Jitters before first tri...

Ahhh...fond memories. I remember my first tri as well and holy cow I was a
MESS all week. But everything turned out great on race day.

Do not get caught up in any of the hype and craziness. I would suggest
bringing along some headphones and a MP3 player and listen to it until just
befor the gun goes off. You will hear a lot of people talking out of their
asses and you won't want to get caught up in that.

Seed yourself at the back outside of the swim and just relax. Your first one
is a great experience, tell yourself that while you are doing it. it feels
great. Oh and thank all the volunteers 🙂

Good luck!!! You will be awesome I bet.
Mark

"mainewriter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This Sunday is my first tri (sprint) and I'm thinking that maybe this
wasn't such a good idea. I've never done anything like this before (no
5K runs, no bike races, etc.). I just wanted to train for this to see
if I could do it and finish...I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hrs
to complete (so no real competition here, other than with myself and
the clock). I feel like I should have trained harder or more or
something...is this normal pre-event jitters or am I crazy to even
think I could do this? Any suggestions for keeping sane between now
and Sunday at 8am?

Anna Marie

My first one was a sprint a couple years ago. For days before, I experienced
nervous excitement, to the point I thought I was sick. I barely slept the
night before. With each new race, the excitement stays, but the
nervousness/queasiness goes away ‹ for me anyway. Now, I tend to sleep
better the night before a race than the previous nights. I do much longer
races now, but I always look back & think about how great that first one
was. A full year later, I repeated that first race & bettered my time by 17
minutes ‹ in a 300y, 10 mi, 3.6 mi.

At this point, I take each race as it comes matter-of-factly. While I try
hard to do well in my age group, I realize that the race is simply about my
body, my mind & that timer ticking the seconds away. In the end, it's all
about you as an individual. You could give in to the nerves and just skip
it, but then you'll never know how well you could finish the race. And you
will finish it.

Good racing!

Tom Fischer

On 7/27/05 11:01 AM, in article
[email hidden], "mainewriter"

Quoted message said:

This Sunday is my first tri (sprint) and I'm thinking that maybe this
wasn't such a good idea. I've never done anything like this before (no
5K runs, no bike races, etc.). I just wanted to train for this to see
if I could do it and finish...I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hrs
to complete (so no real competition here, other than with myself and
the clock). I feel like I should have trained harder or more or
something...is this normal pre-event jitters or am I crazy to even
think I could do this? Any suggestions for keeping sane between now
and Sunday at 8am?

Anna Marie

Anne-Marie, it is very common to have these kind of feelings of doubt
before the race. There is always the guilt feeling that one should have
trained harder or eaten healthier or rested better or whatever. It just
means you are passionate about what you are doing and want to get the
optimal result. There is always room for improvement and I'm sure every
athlete, amateur or professional, has exactly the same feeling before
their game or race.
At this point the best thing you can do is go to the race, get to the
starting line and go for it. Enjoy the race as much as possible and I'm
sure you will have a great time!

you already signed up and paid so go have fun.
Jitters are pretty normal, I work off a bit of the stress by dong some
slow running and stretching. Especially good for me is to do some
swimming warm up, 10 or 15 minutes (yo won;t be alone, they'll be others
doing the same thing). It usually takes me 400 or 500 to warm up.
Your first open water swim can be a bit of a panic and the warm up helps
me stay relaxed.
Talk to people, bounce around, most of all look at your first one as a
trial run, a new adventure.
Between now and Sunday? alternate panic with some calm meditation 🙂
Eric

mainewriter said:

This Sunday is my first tri (sprint) and I'm thinking that maybe this
wasn't such a good idea. I've never done anything like this before (no
5K runs, no bike races, etc.). I just wanted to train for this to see
if I could do it and finish...I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hrs
to complete (so no real competition here, other than with myself and
the clock). I feel like I should have trained harder or more or
something...is this normal pre-event jitters or am I crazy to even
think I could do this? Any suggestions for keeping sane between now
and Sunday at 8am?

Anna Marie

mainewriter said:

This Sunday is my first tri (sprint) and I'm thinking that maybe this
wasn't such a good idea. I've never done anything like this before (no
5K runs, no bike races, etc.). I just wanted to train for this to see
if I could do it and finish...I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hrs
to complete (so no real competition here, other than with myself and
the clock). I feel like I should have trained harder or more or
something...is this normal pre-event jitters or am I crazy to even
think I could do this? Any suggestions for keeping sane between now
and Sunday at 8am?

