Enjoy 1st sprint or push to prove a point (Page 3)

hystercail...great way to start the day

I think having a goal of going under 1:10, because that's your buddy's best time is great.  But, as someone else said, people are built differently.  Some are built for endurance, and some are built for sprinting.  As a former swimmer, I definitely know I'm a sprinter, and during my years of training I had coaches talk about how sprinters have fast twitch cells, and long distance people have slow twitch cells.  It'll be fun to tell him you beat his time, but remember he still may be able to smoke you in other distances.

Without knowing your swim, bike or run speeds at any distance.... the question as to whether a 1:10 ish is um not answerable by anyone here.  If your question is actually should you run your race or have your race mandated by someone else.... that again is a personal philosophy question. 

Personally, if I try to run my race based on someone elses training, ability, equipment... I am not running my race to the best of my abilities.  I compete against myself.  Therefor I always run the exact same course as my competitor.  Sure I got passed by a guy in my age group at mile 6 of my last HIM and I could have tried to run him down right away.... but I ran my race and ended up passing him 5 miles later.  If I had not passed him it would have not affected my 1 hour pr on the HIM or would it have changed my kick for the last 2 miles of the race.  

You can always chase the guy who is faster than you, it is a good training/racing strategy, but it means that you won't ever catch him.  Chances are that in the world... you are not the fastest.  If you happen to be, well then you don't really have anything to prove to anyone else.  If you are not, then there will always be someone faster than you.  But today, did you do your best with the conditions, equipment, training... and most importanly, did you have fun.  Because why else do this if it is not fun.  We (us mortals) don't get paid or paid enough to do this sport if it is not fun.  

So the big question is, where is your center.  If it exists in the accomplishments of others, you will never obtain what it is you are looking for.  Only when your center is within yourself can you be at peace.  Luck in your journey, welcom to the lifestyle of triathlon.