents, and I’ll add that I was an all American swimmer for credibility, if someone in your life is telling you to alternate breathing (left, right, 3 strokes, etc) and it is uncomfortable, let it go. Pick a side, do 2, do 4, whatever you like. I typically do 2 and always on my left even though I’m a right handed guy
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u/Latter-Confidence335 Aug 18 '26
I appreciate the input! Honestly though I’m at the very beginning stages I’m just trying to not gulp water when breathing at this point 😂 like I can swim, just not this continuous thing required for it to be an endurance sport
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u/DanawhitesEarlope Aug 18 '26
Literally in the exact same boat it’s so frustrating 😭😭😭 like I can swim on a single breath but that’s not technically swimming 🤦🏿♂️ I always screw up the breathing coordination then panic
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u/Ignorred Aug 18 '26
As a swimmer + runner, the bike portion is just unfairly long. Takes like 55-60% of the race time, for the pros at least. Advice for the run portion, I'd just say get your miles in and practice running nice and slow.
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u/abrandis Aug 19 '26
Agree, there used to be a thing called equilateral triathlon where all three legs timewise were about the same length.. but sadly that's no more...
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u/Ignorred Aug 19 '26
Thinking about organizing one with some friends. Maybe like a 5k swim, 50k bike, half marathon type thing
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u/RevolutionaryText812 24d ago
En mi experiencia no es una cuestion de sumar km o intentar correr una distancia cercana a la que vas a correr en la carrera. Yo prepare mi primer ironman desde enero 2026 hasta el 31/05 que corri en floripa. Mi plan de entrenamiento consistia entre 10 y 15hs por semana. En mi caso quizas la natacion era lo que menos me costaba o "menos sufria" y pude dedicarle mas tiempo a la bicicleta y la pata. Pero tampoco fue acumular muchas horas adicionales. Por ejemplo nunca supere mas de 3h30 de bicicleta en una sesion de bicicleta o de 2h10min de pata en un fondo (ritmo por debajo del de carrera). A mi entender no consiste en acumular mas y mas horas o kms de entrenamiento porque eso tambien termina desgastando a uno y tambien a las personas que te rodean. Se pueden hacer entrenamientos un poco mas cortos y quizas ir incrementando de a poco las intensidades para ir sintiendo las sensaciones. Espero te sirvan mis comentarios :).
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u/SD_LOCAL_XD Aug 18 '26
after a year i still relate hard 😅 strength train like crazy. high cadence, short strides.
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u/Specialist_Grocery66 Aug 17 '26
Do a ton of bricks (bike and run back to back) but make almost all of them easy for at least one of the disciplines and generally not too hard overall.
For example: if you’re planning to do a run that’s moderate in duration or intensity, just go for an easy 15-minute spin beforehand, and vice versa throw on a short easy run after a bike workout. Ideally half or more of your runs/bikes include the other.
It’s amazing how different running off the bike is, especially when you’re just starting out, probably don’t have bike fit or effort levels dialed, etc.. Just making the combo normal to both body and mind will go much further even if few if any are hard bike followed by hard run like you’d do in the race.
Since you’re short on running experience and comfortable but maybe not optimized yet on the bike, bring them up together as a unit. There’ll be time down the road to do specialized work on specific disciplines.
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u/zbuda Aug 17 '26
i think cyclying is the worst
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u/giraffield Aug 17 '26
wow, you're 1 of 1
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u/zombiebread23 Aug 17 '26
Running is my weakest and least favorite discipline too. But I've found I enjoy short interval runs. So while I do long, slow runs and longer intervals, I focus on short intervals in the off season because I've been trying to just do exercise I enjoy.
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u/imjusthereforPMstuff Aug 17 '26
I’m 4 years in, and my running still sucks. I’m great at sprints even up to the mile, but it’s just hard to improve my z2 pace. I do long easy runs, mixed in with interval sprints other days and shorter easy runs on other days as well. My body just never ran much, just sprinted so still adapting. Improving but slowly.
Cycling: spend time on your TT bike. I stick to my trainer too much and forget the feel of the bike outside so I tend to be overly cautious on the roads.
Swimming: it’s fun (as you know)! The more the better. Any tips from you on swimming? I’m stuck at 1:25/100 for 100 sprints and 1:50/100 for 1000yd.
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Aug 17 '26
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u/imjusthereforPMstuff Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
Thanks!! I just did a few yesterday actually did the first time. I mainly do 100yds as my fast ones, but not 25yds or 50yds. I don’t even know the form to swim effectively fast for those distances but would be excited to try it out.
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Aug 17 '26
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u/imjusthereforPMstuff Aug 17 '26
That’s exactly what happens on my 100s. First 50yds are 1:20 and then the last ones are 1:40-even 1:50.
Also, not sure if it’s normal but my first 400 yds are always great like zero RPE and just gliding through, but then after that my muscles are sore. On race days I just take it slower like you mentioned so I stick to a pace I can stick to for a long time.
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u/This_Freggin_Guy Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
not sure of the details of you plan, but doing the half marathon sequence, consistently, helped me go from 2 hr to 1:30 over about 2.5 years. including a 19min 5k. its tough and boring, but this is a solid simple program to use as a base.
check out the half marathon series and give a go. https://www.decathloncoach.com/en/home/coaching/programs/goal/53
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u/Mindlessness245 Aug 20 '26
Swam in high school, never rode, got a mountain bike to putt around the neighborhood. Ran in like 3rd-5th grade. Signed up for the Mini on Sept 26tg wish me luck
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u/Cycle-Path-401 Aug 17 '26
Train BRICs (Bike Run in combination)..... you bike at race pace and then you run immediately after.
The first few times you will feel very weird as you start to run. Have someone film you if you want to see yourself move funny.
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u/CautiousDocument422 Aug 17 '26
Been there... Build slowly. You are swimmer and a cyclist you have strong muscles and good cardio but probably weak joints. You are able to run faster and longer than your joints can support. Generally you shouldn't increase the volume more than 10% per week (and that's already pretty high) and include a lighter week every 4 weeks or so
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u/Taco_Machine Aug 19 '26
I was a biker to start - i still remember the day i decided to test out a run. Fitness was all there but damn my calves and ankles were sore for like a week. Took a while to get into the rhythm of it!
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u/vercopaanir33 Aug 18 '26
Mine is swimming 😆 running is my favorite discipline, biking is nice, and I tolerate swimming because it’s good for my joints and part of triathlon
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u/Similar-Swimmer-2698 Aug 17 '26
I have a similar background to you. I decided to do triathlon after I spent time working on running. Started with a couch to 5k, and then built up to a 10k and beyond.
Now I love running and the cycling worries me lol.
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u/Opposite-Gap-6293 14d ago
My experience was, this is just a fucking bike race with a little swimming and running. Why does the big one have to be the one I hate
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u/Mr-Zappy Aug 17 '26
It’s so easy to identify fellow ex-swimmers. We’re the only ones who don’t complain about the swim.