(Part 3) Top products from r/triathlon

> Any advice for a fellow chubby girl that so badly wants to participate in tris?

I'm a guy and was fairly large when I started triathlon (still large, but getting less so). The best advice I can give you is just go out and sign up for a local sprint and start training for it. You're not going to win that first one, so just focus on being able to finish it and have a good time. Slow is just fine.

Is there a race that's relatively flat? For example, here in the Portland, OR area, there are races out at Blue Lake and the course is so flat and calm - it's great for beginners who are less confident. Hagg Lake, on the other hand is really hilly - so it can be extra challenging when you're not in great shape and just getting started.

In my case, I had been a bike commuter (3 miles each way) and finally did a 5k. Steve, a friend of mine (and Ironman) said, "Zooby, you already bike, and now you run. You should do a triathlon.... anyone can do a triathlon!". After I finished my first sprint and it took more than 2 hours - he said, "time is irrelevant - you are a triathlete!"

I scoffed at the time, but I kept doing 5ks and then one weekend I went and swam* a half mile at the gym on Friday evening, then rode my bike 12 miles Saturday morning, then ran a 5k. I knew I could do the pieces so I signed up for a triathlon. Note: when I say "swam", my swimming was more of a dog-paddle and really slow. I'm still learning how to do a decent crawl stroke for the entire distance.

As for doing it at my weight... just train and do it carefully. "No Pain No Gain" is an idiot's creed. You really have to listen to your body, especially as an older and larger athlete. And you just can't let it bother you - you are what you are and it's not changing fast. Just turn out and do your thing. Everyone else there is doing their thing and nobody's going to give you a hard time for not being a 120 pound triathlon machine. Heck, I suspect a good portion of people at the event have had their own struggles with fitness and understand where you're coming from - if they notice at all, since most people are focused on their own race.

This book was really helpful and inspiring:
http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Fat-Triathlete-Athletic-Dreams/dp/1569244677

It's a shame we can't be having this discussion over a beer, it might actually be productive. I agree that increasing the length of a workout is more germane to OW condition. I don't agree with your point about sighting being reminiscent of the head lift in a stop turn. An optimal sighting is more of a head turn to briefly position the eyes just above the water. The whole point of doing it like that is to not raise the head and create torque about the coronal axis and force the legs down. However, it'd be a naive to assert that every sighting is optimal and that even the pros don't pull their heads up sometimes, so I won't pick at that.

On the other hand, everything else you wrote prior to that just decries your lack of hemodynamic understanding, full of google/wiki'd factoids as it may be.

1. Baroreceptors are incredibly sensitive to even minute changes in pressure.
   
2. Even in the cleanest open turn, there is a greater vertical displacement between the head and rest of body than in a flip turn.
   
3. Venous pooling contributes to and intensifies orthostatic hypotension, but the real cause is the immediate increase of initial and final displacement between the ICA and lowest point of the body. That's why it still happens to people who are lying flat on their back with legs elevated and there's no pooling.
   
4. Your anonymous citation of some vague research is correct, but only undermines your previous statement about increased BP during exercise.
   
5. Pulse rate very slightly dips, and then goes way up after a true valsalva (but only after about 5 seconds) graph
   
6. You just need to stop talking about baroreceptors and nerves. Even if you wrote that down as a response in a 9th grade bio class, I'd give you no partial credit. It's drivel. The AP causes the sympathetic firing, not the other way around. Then the sympathetic firing causes release of norepinephrine, which stimulates increased firing in not just the SA node, but all the cardiac pacemaking cells.
   
7. This is my favorite, because you act like it's your strongest point when it's your dumbest. The ONLY momentum you carry through a turn is from impact (push off) with the wall. This is freshmen level physics, like first week of class. It doesn't matter how much you accelerate into your turn, your speed coming off the wall is determined by the duration and force of your push-off. Your acceleration into the turn only gives you a higher velocity with which to perform your flip. If you really can't understand this, then go try and do a flip turn (or whatever turn you want) without a wall, and then come tell me how it goes.
   
   In all seriousness, if you really care about understanding this stuff, I will happily email you a pdf of my human phys book from MS1. It's excellent and has more than you'll ever need to know.

