favorite distance? (Page 2)

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2009-07-06 4:12 PM
in reply to: #2264985

90 miles south of Titletown, USA
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
HIM. I think it has something to do with the competition that distance brings out...plus, you can still have some semblance of a social life and train hard for 70.3.

To me it seems like many people do an IM to cross it off "the list".

Sprints and olys are where most people start in tris.

HIM, IMO, is where the minor majority of people that stick with the sport, long-term, seem to settle.

I will say that olys seem to me to be the most painful...too long to go ba77s out, too short to pace.

2009-07-06 4:24 PM
in reply to: #2264985

User image

Expert
1215
1000100100
Austin, TX
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Sprints because my weight is a non-issue.  I'm a clydesdale who places in my AG.

My bike overocmes all swimmers and it can hold off most runners at this distance.

Plus I can be home in time for lunch with the family.
2009-07-06 4:26 PM
in reply to: #2265584

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2009-07-06 4:30 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Elite
3658
200010005001002525
Roswell, GA
Subject: RE: favorite distance?

HIM.

It's very easy to work the training in and it's long enough that you have to have a solid plan.

2009-07-06 4:33 PM
in reply to: #2265626

Master
1404
1000100100100100
Eagle Mountain, Utah
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Love the sprints although I am probably better at longer distances.
2009-07-06 4:45 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Elite
2998
2000500100100100100252525
Fishers, Indiana
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Haven't done my IM yet--so I could fall in love with it after Nov 7th...but I'd say that Oly's are the ones I where I feel like I can really throw it down the whole time and race it hard BUT the HIM distance is nice and challenging, and I'm a fan of challenging...Sprints are "okay" but honestly, they are just simply to short and too fast for me.

2009-07-06 4:50 PM
in reply to: #2265621

90 miles south of Titletown, USA
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
PennState - 2009-07-06 4:26 PM

bossfan - 2009-07-06 5:12 PM HIM. I think it has something to do with the competition that distance brings out...plus, you can still have some semblance of a social life and train hard for 70.3. To me it seems like many people do an IM to cross it off "the list". Sprints and olys are where most people start in tris. HIM, IMO, is where the minor majority of people that stick with the sport, long-term, seem to settle. I will say that olys seem to me to be the most painful...too long to go ba77s out, too short to pace.


wow. Any real data to support this?


Just an opinion, thus the IMO part in there. Is that OK?
2009-07-06 4:54 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Master
2009
2000
Charlotte, NC
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
I have only done one at this distance but I really like the HIM distance.  I will never be fast so this is long enough that I feel like I really accomplished something without that something being anyway related to speed.
2009-07-06 5:06 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Champion
5782
5000500100100252525
Northridge, California
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Probably Oly--bike isn't so long that I'm hopelessly out of things, while the run is long enough that I can catch alot of folks.
2009-07-06 5:18 PM
in reply to: #2265673

Subject: ...
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2009-07-06 5:21 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Member
54
2525
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
 My absolute favorite distance is definitely 70.3. I think that the half iron distance allows the opportunity for pacing and tactics. Anything under that distance seems like a contest to see how quickly you can make yourself bleed through your eyeballs!

2009-07-06 5:30 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Pro
4507
20002000500
Simpsonville, SC
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
They each have their own distinct personality. Now that I've done them all, I like short course the best. I like going fast and not having to think about it. I can push myself harder because I know it will be over soon and I tend to be "in the moment" more during the race as every second counts. I like not worrying about pacing or nutrition. It is easier to train for these and not constantly sacrifice family time and household chores. I guess I'd say Olys are my favorite because the longer bike leg gives me more chances to put time on the fast runners and the 10K doesn't give them as much time to catch me

Pam
2009-07-06 6:39 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Expert
1148
100010025
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Subject: RE: favorite distance?

I like the Oly because of the realtively long swim with respect to the bike and run.  I started as a swimmer. Cool

I've got to say though that the year long challenge of the IM training was truely awesome.  And the race itself is different than any of the shorter distances including HIM.

2009-07-06 6:45 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Extreme Veteran
495
100100100100252525
Denton
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Oly distance.  Gotta love it!
2009-07-06 9:10 PM
in reply to: #2265713

90 miles south of Titletown, USA
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
PennState - 2009-07-06 5:18 PM

bossfan - 2009-07-06 5:50 PM
PennState - 2009-07-06 4:26 PM
bossfan - 2009-07-06 5:12 PM HIM. I think it has something to do with the competition that distance brings out...plus, you can still have some semblance of a social life and train hard for 70.3. To me it seems like many people do an IM to cross it off "the list". Sprints and olys are where most people start in tris. HIM, IMO, is where the minor majority of people that stick with the sport, long-term, seem to settle. I will say that olys seem to me to be the most painful...too long to go ba77s out, too short to pace.


wow. Any real data to support this?
Just an opinion, thus the IMO part in there. Is that OK?


