4 replies to this topic

[qman]

anyone done any triathalons in a wheelchair.

what distances, how were the transitions.

[wheeels]

I have done two spint triathons 750m Swim, 20km Bike, 5km Run

I will be doing Two Olympic ones this year 1500m Swim, 40km Bike, 10km Run

and one 70.3 to finish the year off (Half IronMan)

For transitions I usualy have two people help me out.

They help me get into the water, they help me get out of the water into my chair I wheel to my handcycle, they help me into the handcyle then lastly help me into my racing chair.

I also review the course before looking for the areas that are not accessible such as stairs and will have my helpers meet me at those locations to get around them.

I have found them to be tough but really fun and a great challange.

[JimG]

 wheeels, on Jan 17 2010, 01:46 AM, said:

I have done two spint triathons 750m Swim, 20km Bike, 5km Run

I will be doing Two Olympic ones this year 1500m Swim, 40km Bike, 10km Run

and one 70.3 to finish the year off (Half IronMan)

For transitions I usualy have two people help me out.

They help me get into the water, they help me get out of the water into my chair I wheel to my handcycle, they help me into the handcyle then lastly help me into my racing chair.

I also review the course before looking for the areas that are not accessible such as stairs and will have my helpers meet me at those locations to get around them.

I have found them to be tough but really fun and a great challange.

How did you get started?

My wife has been suggesting and doing quite a bit of research on equipment to motivate me to get interested in them.

As a former avid runner, who ran several 10Ks and half marathons each year for 30 years, she is pushing me to continue with those activities, but from a different perspective.

[wheeels]

Hey Jim,

I just decided that I wanted to do it, I started hand cycling last year and riding the racing chair the year before.

Hancycling is my strongest event, I swam 3 times last year two of them were in tri events so needless to say that is a week event for me, also I am not very strong at the running(Racing Chair event) but I can get through it.

If you have the equipment then I suggest you just find an event sign up for it and do it, once you get one out of the way the rest will be easier.

You can try this link I just did a quick google of events in Utah Tri Search

Also once you select an event make sure you let the organizer know, it will save some time on race day.

Oh and make sure you research the posted coarse nothing worse then finding out that the run is on shale, go up stairs or just have to go over obstacles that you are not aware of that also means walk or drive the coarse before.

Get there early really early if you have never ran the course and its your first time this will make the day less stressful and allow you to figure out the transition areas, the more prepared you are the more fun you fill have.

And the most important thing is to have fun, once you work out the transitions and the odd bump in the road it is really so much fun.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

[JimG]

Thanks wheeels

I'll be having LOTS of questions as time goes on.

Right now, I'm still healing from my last fusion (June 09) and have some residual pain, but I'm hoping this summer, when the snow melts.....I'll begin getting outdoor sports active again and that competitive spirit will come back.

The thing I've noticed though is dang.....this equipment is expensive.