guncollector's group -- FULL! (Page 6)

Right on, bro!

You'll find after a few weeks of these "little victories", you'll have reconditioned your mind & body to crave the am workout like many crave their morning cup of joe. 

This brings up a good topic...namely race-readiness benchmarks.  I mean, don't we all want to know if we're "ready" for the big race?

In distances from 70.3-and-under, I would venture the following (note: this is my personal, completely unscientific, subjective, works-for-me system):

Benchmark #1- Can you perform all the distances of your race in the same week?  You're getting close.

Benchmark #2- Can you perform all the distances of your race in 3 consecutive days?  You're probably ready, and can probably complete the race if paced properly.

Benchmark #3- Can you brick your bike+run distance?  You're ready, baby.  Possibly even to "race" the race, not just complete it. 

TriAya, or Donto, comments? 

I'd say those are pretty darn close.  Maybe #1 I'd change to "in the same month" and finishing BOP, IMHO if you can do the distances in the month before your taper, you're set for the distance in the event.  This is more or less what I ended up doing for my HIM as I had the bike crash 6 weeks before and had to back off on the training to heal. 

In the early season, there is no need for any speedwork.  In fact, the argument can be made in your early triathlon career (i.e. your first year or two) you don't need any true speedwork.   

You should be focusing on base, base, base.....which means LSD runs.

Now, that said, I know that it can be exceedingly difficult to do boring LSD runs all the time.  So, mix in a few tempo runs, or a little interval/fartlek work once in a while--but not true speedwork. 

Save the true speedwork--the kind you do on tracks, where you max out your VO2 and incrementally longer distances from 400m and up--for later in the Season (if at all), like 5-6 weeks out from your A-race.

There's a sigline on ST that reads..."Speed is icing on the cake.  You don't have cake."  Pretty much sums it up.

I'm glad you're not sweating the missed day...just roll with it.  These days happen sometimes, and you have to listen to your body.

Jim,

Welcome aboard!

My first triathlon was also the Napa Valley Sprint! Great race, with some challenging rollers and double the normal sprint-length swim (800m).  And last year's swim and bike was made more interesting by some heavy winds (20+mph). But, great fun.

Ditto. The only things I'd add are that there's "stupid ready," which means you'll probably finish, but it's not a good idea ... so I won't even give the guidelines for that .... Ron, your guidelines are "good and ready," and Don's are "finish okay ready." The only thing I'd add is that at least one workout in each discipline be close to the actual race course ... for example, I've seen some pretty strong pool swimmers croak in a lake (much less the ocean), decent cyclists have to walk up each hill on a rough course, and good runners walk the run. All of that is fine (except croaking in open water), but it can really rattle you and derail your race, compromising a finish. 

Arsiyanti, thanks for the input.

And, there you have it folks. A list of Benchmarks with relevant commentary and feedback from two other vet racers.

You'll see everyone has a little different idea and or assessment of what defines the "readiness spectrum".

Keep these in mind as your season progresses.

Scott,
Glad you found a good fitter and for only $25, dang!

I can't stand when the 20mph number comes into play like that.  Tell you what, when you have a long stretch into a good head wind, and are going 15-17mph, aerodynamics rule!!! 

Have you tried any brick runs before you had the fitting?  If so it would be interesting to note your before and after feel of the bricks, how fresher the legs should be.   Let us know if you have any feedback to share about this.

See what a change even in the standard TP can do for you!  Great job on the run, that's an impressive decrease in times.  Capillary building at it's best showing up.

I like swimming next to the wall, have elbow scars to prove it, LOL!  After last years 3 tri's, all with 15-25 mph winds & driving waves, you learn to love anything that's thrown at you. BTW, my Y only has 3 lanes in the lap pool and nobody likes the walls except me it seems.

What a score for $25.00, most places are around $100.00.  I find myself completely relaxed now when I get tucked into aero because of my fit, and I have a road bike! I am only averaging 18-20 mph, however I can see a huge difference going into any kind of wind, and it also makes downhills that much better.