Anna Marie

Like you said, you just want to finish it. All you need to finish a tri
is: something to swim in, a bike and a helmet, a pair of running shoes,
and the will to finish. All the other stuff is extra.

There is no point worrying about training because it's too late to
change it, so just trust your body. Yes, it's normal, especially for
your first race, and especially if it's important to you.

To make you feel better, make sure you have a plan. What will you do
when you get to the race? Are you familiar with the route? What extra
stuff do you need? How will you lay out transition... where will your
shoes be, your sunglasses, etc? When you come out of the water, and get
to your bike, what will you do first? What gear will your bike be in?
How about when you finish the cycle leg and rack your bike... are you
going to wear a hat? What about sports drink or energy gels?

Everyone's transition setup will be a little different and it's
something you'll master some time after this first triathlon, but it
will help you to have a plan before you go in. After the race, if you
decide you might like to do another one, it will help if you've got this
written down and notes on what did and didn't work for you.

Transition is definitely the tricky bit. Once you're in the water, on
the bike, or out on the run course, you know what to do and what you're
capable of.

Have fun with it Anna Marie!

Tam

Thanks, everyone! (I wrote a reply earlier but I think google ate it)

I'm glad my post gave some of you fond memories of your first tri. Your
replies helped me quell the fears a bit (flat tires, untied shoes,
leaky goggles,etc.). I've tried to plan for this kind of stuff, but at
some point, I know have to forget about it all and just have fun.

I'm going to work out my transition inventory tomorrow (thanks for the
laundry list of questions, Tam!) and I'll add "Thank the volunteers" to
it 🙂

Thanks again,
Anna Marie

Anne Marie: As a coach who works with 15 to 20 athletes a year I'm
very familiar with pre-race jitters. As I tell everyone I work with
who is new to competition...The first race should be for "completion"
not competition. Stay calm through the race and pay attention to other
athletes. Learn from their techniques/mistakes. Build on this and
then start training for your next event. Most of all, have fun.

Let us know how it goes.

-Mike

mainewriter said:

I know have to forget about it all and just have fun.

Yep. That's the key. And the pre-race jitters are part of that fun!!

I'm serious. The anticipation and anxiety are all part of the journey,
to be savored and reflected upon later.

If you continue on in the sport, it's natural to do longer and longer
tri's and at each level you experience the same jitters, the same
anxieties, the same self-doubts - and greater satisfaction at
overcoming them.

As you gain experience, the nature of the anxiety can change somewhat.
If you're doing a familiar distance, then you may want to perform
better, to get a PR, or at least not do worse. <g>

If you're doing a longer race, then actual doubts about finishing can
creep in. That's very much the case at the Ironman level. I faced my
first 3 or 4 IM's with that anxiety.

Now, I get the jitters, but it's more anticipation of the effort, not
of the result. I really enjoy the whole pre-race experience and it's
very much an enjoyable part of the journey.

Savor the emotions, have fun, and enjoy the moment.

Mike Tennent
"IronPenguin"

"mainewriter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This Sunday is my first tri (sprint) and I'm thinking that maybe this
wasn't such a good idea. I've never done anything like this before (no
5K runs, no bike races, etc.). I just wanted to train for this to see
if I could do it and finish...I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hrs
to complete (so no real competition here, other than with myself and
the clock). I feel like I should have trained harder or more or
something...is this normal pre-event jitters or am I crazy to even
think I could do this? Any suggestions for keeping sane between now
and Sunday at 8am?

Anna Marie

Dear Ann Marie

I have just finished my first triathalon, and my training was bking with a
bike club and walking my dogs.

I lost my fear of coming last in February 2005 while racing in the Freezer a
mountain bike race in the Shorthills. It was freezing but a week before
there was a thaw and the horse riders had been out and chewed up the paths.
To make matters worse, there were two open streams and as I found out a few
minutes later the water froze on the rims, so my brakes did not work on the
next steep downhill. I was wearing a ski suit as I rode to the race, and
ended up overheated and walking down the steep hills.

I was sure I was coming last, but I came second last.

Now I can do anything as I have no fear of coming last.

In the waterfront triathalon, I came 80th out of 105 so I improved my
Freezer placing, and made 3rd in my age group. (one of the benefits of age.)

