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just having fun vs achieving your full race potential
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 2010-06-25 11:28 AM |
Extreme Veteran  750    Long Beach, Mississippi |  Subject: just having fun vs achieving your full race potentialI'm struggling with my goals/commitment to do well vs just having fun... I enjoy the Group Bike rides that I've been doing in training and riding my first Century ride, but now it's time to buckle down and do actual Bike Training... Is it possible to do "bike training" while on a group ride? Is it possible to get my intervals done? I know that I improve when I'm with a group as I'm constantly being challenged by the group I ride with... on the other hand, if I'm not doing the "prescribed intervals" I'm not optimizing my training. Part of me wants to get a coach and stick to a training plan, the other part of me says - stick with group rides, swim & run, and I'll be fine doing the few Sprint Tri's I have on the schedule... I also have several Century rides on the schedule, and I'm having trouble figuring out a training plan for it all... Also, one can argue that achieving your full race potential IS FUN Does anyone else struggle with "just having fun" vs "achieving your full race potential"? |
| 2010-06-25 12:18 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential The sport is what you want it to be. I've pretty well given up on my very competetive aspirations, and I'm training to (1) get/stay in shape, and (2) have fun. I don't worry about the workouts I'm not getting in (not much biking at all). I've scratched the competetive itch, and have no wishes to put myself through the kind of training again that got me there. As for group rides -- I found that I worked much harder, and had more fun, when I rode with my team. We'd do pace lines, reverse pace lines, lead outs, race simulation, and also just cruising. Mixing it up. The riding I did alone was mostly recovery rides, and hills (lots of hills). Is it possible to get your intervals done while on the group ride? Maybe, but not likely. But the next question is this: does that really matter?
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| 2010-06-25 12:31 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
Expert 1203 | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Last year when I did my first I got the bug and thought I would try some long distance stuff this year. I have found it difficult to enjoy the workouts when I was pushing hard to train and the excitement began to drop off a bit. Decided that I am having more fun just working out and have 2 tri's scheduled this fall (1 Sprint, 1 Olympic). |
| 2010-06-25 12:31 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
Expert 2555 Colorado Springs, Colorado | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Most of what I do is just for fun. I rarely ever follow any kind of a plan. I may do some hard work at times during training, but by no means do I work hard enough to reach my full race potential. I just enjoy the racing experience and if I happen to win something along the way it's just a bonus. |
| 2010-06-25 12:48 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
| Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Cardholic - 2010-06-25 12:28 PM Does anyone else struggle with "just having fun" vs "achieving your full race potential"? Not really. I gave into my inner lard (butt) a while ago. Lost 60 pounds but I have hated running since around 1987 and I don't think that's going to change any time soon. I'm just in it for the head sweats hats  |
| 2010-06-25 12:57 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
Champion 11989 Philly 'burbs | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Cardholic - 2010-06-25 12:28 PM Also, one can argue that achieving your full race potential IS FUN Does anyone else struggle with "just having fun" vs "achieving your full race potential"? I would argue that so for me there is no struggle. Achieving my full race potential is fun and fun is a very subjective thing. Taking it easy in a race and not going hard and not worrying about my finish time is not fun for me. |
| 2010-06-25 12:58 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
Master 1853 syracuse | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Cardholic - 2010-06-25 12:28 PM I'm struggling with my goals/commitment to do well vs just having fun... I enjoy the Group Bike rides that I've been doing in training and riding my first Century ride, but now it's time to buckle down and do actual Bike Training... Is it possible to do "bike training" while on a group ride? Is it possible to get my intervals done? I know that I improve when I'm with a group as I'm constantly being challenged by the group I ride with... on the other hand, if I'm not doing the "prescribed intervals" I'm not optimizing my training. Part of me wants to get a coach and stick to a training plan, the other part of me says - stick with group rides, swim & run, and I'll be fine doing the few Sprint Tri's I have on the schedule... I also have several Century rides on the schedule, and I'm having trouble figuring out a training plan for it all... Also, one can argue that achieving your full race potential IS FUN Does anyone else struggle with "just having fun" vs "achieving your full race potential"? yes. It's called passion. I guess I'm lucky...for me, anything less than 100% wouldn't be fun.... I wouldn't say I'm in it to win, or be the best....everytime I finish a race, I wonder if I can do better, and I understand there is only one way to find out. Yet at the same time, I am happy, but not content. It is quite an unusal feeling.....constantly wanted more, but happy with where I am at, enjoying the moment. I simply love training every day, and each effort is based on my ability to train again tomorrow, yet improve...if that makes sense. I think when I begin to stuggle with this, it's time to move on to something else........ Just my thoughts on the matter. |
 2010-06-25 1:05 PM in reply to: #2944116 |
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| 2010-06-25 1:06 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
| Lafayette, CO | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Who says working with a coach can't be fun. In fact, my coach and her group workouts while extremely hard (I think she tried to kill me last night) I have a blast working out with the group and always look forward to it. When I have to miss that directed, very hard training for any reason it's not nearly as fun doing it on my own. I'd suggest finding a coach who balances hard work and fun. Maybe I just have a unique coach and got lucky though. |
| 2010-06-25 1:13 PM in reply to: #2944151 |
| Expert 1203 | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential cusetri - 2010-06-25 12:58 PM I guess I'm lucky...for me, anything less than 100% wouldn't be fun.... Agreed...however, you don't have to train/complete an IronMan distance event to be giving 100%, correct? |
| 2010-06-25 1:15 PM in reply to: #2944178 |
| Expert 1203 | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Bopper - 2010-06-25 1:05 PM DanielG - 2010-06-25 1:48 PM Cardholic - 2010-06-25 12:28 PM Does anyone else struggle with "just having fun" vs "achieving your full race potential"? Not really. I gave into my inner lard (butt) a while ago. Lost 60 pounds but I have hated running since around 1987 and I don't think that's going to change any time soon. I'm just in it for the head sweats hats I thought you were in it for the beer!! Personally I am going to stick to having fun. Since my decision a couple years ago to forego trying anything longer then an Oly, I'm having more fun. The life commitment you have to make to train for anything longer is selfish to me. Since I have 3 boys and a loving wife... I'd like to keep it that way. As long as I'm healthy and happy that's all they care about, but I like being around them and being out racing for 7-15 hours (for HIM or IM event) WITHOUT my family is just not my idea of fun. (not to mention the 1000's of hours of training involved)
X2...I hope in 2 or 3 years I am still having as much fun just getting outside and working out as I am today. Throw in a few races here and there and I am feeling great.
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| 2010-06-25 1:20 PM in reply to: #2944201 |
| Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Batlou - 2010-06-25 2:13 PM cusetri - 2010-06-25 12:58 PM I guess I'm lucky...for me, anything less than 100% wouldn't be fun.... Agreed...however, you don't have to train/complete an IronMan distance event to be giving 100%, correct? I haven't seen anywhere in this thread where that was mentioned.... |
| 2010-06-25 1:21 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
| Master 2491 | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential I have two kids, a wife, and a happy life. Cramming in all the training to achieve my full potential was leaving me sleep-deprived and cranky, so I set my alarm later, work out less, and am no longer consumed with reaching my biological limit. I still love a great work out, and it's 100% on race day, but it's not the end of the world if I don't get an AG medal. |
| 2010-06-25 1:21 PM in reply to: #2944231 |
| Expert 1203 | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Scout7 - 2010-06-25 1:20 PM Batlou - 2010-06-25 2:13 PM I haven't seen anywhere in this thread where that was mentioned....cusetri - 2010-06-25 12:58 PM I guess I'm lucky...for me, anything less than 100% wouldn't be fun.... Agreed...however, you don't have to train/complete an IronMan distance event to be giving 100%, correct? Hah, maybe it's just me being defensive about my lack of training. Reading way to much into the reply. Typical. |
| 2010-06-25 1:24 PM in reply to: #2944042 |