Saddles are supposed to be absolutely level, or occasionally some people can benefit from a one-degree downward tilt. A saddle tilted this much will push the rider's weight on to the handlebar and this will affect steering and comfort. Also, the rider's hip angle is unlikely to be great, leading to performance issues and possible injury. You might want to get more advice from a book. I'd recommend Phil Burt's Bike Fit which is great for in-depth bike fit, or my own Simply Road Cycling, which has a chapter on bike fit and lots of other information for newer riders.

Excellent question. I highly recommend nearly all your training be done using the Maffetone heart rate formula: 180-age as your max heart rate. This will seem slow but is key to fitness.


https://philmaffetone.com/method/

I would get a copy of this:
https://www.amazon.ca/Primal-Endurance-chronic-carbohydrate-dependency/dp/1939563089

Weights: read this book

https://www.amazon.ca/Body-Science-Research-Program-Results/dp/0071597174

(Lift once a week)

Triathlon Taren podcast and
Primal Endurance podcast

So much great information there.

I've been a Paleo eater and somewhat physically active for years. I'm still new to triathlons, but Joel Friel's tri book supports eating Paleo with some minor tweaks to the consumption of carbohydrates and high glycemic foods. So far, this has worked for me in keeping my energy up in training and supporting recovery. He got together with the creator of The Paleo Diet (Loren Cordain) and they wrote The Paleo Diet for Athletes. Highly recommend.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Paleo-Diet-Athletes-Nutritional/dp/160961917X

I read this book last year, I gave it a try to train with this method and I felt a positive difference in my season.

The book is all about training with a low heart rate (or your maximum aerobic function) and you will be able to go farther or faster with less effort. I really liked it because at the beginning you have to run or ride keeping your heart rate at certain beats and you feel that you're going very slow but at the end of the workout you feel fine and not super tired, of course as you train your times get better but you never feel exhausted.

Here's a couple of books I'd recommend.

1. Slow Fat Triathlete - This book is the beginner's book.
   amazon
   
   
2. Triathlete's Training Bible - This is the encyclopedia of triathlon. It can help you build a plan from an Olympic to an Ironman race.
   amazon
   
   You might check out the Minneapolis area for a tri club. I'm certain there is a good one up there. Some clubs have New Triathlete programs that can be really good.

Bob babbitt spoke at our tri clubs kick off this spring. It was about a week after I got into tri. Listening to the stories he had about how Ironman developed made me realize it is a sport of passion and will and while competitive is super supportive of each other. It solidified my desire to do tri. One day I will hear naturalgnomad - you are an Ironman.

All of the stories are in this book. You can find the 25 year cheaper possibly. https://www.amazon.com/Years-Ironman-Triathlon-World-Championship/dp/1841261149

Don't let it sit around, especially if you used something sweet like Gatorade or Tailwind that are great food sources for bacteria or mold. Use a bottle brush

The industry has really moved toward this as a way away from custom bikes. Once they had a lot of fit data statistics, some of the bigger companies actually adjusted their sizing philosophies, too. There's more to it than height and inseam. CompetitiveCyclist.com has a fit calculator that will have you do the measurements of each joint, etc. That's close but it's not a substitute for a pro fit.

I just (last week) bought a new bike by mail order. Know that if you do this you will have to have some (but honestly not a lot) mechanical ability to put it together and get it running and adjusted.

Check out http://www.amazon.com/Zinn-Art-Road-Bike-Maintenance/dp/193771537X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk There's probably a copy at your local public library.

Lacrosse ball and--I kid you not--an orbital car polisher. I learned about both from a Crossfit friend who demo'd on my tight shoulders and hamstrings. You use the softest pad with it. It really works, and of course it still doubles as a buffer, should car care also be your thing.

I really like Phil Maffetone's The Big Book of Endurance Training. I almost purchased the training bible, but I felt it was too technical for me right now (training for my first sprint). I purchased the 12 Week Triathlete instead. Very easy to read and understand. I am using the training plan (intermediate sprint) in the book for my first sprint.

I got mild plantar fasciitis. I tried all the tricks that I could find on the internet: rolling a frozen water bottle under my foot, rolling a golf ball along the tendons, every possible stretch from my toes to my glutes. I would rest it and my foot would feel okay but every morning I would take that first step, feel the pain, and limp around for a couple of hours.

