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Here is an outside observer's take.

I worked a local sprint triathlon for a friend a couple of years ago at Lake Caroline. I have a kayak that I used to help "save" people during the swim.

This is what I observed....panic. Not to be discouraging, but if the swim is .30 miles, you need to be prepared to swim closer to a mile. I had to assist 7 or 8 people who were close to going under...literally. One guy started screaming "help" about 100 yards into the deal.

The swim is confusing if you are not used to swimming with a lot of people around you from what I am told. Plus, you are all jacked up and have a tendency to shoot your wad before you need to.

So, with that being said, swim a lot and don't get too excited once the race starts....relax.

Thanks for the help guys. I have been out of town for the last week. I started swimming and found out my shoulder will not hold up to the swim yet. I have had a bad shoulder for years and re injured it about 18 mos ago doing a heavy bench workout. It bothered me last Summer in the pool but I would just stop when it hurt. With the tri swim there is no stopping so I will have to rehab and let it strenthen or worse and go to the doctor. I am still running and biking so I may try a Duathlon in a couple of months. This traveling and training does not work so well. 5 days at the Hard Rock Casino is not good for a training program. I have been looking at some sites for programs and have read a run,bike , swim book that has been helpful. Maybe the shoulder will heal and I can try a Sprint by the end of Summer. I am also trying to do a Yoga\stretch routine every morning before I leave for work. Seems to be helping me all around, even the shoulder.

MemphisStockBroker wrote:You guys that run.... couple of questions.

1- when do you find the time ??

2- how did you get started -- did you do the run for xx seconds then run for xx seconds pattern ?

1) I usually wake up around 5 in the morning and train. I perform better in the morning. My training partners are lazy and don't get up early so we don't see alot of training time together anymore. With family duties it's best to get it out of the way in the morning and it jump starts my day.

2) Couldn't run 200 yards last summer. Buddies talked me into this and we started just like you described, we ran so many min. and walked a few min. Didn't take long till I got a mile than a 5K and so on. Check out something like this http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/5k.html

I have been doing Triathlons for years.. Best advice I can give is to start out slow and not to increase your mileage by more than 10% in a week. If you do this then you are prone to injury.. Once you get going slowly increase your mileage to whatever it is you are training for. I have done hundreds of triathlons and not had many injuries.

As far as time goes.. I usually get up early in the mornings and run or ride and I can only ride that early because I live close to Meridian and can ride at the lake which is lit up all night.. yes, the loop I ride is small but it beats nothing then once it gets daylight I can get out on the roads. I have the luxury of swimming at the college in Meridian so that is easy for me. Another thing, you may want to invest in a wetsuit to help with your swimming. It makes you more bouyant and will just help overall. I have children so I know how difficult it can be to find time to do these things.. Somtimes its late at night or very early in the mornings. It does help to have a training buddy that will do these things with you...