Half IM questions

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2008-10-11 8:23 PM

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Extreme Veteran
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Subject: Half IM questions
I am thinking of doing a half next summer, something in late July/early August--maybe Steelhead or Racine. If that is my main goal of the summer and my goal is to merely finish, how necessary do you think it would be to do anything shorter before the race during training? I am not talking bricks, but maybe doing a sprint or 2 during the training versus going into the half "cold" as it were w/o any early season races?

Second, what's the recovery time after a half? Specifically, if you did a Half August 1, think you'd be recovered enough to do an Oly in late August, i.e. Chicago--again time goal is just to finish?

I know training and plans are important, and bricks especially, but these are just more general questions and are based on assumption that I would be following a plan to get me to the half.

thanks

2008-10-11 11:05 PM
in reply to: #1736035

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions

I don't think you need to do other races to get ready for a HIM. I did an oly during my training and it had some good aspects, but really it sorta interrupted my training (mini taper, recover etc)

I think you'll be fully recovered by late August for an oly if your HIM is early August.

Just my opinions

 Good luck!

2008-10-12 8:09 AM
in reply to: #1736035

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
Before my IM this year, I only did ONE tri, and Oly distance before the race.

It wasn't worth giving up a long training day for a shorter race, so I didn't race. It worked out fine.

Maybe just one race to get the cobwebs out, but you don't need to race all the time to get ready for your HIM. Unless you want to.
2008-10-12 10:57 AM
in reply to: #1736035

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
Being able to do races during your training is good because it allows you to practice transitions in real speed and do some race specific training, but you can do without.  I did a half last week and I was feeling pretty good about 4 days later.  I have a race next weekend, so only 2 weeks between.  I think you will be fine.
2008-10-12 11:03 AM
in reply to: #1736035

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
I did a sprint last weekend (5 weeks out from my HIM) and it was really fun, it helped to get rid of the burnout I was feeling, and afterward I had a great training week and feel pumped heading into the last 4 weeks.  It was a great mental boost for me.  Also, it reminded me that I need to work on my transitions.
2008-10-12 11:04 AM
in reply to: #1736035

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
After my first HIM I did some lite workouts for the first week and was probably full speed about 5-6 days later so I would think you would be gtg in 2 weeks for sure.

I agree if you want to race, race. It is good to work on transition and try out your nitrition, but otherwise it is not a biggie. It does give you some decent feedback as to what pace you can pull in a race though. But all that stuff is just helpful not at all necessary.


2008-10-12 4:48 PM
in reply to: #1736035

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
look at it this way: if your able to sit on a bike trainer all winter and not get sick and are able to do each individual distance feeling good (ie running 13.1) 1month before event i would advise not to do another event.  Otherwise do a race, get some mojo going and get pumped for your major race.  Be sure to practice transistions in at your pool parking lot(ie getting started on your bike with shoes on bike. btw unlike everybody else that was my 3 cents.
2008-10-13 7:23 AM
in reply to: #1736035

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Master
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions

I did my first HIM this year.  I kept up my race schedule as usual.  I probably did 4 races prior to my HIM.  Like you have read in other posts it is good to find out how your training is coming on and to get real life transitions.  Just remember just because you race on a training day you can't alter your training schedule.  If it is Saturday and you race a Oly. distance tri and your schedule calls for a 5 hour ride you have to get back on that bike.

 

2008-10-14 12:14 PM
in reply to: #1736035

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Member
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
if you want to race other events, then do it. otherwise, it is not neccessary for you to reach your goal of finishing. my first tri was a HIM.

i think you will be good to go on the oly at the end of august after your early august HIM.
good luck and happy training
2008-10-14 12:22 PM
in reply to: #1736035

Iron Donkey
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions

I never did any other tri before I did my first tri, which was SOR, the Spirit of Racine 1/2 IM.

I would recommend doing SOR, personally.  I've done it twice and will be doing it again next year.

Just be ready for Lake Michigan, whether it be the waves (daunting for us that have never done OWS in an ocean or big body of water), or the cold of the water (this past year was just over 56 to 58 degrees).

Good luck.

2008-10-14 12:42 PM
in reply to: #1741589

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Sensei
Sin City
Subject: RE: Half IM questions

My first race this year was an HIM.  But my last race of 07 was an HIM too, but 5 months earlier.

If you have a decent base, a good plan that you follow through on, you will be fine.

The thing that may help by doing a previous race is just getting comfortable with the transitions and the whole race atmosphere.



Edited by Aikidoman 2008-10-14 12:42 PM

2008-10-14 1:21 PM
in reply to: #1736035

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
I did 70.3 Kansas on June 15th this year and then did Highcliff HIM the following weekend on June 22nd.  My body recovered just fine.  I felt great and energized after both.  I also did SOR HIM this year and loved it.  Great venue, but the water was a chilly 56 degrees!
2008-10-14 9:46 PM
in reply to: #1736035

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Master
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Subject: RE: Half IM questions
If you give it a go w/o other races, do your best job to simulate race type things in training, since you are giving up that first tri where you learn little tricks.  For instance, I don't wear socks when i bike but i do when i run.  In my first tri i put them on in T1 thinking i would just get it over with.  My feet were soaking wet.  So, i did the entire bike & run with wet socks when i wouldn't have had to.  Now I always put them on in T2 b/c my feet are dry by then.  I found out wearing my tri top in a 4 hour training session that i get chafing on one spot on my arm...body glide was the easy fix.  That's the kind of stuff i'm talking about trying to simulate if you don't have a race or two first to work out the kinks.
2008-10-17 9:45 AM
in reply to: #1736035

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Elite
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Alturas, California
Subject: RE: Half IM questions
Also remember though that HIM is not so much of an all out thing like an Oly is. Especially for your first you are going to want to pace yourself. 5-7 hours is longish, especially if you have heat, hills, wind to deal with. Don't rock the bike only to have to walk the run.
2008-10-18 10:11 PM
in reply to: #1736035

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Champion
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Northridge, California
Subject: RE: Half IM questions
I kept up a schedule of other races in the six months prior to my first HIM this summer: One sprint and two Olys (plus 5K, 12K, 18-mile, and marathon runs...and a organized half century ride, come to think of it). However, no races within three weeks of the HIM...my second Oly was really one of my last big training days. I suppose whether one pursues this tactic depends on whether you are treating the half iron as something to finish or the next level in competition. For me it was the latter and, as such, I wanted to keep myself acclimated to the racing environment and doing transitions in "live" conditions.

(Of course, I also wasn't following a training plan for my half...I did it wholly "self-coached"...so I was able to structure my training around the races I wanted to do so that they contributed to my conditioning for the HIM.)
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