slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?

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2009-08-06 9:24 AM

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Subject: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?

Hey I just want to know what do you prefer,  I did my first sprint last year, and last week I made another one, my time is not as good as I want, 1hr 33 min... I have a lot to improve on that.

Next August 29 will be a big Triathlon here in town, 3,000 thriathlets make a big party... and I´am not sure about, doing another Sprint in order to improve my time,  or go and try my first Olympic distance with the risk of a catastrofic time at the end... sheeeeesh  a good decision for me,  let me know what do you think.


Have a nice day.

2009-08-06 9:27 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
Well, what do you CARE about?

Do you want to try a new distance? Or get faster at the shorter distance?

2009-08-06 9:44 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
Is your fitness up for the Olympic distance? From the sound of it you could get through it, but on the other hand it appears from your subject line, better speed/time is a goal. I would focus on doing another Sprint distance and doing better than your first race. Go back to your first race and think about where you could have pushed harder and go ahead and give it a "balls out" performance for all 3 disciplines on the Sprint.

my .02. Tom
2009-08-06 9:48 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
don´t be cruel :D... that´s the main doubt that I have.

Doing another sprint will be great for doing it better.

But very deep inside of me, there is a voice that tells me all day "you are not a real triathlete until you do an Olympic distance"... a strong voice in fact :P

2009-08-06 10:29 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
tallytom - 2009-08-06 9:44 AM Is your fitness up for the Olympic distance?


This is the key.

Also, why not postpone the Oly until next year when you can plan for the race? 

Last, but not least - I don't believe that you are not a "real" triathlete just because you havn't done an Oly (or a half or an IM or Kona or Ultraman).  Just saying ...
2009-08-06 10:31 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
hectordh - 2009-08-06 10:48 AM

But very deep inside of me, there is a voice that tells me all day "you are not a real triathlete until you do an Olympic distance"... a strong voice in fact :P



Whatever you end up deciding, don't use that as the reason.  Because it just is not true.

2009-08-06 10:39 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
Keep training, make the determination in YOUR mind based on your level of fitness, your dedication to putting in the training time necessary, and whether you are tri-ing to "complete or compete"

for me, this is my first year training, and I'm already actively thinking about competing in sprints in 2010 after having the entire winter/spring to build upon the base i'm forming now.  someday maybe i'll move up in distance, but i realistically cannot dedicate the training hours at this stage due to family responsibilities.  so i'll remain at sprint level and look to become competitive.

as to the whole "when am I a triathlete line of thinking", you're already there, and there's more important things to occupy your mind IMHO.

good luck whichever way you choose
2009-08-06 11:09 AM
in reply to: #2331633

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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?

Gritty - 2009-08-06 8:29 AM
tallytom - 2009-08-06 9:44 AM Is your fitness up for the Olympic distance?


This is the key.

Also, why not postpone the Oly until next year when you can plan for the race? 

Last, but not least - I don't believe that you are not a "real" triathlete just because you havn't done an Oly (or a half or an IM or Kona or Ultraman).  Just saying ...

x2. You aren't going to gain much fitness between now and late August, so unless you feel ready to complete the olympic now, you might want to hold off until next year. Give yourself time to train properly for the Olympic and the added volume will help you blow that sprint time out of the water

2009-08-06 5:28 PM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
thanks for all the support and nice comments, you give me the ideas that I need. :D
2009-08-06 5:28 PM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
I think you are setting up a false dichotomy. It's not like working towards an Olympic Distance is going to slow down your Sprint times. As you get fitter, your Sprint will improve too.It's really about what is fun and rewarding for you. For me, the most rewarding thing is to go longer and longer distances. But I work on my speed too. For one thing, if I go faster, I can cover more distance in the same amount of time. :D
2009-08-06 8:19 PM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
Why not use the sprint as training for the oly?  If you increase your training with your sights on an oly, then your fitness should improve allowing you to go faster in a sprint.

2009-08-06 8:29 PM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?

Last year I used a BT Oly training plan for sprints.

This year I'm only doing sprints, but "redlining" your efforts in the race is a blast!

2009-08-07 2:52 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
An Oly is not necessarily better than a Sprint... some really like the feeling of going all out others like the fairly high, but controlled, pace of an Oly... just different preferences.

Do you have sufficient base to do an Oly without getting hurt? Remember that you probably want to continue training also after the race...
2009-08-07 10:18 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
orange223 - 2009-08-06 9:29 PM

Last year I used a BT Oly training plan for sprints.

This year I'm only doing sprints, but "redlining" your efforts in the race is a blast!



x2

That's what's fun for me.

