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ethorad t1_ivc055v wrote

Does it really take 3 minutes to transition from swim / bike and bike / run? I guess you have to put on shoes to bike, and then change to running shoes - but that wouldn't take three minutes?

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arfenarf t1_ivc1opb wrote

In these big races, transition zones are *huge*. Running through them without all the gear swaps takes time. Still:

swim-bike: strip wetsuit (sometimes); cap off; goggles off; run to bike/tent; socks on; shoes on; helmet on; gloves on (sometimes); shades on; get bike; run it out of the transition zone and go. Yeah, 3 minutes is miraculously fast in a big Ironman.

bike-run is a little easier - run bike back to rack; helmet off; gloves off; shoes off; shoes on; hat on (sometimes); run out of transition zone; go.

My mom's last tri (in her late 70s) was at the age-group Worlds - sprint distance. Her knees were already giving out, but she was holding out on replacing them until after the race. She knew she had 5km in them. She did *not* have 5km + 2x monster transition zones. But she toughed it out and was the fastest old broad in the world that year :) :) :)

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ethorad t1_ivc6sma wrote

Thanks for the info. And good on your mom - sounds like she rocks! May we all still be able to do that in our late 70s

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Sharkitty t1_ivcwh43 wrote

3 minutes is crazy fast. I’m fuckin’ pokey on purpose and stop to use the bathroom, so 70.3 swim-run transitions have taken me 15 minutes, but even if I moved with purpose I’d be lucky to make it in 8. The pros take transition VERY seriously and practice it hard.

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