I have also been going in adventure races, and with the age factor in my
favour came 1st.

All you have to do is show up and enjoy the experience. Remember just by
showing up you are ahead of 99% of the population. Keep that in mind instead
of comparing yourself to all of the other competitors.

Doug Thomas
Welland, Ontario

mainewriter said:

This Sunday is my first tri (sprint) and I'm thinking that maybe this
wasn't such a good idea. I've never done anything like this before (no
5K runs, no bike races, etc.). I just wanted to train for this to see
if I could do it and finish...I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hrs
to complete (so no real competition here, other than with myself and
the clock). I feel like I should have trained harder or more or
something...is this normal pre-event jitters or am I crazy to even
think I could do this? Any suggestions for keeping sane between now
and Sunday at 8am?

Anna Marie

I think I'm doing the same tri as you as my first triathlon. I've been
training with an online group at www.beginnertriathlon.com. Look in the
"Who's Racing" forum for a review I did of the bike course (there's a
250 foot climb that you might notice, as well as a 250 foot drop
followed by a sharp right turn on sand.)

The water is lovely and you'll be so pleasantly pleased: no dark churned
cold black water like Lake Sebago, but a pleasant shallow warm lake with
occasional plants slapping you and lots of pretty fish. Try to think of
it as "communing with wildlife". If you do panic in open water do some
recovery strokes, float on your back, whatever you need to do. You can
finish this. There are going to be 2100 women there and it's incredibly
supportive for first-timers.

My question is: how early should I get to the race? It's scheduled to
start at 7 am. Pre-race packets are picked up on Saturday. Parking
will be a [censored] - room for 500 cars and there are 2100 registered.

Dally

Pre race jitters are a normal emotion for most of us. I have competed in
over 100 triathlons from sprint to Ironman and still get them. I always
blame the intimidation of the swim but it is the whole deal. Like Mike
said, one more segment of the race to be enjoyed.

Hope you had a good race.

Ken

"mainewriter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

This Sunday is my first tri (sprint) and I'm thinking that maybe this
wasn't such a good idea. I've never done anything like this before (no
5K runs, no bike races, etc.). I just wanted to train for this to see
if I could do it and finish...I'm guessing it will take me about 2 hrs
to complete (so no real competition here, other than with myself and
the clock). I feel like I should have trained harder or more or
something...is this normal pre-event jitters or am I crazy to even
think I could do this? Any suggestions for keeping sane between now
and Sunday at 8am?

Anna Marie

I'm doing the Bethel, Maine tri, but it sounds like yours is much more
challenging... I've been told the bike route is easy (no 250 foot
climbs) and there are usually only 250 people (men and women) signed
up. It's a non-sanctioned race, too, so it's pretty low-key. Where's
yours?

My race is supposed to start at 8am and I figured I'd get there at a
little before 7am, so I can set up T1&2 and then bike to the pond (3 mi
easy warmup) and maybe do a little swimming before it starts. I'd be
interested in what other experienced folks say about when to get
there...

Anna Marie

Dally said:

I think I'm doing the same tri as you as my first triathlon. I've been
training with an online group at www.beginnertriathlon.com. Look in the
"Who's Racing" forum for a review I did of the bike course (there's a
250 foot climb that you might notice, as well as a 250 foot drop
followed by a sharp right turn on sand.)

The water is lovely and you'll be so pleasantly pleased: no dark churned
cold black water like Lake Sebago, but a pleasant shallow warm lake with
occasional plants slapping you and lots of pretty fish. Try to think of
it as "communing with wildlife". If you do panic in open water do some
recovery strokes, float on your back, whatever you need to do. You can
finish this. There are going to be 2100 women there and it's incredibly
supportive for first-timers.

My question is: how early should I get to the race? It's scheduled to
start at 7 am. Pre-race packets are picked up on Saturday. Parking
will be a [censored] - room for 500 cars and there are 2100 registered.

Dally

mainewriter said:

I'm doing the Bethel, Maine tri, but it sounds like yours is much more
challenging... I've been told the bike route is easy (no 250 foot
climbs) and there are usually only 250 people (men and women) signed
up. It's a non-sanctioned race, too, so it's pretty low-key. Where's
yours?

Danksin in Webster. 2100 women are signed up. It was a decent guess
that every female in New England doing a triathlon this Sunday was doing
that one.

Dally