The thing that finally saved me was a cheap $20 night splint off of Amazon like this one. Once I used that, it was gone in a few days. My theory was that overnight my heel would be unflexed which would allow a bunch of fluid to collect in it and once I took that first step, it would squish out all the fluid and reaggravate any healing that had been done. I think the splint kept the heel flexed and the tendons taut so the fluid couldn't collect.

triseven Cycling Triathlon Saddle Cage Holder 30 For Water Bottles, for 2 Cartridge co2, for Cycling Bag https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H93S89/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wJz9AbD3FJGPH


This is what I’ve been using. Works great, much less expensive than some other models.

Desitin is a gift from god himself for relief from chafing. Before I discovered bodyglide and synthetic fabric it was the only thing that helped. Lotions make it worse because it retains moisture instead of displacing it. At least I think that's one of the mechanisms.

I have these and I love them.

Combined with a forward facing seat post I can get in a rather aero position.

This idea looks interesting, but I wouldn't want to be an early adopter. I've heard the bars can shift with medium/high force, and there's more to fitting for areo position than just moving a seat, from my experience at least.

Which version are you referring to? His classic:

https://www.amazon.com/Be-Iron-Fit-2nd-Time-Efficient/dp/1599218577/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Or, the HIM focused version:

https://www.amazon.com/IronFit-Secrets-Iron-Distance-Triathlon-Success/dp/0762792930/ref=la_B001K8ACJU_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506458625&sr=1-2

I only ask because of the price difference...

I don't have aero bars but will get some soon based on the reviews for the T1 and T2 on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Profile-Design-Aero-Bar-Black/dp/B0036CE2O4

http://www.amazon.com/Profile-Design-Carbon-Cobra-Aero/dp/B000R3VJV4/

I have a TriSeven rack with two cages. I keep my CO2 in the threaded holes in it and a spare tube in between the supports of the rack with a rubber band. I might switch that to electrical tape soon. I usually ride with a pod that holds my multi tool, tire wrench and other parts but for races I can just tape the tire wrench in with the tube.

Link: TriSeven Premium Cycling Saddle Cage Holder - Lightweight for Triathlon & MTB, Holds 2 Water Bottles & 2 co2 Cartridges | Does NOT Include Water Cages! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H93S89/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_GsjYBbJTSX25H

I keep referencing this site and keep referring back to it. I'm making my own plan, but I started with this as my template: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/Scott%20Herrick/halfim/preparing_for_your_first_half_ir.htm

I bought these books this past weekend and I'm learning a lot from them:

http://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Complete-Triathlon-Book/dp/0446679283/ref=cm_lmf_img_7

http://www.amazon.com/The-Triathletes-Training-Bible-Friel/dp/1934030198/ref=cm_lmf_img_2

The Obesity Code

http://www.amazon.com/Racor-PLB-2R-Two-Bike-Gravity-Freestanding/dp/B000077CPK/ref=lp_165113011_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1408765931&sr=1-1

I have Profile Designs mount too. Two bottle holders and CO2 threads. Works fine. Bottles stay in. Didn't have much of a problem on install.

I think it's this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Profile-Design-2008-Aqua-Black/dp/B001C69YYO%3Fpsc%3D1%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-d-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB001C69YYO

This is a pretty big topic and there is no one real answer for this, it will be different from person to person.

I would suggest reading How Bad Do You Want It?: Mastering the Psychology of Mind over Muscle by Matt Fitzgerald as this is pretty much the basis of his book.

I'm trying to parse your question. I'm not sure what you mean by "appropriate" but I would say:

(A) it's probably unnecessary. On the bike, if you have two regular-ass bottle cages or put on an aquarack-type bottle holder and two 24oz bottles (which is my setup), you can carry 48ozs of water and it is more aerodynamic than a big backpack. On the run, you should have at least two water stops on an olympic distance, and possible more. Between that and a small handheld bottle, if you require more than what they have at water stops, you should have enough to hydrate effectively. A backpack will chafe and slosh, and if you actually drank enough water to justify a bladder system, you would probably either vomit or pee your pants.

(B) If your concern is more aesthetic, it's a bit unusual to have a hydration backpack, but I don't think anyone would give you a problem about it. I've seen a guy do a half-iron in a full firefighter nomex suit and a guy do a 140.6 wearing a tutu, so odds are you won't be the strangest one there.