So the training for this first tri started. First I picked a lamppost several blocks away from my house as my target turnaround for my first run. I estimated it to be about a 2 mile round trip. I was currently a wrestling coach at the high school where I was employed and felt like I was in okay shape but not great.
My first run was much more painful than I thought so I knew it was farther than estimated. I grabbed my mountain bike and rode the route with my cyclo-computer to get the exact distance: Boy was I surprised! 1.1 mile roundtrip! yeah right!
Okay no problem I can work on that.
Next I arranged to swim in my neighbors back yard with bungee cords attached to my ankles. It worked okay until race day...Wait for it...
The cycling really became the easiest part for me. My friend, the same one who suggested this endeavor loaned me a bike to train on and race. I began riding the 7 mile uphill commute to school 3 times a week and extending it to about 10 miles on the way home.
I was feeling pretty good about my training except for the freezing water I was training in. Unheated pools even in Vegas are quite cold in February. even with a waterskiing wetsuit.
My running improved quickly and the cycling seemed fine though I had no real tape to measure it by.
I began the online research to learn as much as I could (a habit I have continued until this day). I would recommend 2 extremely helpful websites: one is trinewbies.com, and slowtwitch.com. these sites have a wealth of information, plans, tips, and even email help from former professional triathletes.
A few other sites/theories I have found helpful are pose method running by Dr. Romanov. The website is posetech.com and his philosophies on running as a technique and skill just "made sense" to me and since I have tried to adopt his methods I can run much further pain free than I ever could before. I have not purchased his books or videos but just researched the literature offered for free. (remember this is for peasants) secondly; swimming technique work is invaluable. If you ever decide to spend money on a coach I would work on swim first. I was a decent swimmer and 40 minutes with a friend (certified swim coach) sped me up 10 seconds per 100 meter.
Gotta go. more later.