| Extreme Veteran 575 Concord, NH | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Donskiman - 2010-06-25 1:31 PM Most of what I do is just for fun. I rarely ever follow any kind of a plan. I may do some hard work at times during training, but by no means do I work hard enough to reach my full race potential. I just enjoy the racing experience and if I happen to win something along the way it's just a bonus. This pretty much matches my plan. I do go out and push it in training, I give 100% in races, and I am hard on myself.....but, my family comes first. I average about 5 hours a week for training right now so that I can be involved with my kids growing up. I know if I put in the 15+ hours a week that I did when I was just bike racing I could maximize my potential. Even back then though I did not have a very structured plan, I knew what days would be hard and which would be easy, but I never said I have to go out and do a specific type or amount of sprints/intervals/tempo. I just like being outdoors and suffering. I have fun and when the kids are more grown up I will see about going back to the 15+ hour weeks, probably with at least one of them "training" besides me. Define your definition of fun and do that, do not judge yourself by others peoples goals. |
| 2010-06-25 1:24 PM in reply to: #2944179 |
| Extreme Veteran 750 Long Beach, Mississippi | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential COSkiGirl - 2010-06-25 11:06 AM Who says working with a coach can't be fun. In fact, my coach and her group workouts while extremely hard (I think she tried to kill me last night) I have a blast working out with the group and always look forward to it. When I have to miss that directed, very hard training for any reason it's not nearly as fun doing it on my own. I'd suggest finding a coach who balances hard work and fun. Maybe I just have a unique coach and got lucky though. You are absolutely right... that's what I need - a triathlon group that I can train with that'll push me to my full potential... however, since I have such broad goals (Century Rides for cycling & Sprint Tri's for swimming & running) I wonder if coaches can accommodate that... hmmmm can't hurt to ask  |
| 2010-06-25 1:43 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
| Expert 608 St. Louis | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Very different from many off you. I'm 18 and definitley have the competitive nature of a teenager. I'm able to recognize all my weaknesses and I realize that I won't have a future in the sport unless i can improve my times and therefore train for them. Two years ago swam a 2:15 pace for a 500yd swim. Now I can swim under 1:30pace for that distance. Broke 5:35 for mile in 8th grade and just now broke 5:00 for the mile a month ago. Goal for end of college is 6:00min 500yds. Hopefully putting over 20k yds a week will get me there. I also think there is entirely different approach to training if you want to be competitive vs. for fun. IE seasonal vs continual |
| 2010-06-25 2:29 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
| Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential I don't have the time, the money, or the patience to try and fulfill my potential. Hell, I don't have enough of those to try and reach PART of my potential. So I stopped trying and stopped stressing about it. I race a lot, train a little, and skate by on natural ability and a long-time athletic background. Could I have fun racing at a higher level of training and performance? Sure. Would it be vaguely interested to see what would happen? Possibly. But honestly, I'm having fun now...and this is a heck of a lot less work. ETA: I think coming to terms with a general athletic philosophy is something you come to after a long time in sports. When I was younger, I had the DRIVE to discover my potential...but I also had the stupidity that comes with being young and obsessive. I did a lot of things wrong, even when I knew better, and wasted a lot of opportunities. Now, OTOH, I have the brains and the patience to do things right...but totally lack the desire to put i the effort. :p Edited by mmrocker13 2010-06-25 2:34 PM |
| 2010-06-25 2:35 PM in reply to: #2943796 |
| Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential I am. Completely. I need to do my long rides on my own and have very little rest time. Instead I go with my cycling club and have two pretty long stops. I know it's not going to get my bike faster for my half ironman, but I want training to be enjoyable and challenging. So on Tues nights I have been riding with the fast group (and getting dropped 20 miles into a 34 mile ride) and that should help my speed and it is. I hope to ride with them for the long rides as well but pretty sure I will get dropped at this point. At the end of the day we aren't getting paid for this. And while winning or placing in one's AG is cool, no one really cares all that much and you go home with a small trophy (no money). So, if winning isn't the end all be all, why make training unenjoyable? I have found a good balance of training and still placing top 5 in my AG for shorter stuff. Works out nicely. |
| 2010-06-25 2:37 PM in reply to: #2944201 |
| Master 1853 syracuse | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Batlou - 2010-06-25 2:13 PM cusetri - 2010-06-25 12:58 PM I guess I'm lucky...for me, anything less than 100% wouldn't be fun.... Agreed...however, you don't have to train/complete an IronMan distance event to be giving 100%, correct? no. you dont even have to train/complete a sprint triathlon. |
| 2010-06-25 2:37 PM in reply to: #2944442 |
