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Trying a Tri

Trying a Tri

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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14 Comments

  1. Lori

    I did a triathlon in 2009. It was really scary to me, but I enjoyed it. The hardest part is the transitions getting used to doing the other sports. The bike/run transition is the hardest because your legs feel like leg – same way with the duathlon for me. It’s just hard, but nothing felt like doing that. I burst into tears after I finished because never in a million years would I have thought I could do a triathlon.

    I may do another one, but I just don’t care for swimming. That is why I like the duathlon format of run/bike/run better.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I love swimming. I don’t love competitions or people swimming on top of me, you know? That’s honestly the only thing holding me back.

      I could do it. I already do all 3 activities so I’d really only need training for transitioning between them…

  2. steena

    Yea WHAT are you afraid of? You could totally kick a triathlon’s butt! You know that I’m going to root you on till race day, pick a tri, register, and kick its butt!!!
    and HEY, you don’t have to BUY a wetsuit, there’s gotta be somewhere around you where you can rent one? I have one rented for my tri, it only cost $30!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I didn’t know you could rent suits! I need to look into this…

  3. Michelle

    My first fitness goal is just being able to run a 5k. I have yet to run more than 1/2 mile consecutive. Of course, 12 weeks ago, I could run a lap. So….I have confidence that I’ll get there. Another fitness goal is to learn how to swim! I can swim…to save my life…know some of the mechanics…but don’t know the particulars of effective lap swimming. Once I can put some of those things together…I would LOVE to do a tri!

    p.s. 12 weeks ago, I would NEVER have said that. I just finished a program at the YMCA that has transformed my life!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      What program did you do?

      If you just started 12 weeks ago go easy on yourself! It takes time to practice and build confidence and stamina. When I first started swimming again I could barely do 1 lap. It takes time. 🙂 you’ll get there.

      Plus, if you don’t have a heart rate monitor I REALLY suggest you get one. It helped my running soooo much!

      1. Michelle

        I completed a program with my local YMCA … we met is small groups (just 3 on my team!) with a personal trainer, three times/week for an hour each session. It was AWESOME! Best part is that we get to keep working with our trainer for 1/2 the cost of the program and it was/is very reasonable. I do have an HRM .. just have to replace the battery. How did that help your running?

        1. Lisa Eirene

          When I first started running I didn’t have a HRM and knew nothing about pacing, what my target heart rate should be or anything. The HRM taught me how to run the correct way!

  4. Katy

    You are definitely ready to do a triathlon. Like you said, you have all the pieces…and while putting them together is not like 1+1+1=3, you WILL be fine (and I can tell you from experience there is *nothing* like finishing a triathlon).

    Do a few bricks if you can (a bike ride immediately into a run) and study up on transitions…then GO FOR IT!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thank you for the encouragement Katy! At this point it really just the fear of the unknown holding me back but I think I will go for it!

  5. sugarmagnolia70

    OMG you NEED to sign up! If I can do a tri (will do my fourth in a few weeks) then anyone can. You can do it. Yes, open water is way different than the pool, but you are a strong swimmer and will rock it!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Thanks for the encouragement! I think I’m going to. I need to do some research on renting wetsuits here in Portland but I think this summer I’ll give it a go.

  6. Jennifer is Always Sick

    Haha – that triathlon sketch is funny. I chuckled.

    My husband is doing his first triathlon this weekend. He said he’s not ready, because he hasn’t trained like he wanted to (hard to do with a full-time job and two kids), but he did what he could and he’s still going to go for it.

    You mentioned chest discomfort in the pool. I hadn’t been in a pool in a long time, and we were in a small pool at the gym with our boys to get them used to it (they’re doing swimming lessons now), and I had difficulty breathing in the pool. The water was heated and I felt all of this chest pressure. Was that my asthma? My husband said he has trouble too, but it’s the pressure of the water on the body and I’m just not used to it – according to him.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      You’ll have to let me know how he does on his tri!

      Yes, it’s asthma. I never used to have asthma except when I would get sick with bronchitis or pneumonia or something. But recently I developed it after a bout with bad bronchitis. It seems to be under control now but every once in awhile it flairs up.

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