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My Very First Triathlon!

What, you thought the fact that I can't ride a bike means I can't compete in my very own triathlon at home? Well, it doesn't. Also ignore the fact that the largest body of water I've seen in a while is the bathtub. This triathlon was the real deal, folks.

First event: Biking
I know swimming is traditionally supposed to go first. So sue me. I did an easy bike ride (low-medium resistance) for one hour and covered 15 miles.



(Transition One: got off bike. Remarked on soreness of womanly places. Hopped on treadmill.)

Second Event: Running
When I get on the treadmill I always put the incline to 1% and then start the speed off at 6.0 miles per hour. I accidentally pressed 6 twice (so a 9:05 pace) and just went with it. My legs felt pretty weird after the bike, but completely warmed up and no hip pain at all. Pretty incredible, actually. I finished the 5k in 27:29 which is basically record time for me.



(Transition Two: got off treadmill. Made a peanut butter hot chocolate with milk, hot cocoa mix and peanut butter chocolate protein powder. Added whipped cream for, um...protein?)

Third Event: Swimming
Alright, fine. You got me. I actually just took a shower for this one. I guess I have a little more work to do before I sign up for that Ironman, huh?

Did you really think you were getting a picture of me in the shower?
Of the three sports in a triathlon, what is your strongest/weakest?
I would definitely say running is easiest for me. While swimming is tough, biking would be hardest since if it moves I'm bound to fall off of it. 

What do you think is harder - a 100 mile race or a full Ironman?
Hmm....I'm not sure about this one. I used to live in Kona so I saw how much effort goes into an Ironman, but I also think the mental struggle of a 100 mile run must be insane. 

Comments

  1. Swimming is the WORST for me, man. I hate swimming.

    Can I do a 100 mile race AND an IronMan? Because I'd love to both. But my husband would divorce me.

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    1. (also, you should totally do a real tri. They have short ones! You don't even have to train for it, I swear!)

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  2. I think I'd prefer the 100 mile run.

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  3. Haha, I like your self portrait.
    I could never ever do a triathlon. I cannot ride a bike and I'm a pretty terrible swimmer. I can keep from drowning, that's about it.

    I don't think I'll ever do an ultra either. I like to run, love it actually... but really, I'm a running wuss.

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  4. ha ha, on the TRI!

    Swimming would be my worst. I'm fine in a swimming pool. I'm fine in an ocean (salt water = happy friend,keeps you afloat), pond or cold water = ICK and swimming really is not my strong point.

    I think I'd prefer a tri, simply b/c I'd have to be done before 100 miles of running, or biking for me.

    The hubby loves doing endurance cycling--century rides or more are his thing, as are Leadville 100, and other races of 100, 200, 350 miles.

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  5. HAHAHAHA - I was totally reading for you doing the front crawl in that pond you guys have or something :P and I have never done a tri .....right now I have no real desire to, but I am trying to get into swimming as a form of exercise b/c of it's benefits...so who knows maybe then I'd want to

    and thanks ;) I need a GR post :P

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  6. I'm doing the John Tanner Tri on April 28!

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  7. Good job not much further to go before your 1st sprint!! I'm biased on this one but Ironman :-) It's harder to conquer all three sports.. But running is my weakest of the three sports soooo idk

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  8. ahahaha. a shower totally doesn't count-- a BATH, however... you can wear a tri-suit and practice breathing exercises. that would totally count.

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  9. lol! I love this. My friend just completed one a few years ago and she looked AMAZING after all the training. I've always wanted to participate in a race :)

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  10. That is my idea of a triathalon :), although I don't know that I would have biked for so long.

    I would have to say for me an ironman would be tougher considering I can barely swim and have not biked in years!

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  11. awesome post! That is totally my kinda tri. I am with you, although swimming can be tough I have a fear of falling off my bike. Running hands down would be my strongest suit.

    As for the 100 miler or iron man. That is a tough one. I would have to say the 100 miler. At least with the iron man you can change it up but with the 100 miles I can only imagine that it would be dreadfully painful.

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  12. I can't ride a bike either. I learned for a day for some stupid neighborhood activity when I was eleven, and never again. I'm terrified of them. I can swim but I'm not very good at it, and don't have any endurance at all.

    Love the drawing. Especially that you wear a dress in the shower.

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  13. Love this!!! I actually did a mini-triathlon at the gym once. Swam 1/4 mile in the pool, rode the stationary bike for 12 miles, then ran 3 miles on the treadmill. Even though I didn't cover great distances on any of them, it took awhile; and felt like a great workout.

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    1. That's awesome. Our town has a weird set up. The city rec center doesn't have a pool itself,the pool is in the jr. high, which one can only use during odd blocks of time.

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  14. I enjoyed this, very funny. Me thinks the 100 mile run would be more difficult as that is an all day thing vs the ironman which is a half day event. Rose is right, you should do a sprint or super sprint tri.

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    1. By half day you mean 12 hours right!!!??? :-)

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  15. I would be totally sucky at a tri because I'd need a looong nap in-between each event, not sure how that would affect my transition times ;-)

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  16. lol funny post...I think I should try a tri someday like yours....I think i would be able to actually accomplish it!

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  17. Swimming is the worst, but I really hate biking. As you can see, I will never do a tri.

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  18. Swimming would be the worst for me. The biggest thing that I can't get over with the Ironman is that after you finish the swimming and the biking, you still have a FULL marathon. Ugh.

    Peanut butter chocolate protein powder?! Yum! Who makes that?

