WIW...triathlon gear! - YouLookFab Forum

This weekend I participated in a sprint distance triathlon. My time of 1hr 50min was not a personal best, but this course has a reputation as a soul destroying grind with a hilly bike and run course. Lots of strength training with Kevin, the evil personal trainer paid off with enough leg reserves to do a decent run after the challenging bike.

I don't fancy Angie wants me cluttering up the WIW board with some of the weird stuff I wore this weekend!

#1 Yamamoto neoprene rubber wetsuit - Nineteen
(Puts Spanx to shame for its molding properties)
Goggles - Speedo

#2 Butterfly and Skull tank top - Betty Designs
( a busy design distracts from what wet and cold reveals)
Black nylon and spandex tri shorts - Sugoi
(Also known as 'bun huggers')
Pro-lite helmet - Giro
(Also known as a 'brain sieve')
Shoes - Louis Garneau
Bike - Litespeed

#3 as above
Shoes - Saucony (Kinveras)

#4 and #5 before and after

#6 a new bit of bling

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12 years ago

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

That's great!

ClaraT

Congrats on the tri! I like your tank a lot. Cute + good coverage across the chest.
Question 1: Is the wetsuit designed as a 'swim wetsuit'? I swim in a pool and have contemplated open-water swimming (since I live by the San Francisco Bay) but have heard mixed things about 'surf wetsuits' vs. 'swim wetsuits' (with the latter looser in the shoulders so you can do the crawl?
Question 2: Were you just transitioning with your feet on top of your bike shoes?
Thanks for sharing these pics.

MNsara

Woohoo!! Congrats!!

I'm super impressed that you did a triathalon!! I used to run, and bike, but knew I'd drown if I had to swim

Love the gear outfits too!!

Carla

1. ClaraT, there are different kinds of wetsuits, and you most definitely want a swim specific suit for the shoulder/arm flexibility. Most sellers will loan out or let you rent a suit. I would definitely recommend a trial, since the purchase can set you back a couple hundred $$. Swimming in a wet suit is very different than without, and takes some getting used to. They can be very tight, and sometimes the tightness across the chest can provoke a panic attack in an open water situation. On our cold lakes, where you risk hypothermia, it is de rigeur! The added buoyancy is a lot of fun!

2. Yup! The picture is at the top of a short hill descending to T2 (transition bike-to-run). I'm out of the shoes so I can hop off the bike and run across the line with the bike beside me.

Makrame

Very cool! You look great in your gear!

Yay! I had fun selecting my tri clothing, too. If you're gonna have to wear skintight spandex like stuff, may as well make it fun and cute!

Caro in Oz

Congratulations! I can't believe you finished a tri & still looked fab

Anonymous

Wow Carla! I am in awe of your fitness and abilities. Congratulations. You look amazing.

Thanks for the wetsuit info. I like the idea of renting a wetsuit first because yes, getting in cold dark water does make me feel a bit anxious. Here in SF people wear booties and earplugs and a headpiece as well as a wetsuit so strangely the whole get up seems a bit claustrophobia inducing despite being outside.

donnat

I too am in awe! Way to go, great looking gear

Suz

You look fantastic and fashionable in your gear! Your comfort level in these clothes is obvious and they suit your athletic frame!

Oh, and by the way, congrats again!

Mochi

Congratulations on your achievement, Carla! I envy your perseverence and overall conditioning. I happen to really like athletic wear such as what you're wearing. (Well, apart from the wetsuit, though that does have its uses!)

rachylou

You look fab! Do you have a special racing bike?

My bf used to do triathlons, but stopped after back surgery. I always thought his bike was fascinating...

Janet

Ooh, congrats!

I'd love to do a sprint or mini tri. I'm still a week away from getting back into running (although introducing it slowly during my walks) so it may be too late to train for one this summer. Maybe next year.

Funny, I was always way more comfortable with the idea of swimming or biking than running. But running has been the thing that makes me want to actually attempt a tri!

Don't get me started on gear, rachylou!

This is my midlife crisis bike, purchased as a 50th birthday present to myself. It is a carbon fibre aero road bike (in the lingo) and is a wonderful bike for 'technical' courses. (Good at cornering.) And, Century rides. (100km). I did get it on sale in the fall, but you could probably buy a decent used car for what I paid for it! A little extra money was spent on a good, woman's specific, seat. This bike is my most prized possession.

I'm not a 'weight weenie' where everything has to be ultralight, but DH got me carbon fibre water bottle holders as a present, along with a seat kit bag and multi tool for repairs on long rides. He also got be a 'winky' safety light. I usually strip the bike down for a race though.

BTW on one of the downhills on this course, I clocked 58.7 km/hr, and the speed limit sign said 50!

catgirl

So awesome! You inspire me!

Can't stand getting off a bike and running. I wish the order was run, bike, swim...

Isabel

Congratulations !! You did fab !! More important than looking fab, but you actually accomplished both. I LOVE the pink everywhere and the grass green swim cap. Not even to mention the skull and the flower race top. A 10 !

Oooh nice! And fast!

Raisin

Congrats! I love your workout gear! You looked great and very fit!

Sarah A

Love you sharing your tri with us. Dont get too worried about spending as much on a bike as you can get a used car for.... I have done it more times than I would care to admit and I love that you say it is your most prized possession a great bike makes a world of difference for comfort, handling, speed and safety!

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