| Expert 1203 | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential mmrocker13 - 2010-06-25 2:29 PM ETA: I think coming to terms with a general athletic philosophy is something you come to after a long time in sports. When I was younger, I had the DRIVE to discover my potential...but I also had the stupidity that comes with being young and obsessive. I did a lot of things wrong, even when I knew better, and wasted a lot of opportunities. Now, OTOH, I have the brains and the patience to do things right...but totally lack the desire to put i the effort. :p This is like the saying..."Youth is wasted on the Young" |
| 2010-06-25 2:47 PM in reply to: #2944461 |
| Pro 5011 Twin Cities | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Batlou - 2010-06-25 2:37 PM mmrocker13 - 2010-06-25 2:29 PM ETA: I think coming to terms with a general athletic philosophy is something you come to after a long time in sports. When I was younger, I had the DRIVE to discover my potential...but I also had the stupidity that comes with being young and obsessive. I did a lot of things wrong, even when I knew better, and wasted a lot of opportunities. Now, OTOH, I have the brains and the patience to do things right...but totally lack the desire to put i the effort. :p This is like the saying..."Youth is wasted on the Young" It is EXACTLY what I'm saying ;-) Also: "If I only knew then what I knew now" works as well. (Although it doesn't have to mean AGE necessarily, in this respect... I just happened to start sports young.) |
| 2010-06-25 2:54 PM in reply to: #2944248 |
| Lafayette, CO | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential Cardholic - 2010-06-25 12:24 PM COSkiGirl - 2010-06-25 11:06 AM Who says working with a coach can't be fun. In fact, my coach and her group workouts while extremely hard (I think she tried to kill me last night) I have a blast working out with the group and always look forward to it. When I have to miss that directed, very hard training for any reason it's not nearly as fun doing it on my own. I'd suggest finding a coach who balances hard work and fun. Maybe I just have a unique coach and got lucky though. You are absolutely right... that's what I need - a triathlon group that I can train with that'll push me to my full potential... however, since I have such broad goals (Century Rides for cycling & Sprint Tri's for swimming & running) I wonder if coaches can accommodate that... hmmmm can't hurt to ask I think you'd be surprised at what you can find. Ask around. |
| 2010-06-25 3:40 PM in reply to: #2944146 |
| Expert 2555 Colorado Springs, Colorado | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential mrbbrad - 2010-06-25 11:57 AM Cardholic - 2010-06-25 12:28 PM Also, one can argue that achieving your full race potential IS FUN Does anyone else struggle with "just having fun" vs "achieving your full race potential"? I would argue that so for me there is no struggle. Achieving my full race potential is fun and fun is a very subjective thing. Taking it easy in a race and not going hard and not worrying about my finish time is not fun for me. I would argue that outside of the pros, Olympic athletes, and a very few AGers - almost nobody comes anywhere close to reaching their full race potential. To do so would require far more training than most people have time for. So while you may train hard and push yourself to the max you have trained for - very likely you aren't even close to your full potential. |
| 2010-06-25 3:43 PM in reply to: #2944151 |
| Expert 2555 Colorado Springs, Colorado | Subject: RE: just having fun vs achieving your full race potential cusetri - 2010-06-25 11:58 AM Cardholic - 2010-06-25 12:28 PM I'm struggling with my goals/commitment to do well vs just having fun... I enjoy the Group Bike rides that I've been doing in training and riding my first Century ride, but now it's time to buckle down and do actual Bike Training... Is it possible to do "bike training" while on a group ride? Is it possible to get my intervals done? I know that I improve when I'm with a group as I'm constantly being challenged by the group I ride with... on the other hand, if I'm not doing the "prescribed intervals" I'm not optimizing my training. Part of me wants to get a coach and stick to a training plan, the other part of me says - stick with group rides, swim & run, and I'll be fine doing the few Sprint Tri's I have on the schedule... I also have several Century rides on the schedule, and I'm having trouble figuring out a training plan for it all... Also, one can argue that achieving your full race potential IS FUN Does anyone else struggle with "just having fun" vs "achieving your full race potential"? yes. It's called passion. I guess I'm lucky...for me, anything less than 100% wouldn't be fun.... I wouldn't say I'm in it to win, or be the best....everytime I finish a race, I wonder if I can do better, and I understand there is only one way to find out. Yet at the same time, I am happy, but not content. It is quite an unusal feeling.....constantly wanted more, but happy with where I am at, enjoying the moment. I simply love training every day, and each effort is based on my ability to train again tomorrow, yet improve...if that makes sense. I think when I begin to stuggle with this, it's time to move on to something else........ Just my thoughts on the matter. Giving 100% and reaching your full race potential are not necessarily the same thing. |
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