What sounds like a more fun day for you? There's no wrong answer.
2009-08-07 10:35 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
hectordh - 2009-08-06 7:48 AM don´t be cruel :D... that´s the main doubt that I have.

Doing another sprint will be great for doing it better.

But very deep inside of me, there is a voice that tells me all day "you are not a real triathlete until you do an Olympic distance"... a strong voice in fact :P



Pfft. There will always be idiots saying "You're not a real triathlete until you do a HIM/Ironman/Ultraman/TTT.....". If you race a swim/bike/run event, you ARE a triathlete.

The other advice is great. If you feel you have some unfinished business to take care of, do the sprint. If you want the distance, do the Oly. Do what YOU feel is the best for YOU, not what some yahoo's on an internet forum say you SHOULD do.

John
2009-08-10 9:29 PM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
I have a question from those who responded and perhaps others who have viewed this site.

If one jumps from a sprint to an olympic distance tri, then what are the liquid and nutritional requirements?  In the Sprint tri, one can go the entire distance without drinking or consuming calories. But, I would suspect this is not the case for a person who is toward the slower end and might complete the oly in about 3 hours.

2009-08-11 10:25 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
I cannot tell you what to do or how to approach your tri'ing but I decided the best course of action for me was to take my time & build by fitness & skill. I dedicated last season to running sprints & in particular improving my swim. I progressively increased my training & improved each race. This season I continued to run sprints but have also added Oly's to the schedule. I pursued tri's in the fashion b/c my goal is to go as fast as I can. I don't do a distance just to say I completed the race. I want to race, even if it is against my own ability. Anyway, I am glad I prepared for the step up in distance rather than just jumping in unprepared. Just my $.02.
2009-08-11 10:46 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?

Hello All,
I registered for the Oly on August 30th as an Athena and I want to transfer to a sprint if I can.  I'm a full of life triathlete, another word for plump it's a Spanish translation for llenita de vida,

Compared to other triathletes who are FIT, I'm much slower. The swim is the easiest for me the bike is doable BUT the run is very slow and painful to the left knee but not enough to make me quit. The time was 1 hour and 32 minutes. Ugh!

I just sent an email to the race director to see if I can transfer to the sprint but their rules state: 

Refund Policy:
Refunds are not permitted.  Be sure you can and will race prior to registering.  The exchange of entries is strictly prohibited.  See USAT Rule #3.5. If the race is canceled due to weather conditions or other acts of God no refunds will be issued.   

this does not sound positive for me. Worst case scenario, I will go for it and finish in about 4 1/2 to 5 hours. 

2009-08-11 8:09 PM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
newleaf - 2009-08-06 8:31 AM
hectordh - 2009-08-06 10:48 AM

But very deep inside of me, there is a voice that tells me all day "you are not a real triathlete until you do an Olympic distance"... a strong voice in fact :P



Whatever you end up deciding, don't use that as the reason.  Because it just is not true.


X2
2009-08-11 8:32 PM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
Think of it this way--People consider themselves runners, despite never running in a marathon.  If you compete in triathlons, then you may consider yourself a triathlete.  Of course, there are levels of triathletes, just as there are levels in any sport.
2009-08-12 2:58 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
dointris - 2009-08-11 8:46 AM

The time was 1 hour and 32 minutes. Ugh!

I just did a Sprint tri this weekend with a time of 1:32:58 and I was ECSTATIC! It was also a firm MOP finish, my best one yet.

We all start somewhere. The point is to have fun and get better. 

2009-08-12 9:02 AM
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Subject: RE: slow Olympic or a better Sprint ?
dointris - 2009-08-11 11:46 AM

Hello All,
I registered for the Oly on August 30th as an Athena and I want to transfer to a sprint if I can.  I'm a full of life triathlete, another word for plump it's a Spanish translation for llenita de vida,

Compared to other triathletes who are FIT, I'm much slower. The swim is the easiest for me the bike is doable BUT the run is very slow and painful to the left knee but not enough to make me quit. The time was 1 hour and 32 minutes. Ugh!

I just sent an email to the race director to see if I can transfer to the sprint but their rules state: 

Refund Policy:
Refunds are not permitted.  Be sure you can and will race prior to registering.  The exchange of entries is strictly prohibited.  See USAT Rule #3.5. If the race is canceled due to weather conditions or other acts of God no refunds will be issued.   

this does not sound positive for me. Worst case scenario, I will go for it and finish in about 4 1/2 to 5 hours. 



Most races will allow you to switch distances when you pick up your packet. It doesn't require a refund, so that rule wouldn't apply. I switched from an Oly to Sprint this summer, and it was a matter of speaking to one extra person at check-in and swapping out swim caps from my packet.
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