h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to prepare for your first triathlon - A51951378
Author: activecathy - U13982615

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Hi activecathy, and welcome to h2g2

Maybe I should rename myself inactive Icy. I'm one of those people who think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, and just reading your entry has exhausted me!

This is an interesting subject, and it looks very comprehensive - well done! I can't comment on the specific advice - I hope one of the more athletic researchers will come along and do that - but here are a few general comments:


Can you let us know where we might go to have an ECG test?

You have defined sections at the beginning, but "structure of correct training sessions" is large and should be broken up.

A general point on style: I suspect that English isn't your first language. Your writing is perfectly understandable, but the style is quite passive. You could soften it and make it more readable if you rephrase some of the more passive sentences, eg "After an athlete has determined the individual state of fitness, realistic targets can be set." (You might say, for example, "After an athlete has determined their individual state of fitness they can set themselves realistic targets.")

You could make it more informal still, if you wish, by addressing the reader, eg "Once you have determined your fitness level, you can set yourself realistic targets." If I were writing this article then I would be inclined to write it like this throughout, but it's your choice.


I enjoyed reading this Entry and I hope we can get it into the Edited Guide.

Icy

Not <> even reading the title made me and want to away, however, can I just say welcome to Peer Review activecathy and I hope your next effort will bring me back with something constructive to add!


GB

You've covered the preparation for each of the three phases of a triathlon reasonably enough, but you should also add practising the changeovers, or transitions as they are called, ie getting out of the water and on to the bike (including finding it!), and getting off the bike and starting the final run phase. Most triathlon beginners make the biggest improvements in their overall times by sharpening up their transitions.

On the subject of equipment, I guess you must be swimming in warmer waters than those encountered in the UK. Here most triathletes wear a dry suit which has to be stripped off ready for the bike phase. I wouldn't recommend a mountain bike for a triathlon. They are fine off-road as they are intended, but on-road they require much more effort than even a regular road bike.

Good choice of subject for an entry though

I am a really inactive person but happily have been able to watch the Lanzarote Ironman as its start and finish line is about 100 yards from my house.

>>>>0 m/0,47 mi swim, 20 km/12,4 mi bicycle, 5 km/3,1 mi run), which is the fastest growing triathlon race distance in the United States, the Olympic distance (1,5 km/0,93 mi swim, 40 km/24,8 mi, 10km/6,2 mi) and the longest race distance, the Ironman (3,8 km/2,4 mi swim, 180km/112 mi bicycle and 42,2 km/26,2mi run). <<<<<

You should re-write this paragraph, as you have used the European system.

decimal points are not {,} they are like this 3.8

miles should be written in full

It would be easier to read if you used a chart with various races and their comparitive distances in columns.

Someone mentioned the cold water - even here in the subtropics all the contestants wear wetsuits. They run out of the water, through beach showers and then have to change for the next part of the race, (the cycle race) slapping on plenty of sunblock as the sun here is exceptional.

Dear activecathy,

well done, I really like your article and I think it is a helpful guideline for everyone who wants to become an athlete. But also for people who do not know anything about this sport, the text is recommendable because you clearly explain the main facts about this sport.

The article is very well structured and you give detailed information such as, for example, the method of contolling the pulse or the precise description of the training methods.

Every successful athlete has once started, and so I think that maybe some quotes of famous sportsmen/women would have been a nice extra.

Overall, I think it is a very good and interesting article which should be read by all those who are fascinated by this sport. Keep on writing!

Author hasn't posted since the day after this appeared in PR. However I think this entry is good enough that it could forward to a subbie to polish. Does anyone else agree/disagree?

give me ten minutes for another read please h5ringer

From watching various Ironmen contests in Lanzarote (in the sub-tropics) I know they *all wear wetsuits - whether this is what activecathy refers to as neoprene I have no idea. Its a shame she hasn't replied.

I'm not so sure of that, h5 - it needs quite a bit of work style-wise, and there are some suggestions here that need to be worked in or at least evaluated by someone with some knowledge of the subject.

Also, I believe that submitting something to Peer Review must include the willingness to respond to comments, so petty as it may seem, I don't want to reward someone who doesn't do that with just getting their Entry passed with no further effort. It sets a bad precedent - people might just adapt it as a strategy for a smooth ride through PR.

That's why I asked the question Mala

*adopt, I mean, of course.

Do we have any athletes around these parts who might be interested in taking it on as a FM rescue? It has the makings of a good entry. It just isn't quite there yet.

Shall I add it to the list as bound for FM? Or would you rather wait for more opinions as to its current pickability, h5? (I won't be offended if you do )

Give it another 24 hrs Mala. If nobody else comments then despatch it to FM. If there's somebody out there with the knowledge to complete it, they'll soon pick it up

Then I'll wait till tomorrow to send the list off.

OK, it's on the list I'm sending off now.

Someone can always re-submit it to PR to be picked if they think it's definitely ready