LIFESTYLE

Entries are now open for the first full Bristol Harbourside Triathlon which takes place on Sun 3 July and incorporates a swim in the Brunel Lock, a cycle ride in the shadow of Clifton Suspension bridge and a run along the Avon Gorge. Up for it? Trainer Andy Bullock gives Anna Britten a beginner’s guide.

Sometime told me triathlons were for show-offs and thrill-seeking bankers who'd grown tired of white-water rafting. Is this true? This is not true. A wide range of people take part in triathlon. Go along to any local race and you’ll see the range of athletes, abilities and equipment is very wide and they’ll all have a smile on their face shortly after crossing the finish line.

I run a bit and know how to swim and ride a bike. Could I do a triathlon? Yes, triathlon is a sport that everyone can take part in. With a little bit of training and some good advice, anyone can give it a go. If you are particularly new to any of the disciplines, a pool-based shorter distance race such as a sprint (400m swim/20k bike/5k run) or super-sprint race (200m swim/10k bike/5k run) might be a good place to start. 

What is the appeal of triathlon? There are many aspects of triathlon that appeal to people. As triathlon is made up of swimming, cycling and running, it allows training to be varied during the week to maintain interest. With three disciplines and a range of distances to race over, there are many goals that can be set and achieved.

How much training do I need? Those already training three times a week, and are able to increase their training to five or six sessions per week, will be able to complete a standard distance race. Your longest session would probably build up to two to three hours (usually cycling) so you would need to occasionally put this time aside for training. A standard distance race can be completed with as little as five to eight hours training a week. Keep track of your training using a training diary such as triblogs.com to allow you to see your improvements as you go through your training.

Where can I find a good training plan? Training plans for the Bristol Harbourside triathlon are available on their website www.tribristol.org 

What's the hardest leg of a triathlon? Everyone’s strengths and weaknesses will be different so the hardest discipline will be individual. However, particular areas to look out for are swim starts in open water races where large groups of athletes start at the same time, and running immediately after riding your bike – those jelly legs can take a bit of getting used to!

What's a respectable finish time for your first triathlon? While elite athletes will complete a standard distance race in around 1:45 (men) and 1:55 (women), respectable times for your first standard distance race would be between 2hrs 30 and 3hrs 15, depending on the course. Courses that are hilly for the bike and the run are obviously slower than those that are flat.

Do you wear different clothes for each bit of the race? If so, where do you change? Most athletes will wear triathlon-specific clothing for the entire race. A tri suit or tri top and shorts are close fitting items that do this job. Other athletes will wear a swimming costume for the swim then simply put a T-shirt and shorts on top to complete the rest of the race. This is done in the transition area where bikes and running shoes are stored during the race when not in use.

Got any good mantras for when the going gets tough? Something like “lighter, softer, stronger, faster” repeated when running can bring your mind back onto your race and push you on quicker towards the finish line.

ANDY BULLOCK TRIATHLON AND MULTI-SPORT COACH, ENDURANCE SPORTS COACHING. FFI: 07866 467091 OR WWW.ESCOACH.CO.UK THE BRISTOL HARBOURSIDE TRIATHLON TAKES PLACE ON SUN 3 JULY. DISTANCES: SWIM 1500M, CYCLE 40KM, RUN 10KM. ENTRY FEE: £69 (NON-BTF+£3). ENTRY LIMIT: 1,000. FFI: WWW.TRIBRISTOL.ORG SEE ALSO WWW.BRITISHTRIATHLON.ORG
 

Copyright Anna Britten 2011

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