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reached my goal now what?
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 2009-07-24 5:31 PM |
New user 17 |  Subject: reached my goal now what?So my New Year's resolution was to properly train and complete a HIM. My wife voiced her skepticism given (1) I had never done a triathlon and (2) I had not run or swam in years. Well I finished Vineman on Sunday in just under 6 hours and 134 out 320 in my age group. I think it was a solid effort. I went into this naively not understanding how difficult this distance is. Well now I know (and respect the distance). But in the back of my mind, I am wondering if I want to eventually move up to the full IM. I know I was at my limit with the HIM. I ran the full course and was standing at the end but I knew I had nothing left at the finish line. The thought of continuing to run for another 13 miles gives me chills and I am definately in awe of those who step up to the full IM distance. I know you can burn yourself out if you push too hard too soon but part of my makeup is the need to push the personal envelope and see where my limitations are. So my question for those who have made the jump to the IM distance, when did you know you were ready? |
| 2009-07-24 5:39 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
Champion 5376    PA | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? First of all, congratulations! Second, is your wife's name "Adrian?" All I could picture was Adrian telling Rocky he couldn't do it. haha Way to put your mind to it and achieve your goal. I can't speak to the more important part. I know that a full IM is a long-term goal of mine. |
| 2009-07-24 5:51 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
Champion 7233 | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? maybe focus on how fast you can go for short course for a whiile? it will hurt like you cannot imagine, it will help your future IM, and your wife will love you for it |
| 2009-07-24 7:47 PM in reply to: #2306752 |
Master 1853  syracuse | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? newbz - 2009-07-24 6:51 PM maybe focus on how fast you can go for short course for a whiile? it will hurt like you cannot imagine, it will help your future IM, and your wife will love you for it x2. why rush the IM distance. |
| 2009-07-25 10:51 AM in reply to: #2306727 |
| New user 17 | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? I definitely can get faster, especially on the bike (which should require a nice new ride....). No plans to do an IM in the near term but think it could be a possibility within 1-2 years. Just wanted to hear from others how long they trained/raced before moving up. By the way, the wife definitely likes the physical improvements that have taken place over the last 6 months |
| 2009-07-25 10:55 AM in reply to: #2306727 |
| New Haven, CT | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? Focus on Olys and sprints. Going full out for 1-3 hours hurts like hell and is a manageable training load. |
| 2009-07-25 12:58 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
Champion 10157 Alabama | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? In all thinks in life, when you stop growing, reaching, improving, learning, perfecting, it's time to move on to new horizons. This question comes up all the time and there are always two camps: one that says 'wait' and one that says 'go for it'. My advise is almost always 'swing for the fence'. The future is gaurenteed for no man. If you want to test youself and are motivated by challenges, then do it. I'd much rather regret something I did than something I didn't do! ~Mike |
 2009-07-25 1:20 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
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| 2009-07-25 1:20 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
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| 2009-07-25 1:26 PM in reply to: #2307512 |
| Champion 10157 Alabama | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? PennState - 2009-07-25 1:20 PM Question???What will be your goal after you finish your ironman?
I'll answer the question for him Fred, "Same as yours, a better PR". Or maybe same distance, different venue? Or maybe Everest....
~Mike |
| 2009-07-25 1:29 PM in reply to: #2307501 |
| Master 1853 syracuse | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? Rogillio - 2009-07-25 1:58 PM In all thinks in life, when you stop growing, reaching, improving, learning, perfecting, it's time to move on to new horizons. This question comes up all the time and there are always two camps: one that says 'wait' and one that says 'go for it'. My advise is almost always 'swing for the fence'. The future is gaurenteed for no man. If you want to test youself and are motivated by challenges, then do it. I'd much rather regret something I did than something I didn't do! ~Mike I should be clear. Somehow, not sure how, (well, I think IM has some good marketing) the perception was created that IM is the only way to achieve success in this sport and show all that you are a triathlete and that you sacraficed to achieve the end result.. Simply not the case....I think most on this board understand this... To the OP, you can spend 3-5 years doing nothing but sprints/olympics and pushing your body beyond its maximum potential and achieving a level of hurt during a race most will not enter by choice. You can train 10-15 hours/week with nothing on the schedule than sprints and you will have sacraficed more than most (not all) that complete a HIM and even IM. so my advice is certainly not to wait for anything. it was you can push your body to the highest level and further than those that do HIM training without doing a HIM or IM. the distance you chose to race does not validate your work, sacrafice, committment or dedication. I want to add, I cannot wait to do an IM/HIM....I wish I was in LP with Fred as we speak. i'm simply not ready.....
Edited by cusetri 2009-07-25 1:31 PM |
| 2009-07-25 1:31 PM in reply to: #2307520 |
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| 2009-07-25 1:33 PM in reply to: #2307525 |
| Master 1853 syracuse | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? PennState - 2009-07-25 2:31 PM Rogillio - 2009-07-25 2:26 PM PennState - 2009-07-25 1:20 PM Question???What will be your goal after you finish your ironman?
I'll answer the question for him Fred, "Same as yours, a better PR". Or maybe same distance, different venue? Or maybe Everest....
~Mike Mike you are right... but it depends how you see goals. Could make the arguement that the next goal could be a faster HIM... or an IM or climbing everest. If you are worried that once you finish an IM you will be 'bored' of triathlon goals, then don't do it. If like Mike says you would then strive for a new PR... the go for it. bingo. the Op said he wnated to discover his personal limitations. IMO, he is years away from discovering that in the IM distance. this is a good thing. |
| 2009-07-25 1:38 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
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| 2009-07-25 1:44 PM in reply to: #2307534 |
| Master 1853 syracuse | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? PennState - 2009-07-25 2:38 PM Using me (I'm in a full-blown taper and a day before my 2nd IM) as an example... I decided to sign-up for IMLP again in 2010 (sorry Mike, IMWI is at the start of school and I couldn't swing it). I could have chosen a goal next year ti improve my 70.3 time (Realistically looking to go under 4:30 on a flat course) or I could have chosen a goal to improve my IM time... I chose the latter, but the former would have been JUST as big an achievement. also, you rode 4700 miles last year and are on pace to crush that number this year and are in your 4th year???not sure clearly, you have the volume to support the goal.....sometimes, people put the cart before the hourse...... |
| 2009-07-25 1:45 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
| Champion 10157 Alabama | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? I should caveat all my IM related answers with the fact that I'm a BOPer with a "stretch goal" of becoming a MOPer. That is, I am not, nor will I ever be competitive in this sport. I do it simply for the love of the game. I love to swim! I love to bike! I love to run! I guess we all give 'advice' based on our own paradigms of the sport. I see IM as simply a long triathlon not as some rite of passage or apex of the sport. It's just a long race. I find motivation in the endurance aspect/challange and since 'speed' is just never gonna happen for me as I was not born athletically gifted like some, I opt for the endurance part of the sport. YMMV
~Mike |
| 2009-07-25 4:00 PM in reply to: #2306727 |
| New user 17 | Subject: RE: reached my goal now what? Great points all. Part of the decision has to relate to whether this is a lifestyle or "check the box". I did a marathon a number of years ago to basically check the box. Did not enjoy the path to the goal (training became burdensome) and have not wanted to do one since. Training for my HIM, however, was not grueling (other than the time I had to spend 3 hours on the trainer in the basement due to weather) and in general I enjoyed the variety and intensity. My body responded well to conditioning and did not have any of the physical injuries I remember from my marathon days. So to become more of a lifestyle choice, I think the goals have to be in line with maintaining the drive for a number of years--I think this will include many of the suggestions above. |
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