John Cutler posted on October 07, 2010 14:10
What happens when you throw an elite road racer into a triathlon? On short notice, Russ Langley, CycleLife sales team member and long time bike racer, jumped headlong into the world of triathlon and raced the Nation’s Triathlon in Washington DC. To anyone who’s spent hours / months / years training for triathlons, Russ’ answers just might make you want to punch him. But you’ve got to remember … the guy has spent over a decade racing and training at an elite level.
Photo: Kevin Dillard
Iron Hill Twillight 2009. After lapping the field solo.
I asked Russ a couple questions about his first triathlon experience.
Russ, you didn’t do half bad!
I placed 89th overall. I was fastest on the bike, and ran 6:14 minute miles. The swim was tough (33:09m).
What was the toughest part of the day?
Getting up at 4:30am and riding to Georgetown in the pouring rain on my one day off that week.
Tell me about the swim. What happened?
I borrowed a wetsuit right before the start. I wasn’t able to get it on, and I quickly learned that it wasn’t the right size. The collar was tight, and I started to feel pressure at the base of my trachea. Ten strokes into the swim, I realized that I wasn’t going to be able to breath. Panic started to set in. With the help of a kayaker, I unzipped the suit. That was all well and good until I realized I couldn’t swim with a wetsuit around my waist. A second kayaker came to assist me but I nearly tipped his kayak over. We finally got the wetsuit off.
For a non runner you ran pretty fast.
The suffering is similar to riding the bike. I noticed that at a certain point I was able to shut off the fact that I was running, and just focus on the guy in front of me. As a new runner, I had no gauges. My last mile felt like the fastest.
How does the scene compare to road racing?
Honestly? Over the top. Overwhelming. Too many people. But it is a very positive environment.
How does the bike leg of a tri compare to a time trial?
It is pretty much exactly the same. I felt I couldn’t go quite as hard, but I worked six days straight prior to the race. My legs felt heavy in general.
Which athletes have the easiest time making the transition to triathlon?
I think a cyclist would have the advantage. There is so much that goes in to being a good cyclist. My guess is that a cyclist would have a better chance of being a good runner instead of the other way around. But that is just my perspective as a cyclist. Swimming takes a long time to master, but as a swimmer you'd have a tough time running or biking.
Equipment advice?
Equipment matters if you are trying to compete instead of just finish. The old saying “don’t take a knife to a gun fight” always holds true. Fit, wheels, position … it all matters.
Any triathlons in your future?
I will do a couple more probably.
Will you train specifically for those races?
I will keep cross training. I won’t focus on triathlons like I did in cycling. I don’t have a passion for the sport like I do for cycling. Before the Nation’s Triathlon I had done base running miles for cross training. Also, it doesn’t hurt to have high end fitness from 15 years of racing bikes.
Any tips?
Go as fast as you can. Ride your bike a lot. It is not a tough equation. You can get specific if you want, but there is more than one way to skin a cat. If you like structure, be structured. But I find that a lot of it is mental. Prep for triathlon is very intensive. I like to be able to show up for a race, jump on my bike, and be done with it. These pre-race things add to my nerves. It adds to the stress. You have to find a way to get beyond that.