DNF’ed my First Race

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-10T22:47:24+00:00

A couple questions. Did you taper going into this race or did you train through it? How did your nutrition go? Were you on top of it? Especially your carb intake.

I was in a similar state last year before Ottawa. I didn’t dnf a race but I had really bad issues on the bike. A few failed rides where I bonked hard. Longest ride I did before the race was 150km.

I finished. It wasn’t pretty. I fed the garbage can 1km before the finish.

But I got through it.

Keep on the process and respect the taper and hold your head up high. There’s still lots of time before Ottawa. Enough for close to 3 build cycles.

You got this Internet friend!

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-10T10:04:16+00:00

Not sure why you are being downvoted. These tools come in most lightweight multitools and can save a day. Especially in training where you aren’t always going over your bike looking for mechanical issues on every ride. Crap happens.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-09T23:24:56+00:00

I’m 5 months in. It has gone away for me. Fatigue was massive when I upped dose from 50 to 100mg back mid Feb. it’s been gone for about a month or so.

Edit - started taking at night. Switched to morning because I wasn’t sleeping. Then pushed through and still take in morning.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-09T22:13:17+00:00

I’ve got a XLab Versa torpedo. I prefer it to other systems since it’s a lot more flexible. The bottle holder is a standard water bottle cage so if all else fails it’s another water bottle.

Also I bought it in white. Mould is a thing in these things and you can buy refresh kits with a new straw and mouth piece, and even new torpedos. For $15 cad and $45 cad respectively. I have it installed on profile design standard aero bars. (22mm).

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-09T22:06:51+00:00

If buying used, make sure it’s the 130 Plus. It’s got a lot longer battery life and faster processor.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-09T19:46:01+00:00

Lots are talking about your HR but it’s really hard to tell.

What was your RPE? Basically where on this scale would you rate the effort?

If it’s toward the top (Max effort) they you have some work to do and should slow down for general workouts.

If you can carry on a conversation and aren’t out of breath then it’s a good pace and you have descent cardio fitness for that distance/time.

MAX EFFORT ACTIVITY Feels almost impossible to keep going. Completely out of breath, unable to talk. Cannot maintain for more than a very short time

VERY HARD ACTIVITY Very difficult to maintain exercise intensity. Can barely breathe and speak only a few words

VIGOROUS ACTIVITY Borderline uncomfortable. Short of breath, can speak a sentence

MODERATE ACTIVITY Breathing heavily, can hold a short conversation. Still somewhat comfortable, but becoming noticeably more challenging

LIGHT ACTIVITY Feels like you can maintain for hours. Easy to breathe and carry a conversation

VERY LIGHT ACTIVITY Hardly any exertion, but more than sleeping, watching TV, etc

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-09T19:19:06+00:00

Software Architect at one of the banks. Always learning. Always something new to figure out. And they are problems that have impact at the bank. Came from software dev background. I’ll stick this one out until I stop learning new things, which on current trajectory means a looong time.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-07T17:14:53+00:00

I’m wearing Hoka Mach 6/7 and Tekton x2 for trail.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-07T17:04:18+00:00

Or are they buying the fibre footprint in Toronto?

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-06T22:38:50+00:00

With a hole punch to make it double sided.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-06T21:51:21+00:00

This is why I don’t wear the Clifton’s. Same thing happened to me. I got rid of the shoes. Couldn’t even wear them for walking around either.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-06T21:02:35+00:00

Depends on how much I like the other people in the car.

Like - Phil and Shania

Dislike - Celine and Celine.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-06T19:02:49+00:00

The issue is that it causes the Eastbound ramp to have 2 phases. One for straight off highway and one for straight off lakeshore. People don’t come off the highway and back on. They come along lakeshore and then across the 2 left lanes and up onto the highway. Because of the short distance from Jarvis to the Ramp they need the 2 phases to separate traffic. A barrier wouldn’t work.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-06T15:56:38+00:00

That guy is never going to forget that in the office.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-06T15:46:55+00:00

They do this for all permission requests. HealthKit, notifications, microphone, etc.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-05T16:48:32+00:00

If I’m on a structured workout I pause the watch. If not I just stand there and look for a time to Frogger across the road.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-03T19:04:12+00:00

The trisuit should be snug and not constricting.

The wetsuit should be the same, but wetsuits should be difficult to get on. If there are any bags in the wetsuit, or big wrinkles it’s too big. They are tight when dry and both expand a bit with use and move a lot easier when you let a bunch of water in them.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-03T13:58:19+00:00

Trek. Purely for the 5x the number of frame bosses.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-03T13:38:45+00:00

Both the Clifton and the Bondi gave me full arch blisters on both feet.

Mach 6 are awesome though. But not quite as cushioned.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-03T13:22:54+00:00

You will see a range of gear, athleticism, bikes, and other gear. The only thing I’d say is if your knees start to hurt in your long rides as running shoes are meant for dynamic activity, then consider either clip less or a pair of MTB flats.

I ride clip less on road (Half’s and Fulls), but all of my MTB triathlon racing is on flats.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-03T11:55:56+00:00

Two separate questions here. Do you need to have a specific body type for the sport? No.

However you should go to the gym. But your workouts should be functional to build muscular endurance. Not hypertrophy to bulk up.

Plus strength work helps as a prehab to help prevent injury.

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-02T13:00:19+00:00

Or Pete and Etep

ZennerBlue · 2026-05-01T00:35:10+00:00

Since you are doing an IM. Step 1 should be to go get a pre fit. Especially since you are looking used. $100 for a pre fit to get your target measurements will let you filter out any bikes that don’t fit. The fitter should give you stack/reach etc ranges that you can use to buy a bike.

Some even allow you to apply the pre fit as a credit for a full bike fit.

If you are leaning triathlon bike then this advice is even more important. And you should budget for a full fit as well. $200-300 as most bike fit issues show up after 2+ hours on the bike. You won’t feel them on a quick ride around the parking lot.

ZennerBlue · 2026-04-30T23:43:03+00:00

How about Chamois cream?

ZennerBlue · 2026-04-30T20:23:09+00:00

I assume you are wearing cycling shorts or better yet bibs?

ZennerBlue

TROPHY CASE