General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice? Rss Feed  
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2009-06-24 2:04 PM


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Subject: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
I am in a pickle.

I am a swimmer, and have been competing for my whole life. I just finished my first year of college level D3 swimming, and I've done a couple sprint triathlons over the last year. I finished high/first in the swim portion, middle of the pack in the bike, and lower third in the run.

When my bike tire got a flat early in my first triathlon, I was too jumped up on adrenaline to just give up, and so I got out of the way of bikers and finished the bike section on foot : a total of ten miles. Which was silly, but a serious Ironman triathlete I spoke to afterward convinced me that I would be okay signing up for a Olympic level triathlon if I had the mettle to get through that ten miles without training for it.

So I signed up for one, and added more running and biking training into my program. This only kind of worked, as I constantly,  no matter the amount of running I did, got some serious shin splints that would hurt for a long time afterwards.

In addition to this, my swim coach has been sending me weekly swim workouts, and so I've been obligated to get these done before thinking about my runs or bikes.

So I'm not worried about the swim or the bike, but I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on avoiding those awful shin splints. Should I take it easy on my first two legs and just hope to complete the whole thing, or can I give it my all and attempt to be competitive? What should I know about an olympic as opposed to a sprint?
I'm pretty much set on doing it even though I have almost no run training, unless you guys give me some really compelling reasons to abstain. I am very dedicated swimmer, and I have a great attitude about these kinds of things... which was enough for sprint triathlons, but I do understand there comes a point where you definitely need more than just a can-do attitude.
I have other questions, but I'll see if anyone responds first.
Thanks in advance, guys!


2009-06-24 2:08 PM
in reply to: #2240341

Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?

If you're continually battling shin splints, you need to let them rest and also consult with a professional to figure out why you keep getting them. Might be your shoes, might be your gait, etc. If it's painful to run, don't.

2009-06-24 2:08 PM
in reply to: #2240341

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Elite
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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
Maybe you can try new shoes, but only if you have enough time to run in them a few times. I've also heard some ppl talk about run/walk strategies.

Good luck.

Didn't notice that it's this weekend.

Maybe the run/walk strategy.

Edited by tri_d00d 2009-06-24 2:12 PM
2009-06-24 2:10 PM
in reply to: #2240341

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Not a Coach
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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
If you can survice the swim (which you obviously can) and you can ride a bike (check), you can finish an oly.  At worst, you will be doing more walking than running.

As for the shin splints, try not to "overstride".  That is, make sure your feet are landing under your center of gravity not stretched out in front of you.  One of the causes of shin splints is the stress of "braking" you get by overstriding.  That might not help you in your oly, but something to consider for when you continue trying to run in trianing.
2009-06-24 2:14 PM
in reply to: #2240341


4

Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
It's this upcoming Saturday! Last minute indeed.

I just recently got a pair of running shoes (before that, I'd been running with tennis shoes: the problem with being a swimmer is that you have almost no decent athletic footwear) and it's improved a little, but not as much as I'd hoped :-/.

Thanks for the luck. I'll need it :-P
2009-06-24 2:21 PM
in reply to: #2240371


4

Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
I'll definitely try to think about not overstriding, I haven't ever heard that before. Thanks!


2009-06-24 2:30 PM
in reply to: #2240341


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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
As a previous D2/1 college swimmer I think you will be fine racing this weekend.  You will be fine in the swim and bike, and the run will hurt but you should be able to finish.  Just think as the people are passing you on the run..."I kicked your a$$ out of the water."  Go for leading your AG out of the water.

For future races I would recommend getting a shoe and gait analysis at a local running shoe store.  It helped my shin splints go away for good and made a big difference.  You could ty it before this weekend but you may have problems with new shoes.  10km may not be too bad on new shoes but it is up to you. 

Have fun regardless.
2009-06-24 3:20 PM
in reply to: #2240341

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Master
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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
It's a race, so definitely give it all you've got.  Might surprise yourself. 

And even if you don't have a good run, you'll still impress plenty people with your swimming skills.  Just once I'd like to know what it's like to be FOP coming out of the water!
2009-06-24 3:43 PM
in reply to: #2240341


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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
Where are you running?  If you're experience pain and getting shin splits, you may want to avoid running on roads and sidewalks if you can.  I find that moving to a trail (especially one that is made for running and is fairly even) works wonders on the impact I put on my legs.
2009-06-28 8:57 PM
in reply to: #2240341


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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
I finished! Three hours and twenty minutes, and it felt awesome. Came out of the water 2nd of the females and didn't hold that part, obviously, but it was a lot of fun. I can imagine it would be even better if I'd prepared more :-P
2009-06-29 10:34 AM
in reply to: #2240341

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Veteran
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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
Congratulations!  Way to rock it out!


2009-06-29 2:51 PM
in reply to: #2240341

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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
I thought I'd be fine for my last olympic tri.

Had achilles probelms going into it. The race made it worse and I couldn't run for 5 months.

What's more important? 1 race or the next 5 months??

For shin splints, ice the area and don't run, give your legs a rest from running.

2009-06-29 2:56 PM
in reply to: #2249084

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Master
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Subject: RE: Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice?
kturtleo2 - 2009-06-28 8:57 PM I finished! Three hours and twenty minutes, and it felt awesome. Came out of the water 2nd of the females and didn't hold that part, obviously, but it was a lot of fun. I can imagine it would be even better if I'd prepared more :-P


Nice work!  See that, you did really well.  You'll be dangerous in your next race if you're feeling prepared for the bike and run!
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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Olympic tri this weekend, and I'm not prepared. Advice? Rss Feed