No it's all good. I'd pick apart the rest of your comments, but it would be too painful. Everyone, as you say is entitled to their opinion.


Too painful??? For you or me? I'm curious to hear what you have to say since it's obvious you have something to say. Go ahead, pick away...i'm a big boy, I can take it.
2009-07-06 10:54 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Expert
2189
2000100252525
Dodge County, MN (out in the corn)
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Oly because of the higher swim ratio.  My perfect distances would be 1 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 1 mile run.  Running is hard.

2009-07-07 5:49 AM
in reply to: #2264985

Veteran
203
100100
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Anything besides sprint. 

I am not good at hard and fast.  I love IM, but can only do one a year.  I have not done a HIM but think that is probably where I would want to be.  I do enjoy Oly's but for the past year only used them as part of my IM training.

Maybe next year I will go back to Oly's.
2009-07-07 6:50 AM
in reply to: #2264985

Extreme Veteran
325
10010010025
Victoria
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Definitely HIM distance!I moved up in distance after I realized I had NO motivation to pursue ITU racing, and haven't looked back since my first 2 of this season!
2009-07-07 7:53 AM
in reply to: #2264985

Veteran
427
10010010010025
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
Very interesting indeed...responses all over the board.  I would have liked to have seen a poll here....

Only done sprints thus far and have an Oly in August.  Too early to see what I like best.
2009-07-07 9:01 AM
in reply to: #2264985

Master
2073
20002525
The Redlands, FL
Subject: RE: favorite distance?

Me...Olympic...Love that distance...!!!

2009-07-07 2:38 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Member
18

Colorado
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
HIM; the swim is long enough to over come my deficiencies as distance isn't much more than the oly and I love the bike distance. The run is a great test of pacing and nutrition management.  Training is sort of reasonable if you can get up in the morning.

2009-07-07 2:48 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Cycling Guru
15134
50005000500010025
Fulton, MD
Subject: RE: favorite distance?

To add onto my earlier post:

I've done them all - multiple times.  The longer stuff (HIM and IM) are simply to hard for me to train for in the overall sense.  I can barely squeeze 300 miles a month on my bike in the good months.  Trying to train like I know I would really need to (at least 150 a week) to be successful would be almost impossible.

Maybe when the kids are older it will be more of an option, but right now it isn't.  And as such, I can do the shorter events and "make my eyeballs bleed" really well without having to train my azz off.  It isn't that I dislike the longer stuff, it is just that I know that to perform at the level where I would be happy with my results I simply don't have the time to train right now.  Yeah, I can go out and do a 5:30 or better in a 1/2 without much training.  But what's the point??  I'm not racing just to participate.  I like to compete and place.

Plus, from years of x-country racing for running and criteriums/road races from cycling I have a fairly high tolerance for the pain that is the shorter stuff.  I can push at 90% of my HR for an hour while others just can't handle that.  It makes me better at the shorter stuff, which is fine with me!



Edited by Daremo 2009-07-07 2:49 PM
2009-07-07 3:09 PM
in reply to: #2264985

Master
1322
1000100100100
Chicago
Subject: RE: favorite distance?
I've only done sprint and oly... the sprint felt just felt like a workout and not a challenge, so I preferred my Oly which was quite the challenge for my first season.
2009-07-07 3:14 PM
in reply to: #2266190

Expert
939
50010010010010025
Newton, MA
Subject: RE: favorite distance?

bossfan - 2009-07-06 10:10 PM
PennState - 2009-07-06 5:18 PM
bossfan - 2009-07-06 5:50 PM
PennState - 2009-07-06 4:26 PM
bossfan - 2009-07-06 5:12 PM HIM. I think it has something to do with the competition that distance brings out...plus, you can still have some semblance of a social life and train hard for 70.3. To me it seems like many people do an IM to cross it off "the list". Sprints and olys are where most people start in tris. HIM, IMO, is where the minor majority of people that stick with the sport, long-term, seem to settle. I will say that olys seem to me to be the most painful...too long to go ba77s out, too short to pace.


wow. Any real data to support this?
Just an opinion, thus the IMO part in there. Is that OK?


No it's all good. I'd pick apart the rest of your comments, but it would be too painful. Everyone, as you say is entitled to their opinion.
Too painful??? For you or me? I'm curious to hear what you have to say since it's obvious you have something to say. Go ahead, pick away...i'm a big boy, I can take it.

I have to see, I wouldn't have guessed this was the type of thread that could deteriorate like that. Not even 1 Lance Armstrong mention.

2009-07-07 3:15 PM
in reply to: #2265305

Expert
939
50010010010010025
Newton, MA
Subject: RE: favorite distance?

PennState - 2009-07-06 3:16 PM Loved my IM. HIMs are better in some ways as you can recover faster... but there is an emotional aspect to the IM that is not there in HIMs for me.

x2. IM.

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