Ohio State Triathlon : Official Thread

Ok First my goal is to finish and finish well. Meaning I am a very competitive person and I hate to loose. This will be my first tri. And I am not sure where the rest of the season stands. Iam pretty much taking this how it comes. I would eventually love to do an IM but you know I need to start small first.

 What is your training week usually like? 5 months before a race?

So much depends on your current fitness, your motovation and season long goals (and genetics, and time you have to train...). What does finish well mean? Do you want to win the thing? Not likely, especally if newbiz is doing the race.  

If you're looking to just do this one tri this season than one type of training plan is the correct one for you. If you're looking to use this race as a springboard into longer distances this season then a different type of training plan is correct. Also, do you have a background in swimming? Biking? Running? Let's say you're a runner and run 25 miles a week but don't own a swimsuit. You be better served by cutting your running time and getting into the pool. 

Or lets say, like I was when I started, you're an unfit beginner with limited experience in all the disciplines. Then a plan with a gradual build in all sports is appropriate.

It would be senseless to take JChristoff's plan and use it for you. He's training for an early season marathon and mid/late season 1/2 Ironman. Not to mention he has several years of triathlon under his belt already.

Newbiz it trying to get his duathalon procard this season, so his plan will not work for you either.

I'm training for an Ironman, so nope, my plan will not fit your needs either.

My advice, figure out what you want to do this season. Write down your goals, keep them realistic, you're not going to qualify for Kona this year. Then figure out your fitness level. Pick a plan that will get you to your goals with as little pain as possible. If you pick a plan with to many training hours/ sessions you'll get overwhelmed.

None of us really know enough about you yet to give you specific advice on what plan is right for you. It's something you'll have to figure out yourself.

Good luck, and keep posting.

No I am not shooting to win. But I would love to finish pretty high top 10 at least. I have a background in swimming. I swam for about 12 or so years. But I have not swam competitively for about 4 years.... I also was a pretty intense MTB for about 5 years or so. but again for about the past 4 years I have been pretty useless...

 What I am hoping is to springboard into something bigger and better. I want this sprint to be a stepping stone into something more intense. HIM, IM or whatever. Now running is not my thing what so ever. For about the past month or so I have been trying to run everynight for atleast 20 min or so. I have bad knees and I want to overcome pains in my legs.... I am not worried about the biking, I am a little nervous about swimming more nervous about running. 

I am getting stronger with my breathing and my endurance on the TM. I need to get outside and run but I am focusing on TM right now. 

I have about 5.5 months to do this, train and be in top shape, I am on the road but it seems to be a slow road.

Here are the top 10 times from this race last year.

I'll be blunt, you have snowballs chance of finishing in the top 10. We'd all love to finish in the top 10 but only 10 people in each race can.  I'm not trying to discourage you, but to make you have more realistic goals. Given your activity level at this point I'd be very suprised if you can break 1:20 for the whole thing (Not that I can mind you, my best for a race like this is 1:24 or something like that). Given your lack of running experience and your leg issues do you really think it's realistic to expect to run sub 6 min miles after biking and swimming? Five and half months is not enough time to get to an elite fitness level, that takes years.

Start slow. Go into this race with the idea that you're going to finish with a smile on your face and finish uninjured. Do a few sprint races and get the feel of the sport. Maybe finish up your 2009 season with an olympic distance race. Very few of us in this sport can actually compete at an elite level. The rest of us are trying to beat our own times and get that personal best or trying to move up to a longer race.

I admire your wanting to dive headlong into this crazy sport. But having over inflated goals is a very good way to get discouraged and quit.

I completly understand not trying to to set my goals to high, but I am the type of person that When I train I train to be the best in anything I can. Setting my goals high makes me train harder. Now in the end if I dont finish top 10 then I will know I trained as hard as I could but the next time I need to train that much harder.

 I am a weird person and I get something in my mind and strive to be the best. Also I have a bet with a co worker..... So I have to win that bet.... lol 

Yes, the OSU tri is May 3rd. The Cap city 1/2 mary is May 2nd. Right now my tenative plan is to do the 1/2 mary on the second and the tri on the 3rd.

David and Newbz gave great advice, I am new to the sport and I admit I started out way too fast, I had to take a week off just to recover.  They are 100% right, start off slow, build your base, then fine tune it and added speed later.  You will either hurt yourself, or at the least be in alot of pain and get discouraged.  Start slow, you have 6 months till the race.  That is a long time to prepare your body the right way.

Go to the library and get this book: Training Plans for Mulitsport Athletes by Gale Bernhardt (not sure if this is correct spelling at the last name). I check this book out about 2 times per year. There is alot of really good information in there. Training plans, nutrition tips, strength training plans, tips on transitions, equipment descriptions and needs all kinds of good stuff.