I've signed up for the Liverpool triathlon, 10th August, which will be my first.
Not concerned about the bike and run (although I probably won't feel the same way on the day!)
Really concerned about the swim, I can do about 400m in a pool at present without stopping and the distance is 1500m. Shit!!
These were my exact thoughts too. I even sat up breaststroking & looking for a way out & quit when I did the Nott'm sprint triathlon which was 'only' a 750m swim!!
The trick is, not to get anywhere near the 'washing machine' ie, stay out wide & further back & swim at your own pace!! Do not go off too fast! I know every book also tells you this, but it is very true!!
Which sort of brings me round to my post!
I've just completed the Dambuster Triathlon. I was hoping to get a time of around 2:45
Well I smashed it & got a time of 2:32:34!!!
Well to say I'm happy about that is an understatement!! I was absolutely & massively dreading the swim!! & there was even talk of it being a non wetsuit swim as it was so warm!!
I went to my local lake on the Wed before the event & the temperature was 21.7* & if the temp of the water goes above 22* then it becomes a non wetsuit swim!! Well I honestly don't think I would have even started the race if that was so as like Adamski says, it is far easier to swim open water with a wetsuit than without, purely for the buoyancy if nothing else!!
Anyway I completed the swim, nonstop & without having to breaststroke & looking to quit!! Because I started off at the side & maybe swam a little bit further but at my own pace & as comfortably as possible!!
I swam it in a shade over 29mins which I'm very pleased with.
The bike route is a pretty hilly affair (for me anyway!!) & there is a section that they call the 'Rutland Ripple' bloody 'Himalayan ripple' more like!
I didn't have another gear to go down to on it anyway!!
Well I completed the bike section in just over 1:15 which again I very pleased with!!
Then onto the run which was a out & back course round the Rutland lake. It was a pretty flat course but quite tough as you could see how far you had to go & the other competitors all the way round! I managed to do the run in just over 44mins which again I am very happy with!!
All in all, it was a beautiful day with a very hard race but also very enjoyable!! I know I'll be back for more!!!!