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  19. I'm not sure, I'm not a cycler so I guess that would be the worst for me. My oldest daughter has been talking about wanting to do a triathalon so we may try to find a relay so we can give it a try.
    I don't know if I think the 100 miler would be harder or the Ironman. No question the Iroman is SO much, but 100 miles of straight running is CRAZY! I don't think I'll try either.

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  20. lol i like your picture... and the fact that your transitions included food prep haha

    strongest? swim
    weakest? run

    the rest of the questions dont really apply for me... dont think my body would ever let me do the run portions of either race lol unless I could do the 100miler on a bike. then that's fine. haha

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  21. Haha. I love the photo of you in the shower.

    I can swim, but probably my endurance for swimming is the worst. My best is running. Biking is the reason that I don't do triathlons however, since I don't have a bike, nor would I have any idea of where to train.

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  22. I like how you can levitate in the shower. You must let us in on your secret in tomorrow's post :)

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  23. Great blog! Swimming is by far my weakest, but fortunately that's the shortest event in most tri's. I'm about equal strength in cycling and running, although I run a lot more. If covering the distance is the objective, 100 miler is definitely tougher than Ironman. If raced at maximum effort, any race (even 1 mile) is painfully hard.

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  24. hahahaha hysterical. swimming is the scary part for me! definitely what holds me back form doing a legit triathlon. (not that yours wasn't legit......)

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  25. Triathlons are amazing! Would love to do an Ironman someday. Swimming is my best sport and really starting to fall in love with my bike! Running is always grueling for me so a 100 mile race would never happen! Dont be afraid to do a tri...start with the sprint distance and you will be amazed at how much fun and how addicting they can be! You will also be so proud of yourself for the accomplishment...Its NOT out of your reach at all!

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  26. I love your version of a tri! Especially your recovery drink in T2!
    Swimming is DEF my weakest and running my strongest. Thank goodness swimming comes first.
    I've paced a 100 miler for the last 20 of her run and soon I'll be volunteering as a "catcher" for an IM. But I think they are both pretty dang challenging and admire anyone who attempts either!

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  27. Cycling is always the easiest for me during triathlons-- I can ride for days and it is so much easier for me to push myself on a bike. I feel like running is the hardest for me-- i can do it but I'm always soooooooo slow!

    I think an IronMan would be brutal. I'm still thinking of a 70.3 and it psychs me out, I can't imagine double that!

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  28. Cute... DUATHLON is the term, I believe.

    I would like to do this but need so much swimming training first. I am a very good biker, and I CAN run, but swimming is the weakest link for me.

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  29. too funny, i think elle is right :)

    very cool you had a great run post bike!

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  30. hahaha this post is adorable =)

    I love your shower/swim drawing! Too cute

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  31. 100 mile is harder because it's only one sport and therefore harder on your body and it takes much, much longer to complete (over 24 hours for a normal person). An Ironman takes longer than a 50 mile race, but you do change activities and utilize different muscle groups.

    I've never heard of anyone hallucinating during an Ironman and most people start seeing shit in a 100 mile race...so it's obviously the stupider option. :)

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  32. for a minute there i thought you were doing a tri! you had me PUMPED vanessa! haha. i still think you should do one. Swimming is the hardest but it is the shortest link. think about it. ;)

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  33. I'm a terrible swimmer and the thought of being in the water with that many people at the same time sounds terrifying! I think a full Ironman would be hardest but that's just my opinion!

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  34. Nice tri :) hee hee! I'm hilarious!

    I think both an ironman and a 100 miler seem impossible and require superhuman strength.

    I wish I was still as awesome in swimming as I once was (used to have the mile record at my college) - now . . . not sooo much - sigh!

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  35. OOH the swimming part is what scared me...so I want to learn to swim super fast and conquer it. We'll see if that ever happens!

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  36. The running and swimming would be fun but the biking would be hard - it always hurts my knees.

    I vote for a biathlon - nothing like cross country skiing and then shooting things to make you feel accomplished.

    Awesome drawing of you in the shower - hilarious!! But you should really take your clothing (skirt?) off before heading under the spray:-)

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  37. i CANNOT overlook the fact that u kicked major BUTT on that run!! awesome job! :)

    haha, ur idea of swimming is the same as mine, i hate swimming actually...lol.

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  38. Love your triathlon. ;-) Swimming is the hardest for me, by far! And, amazing job on your treadmill run!

    If I *had* to choose, I guess I'd go with the Ironman? Mostly because the variety of activities at that distance/time would be important. I'm 100% sure that I could not run 100 miles. Hard stop. ;-)

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  39. HA!
    I laughed out loud at the "swim" portion of your tri.

    My first race ever, of any kind, was a sprint-distance tri. (I'm all about taking big plunges all at once!)

    But, to be honest, I LOATHE biking. I love my stationary cycle. I just hate road cycling. Cars freak me out. Hence: My tri career ended after about 4 years, and now "all" I do is run.

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  40. Damnit! I thought we were going to get a shower picture for sure!!!!!

    Swimming is the worst for me. I like to frolic in the water, not swim. I always feel like my breathing is out of control. I obviously have a lot of learning to do! Maybe one day :)

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  41. A shower triathlon!!! Now that's something I can get behind! I would say running is my strongest of the three. I would drown in a pool if I couldn't reach the bottom with my feet and still have my head above water.

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  42. Fun triathlon! That is definitely my kind of tri since I don't really swim! I know how but its not my favorite.

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  43. Too funny! I want to do a tri.... Let's do one together!

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