Junior National Races / Rate me

As a former Junior National Team member(many years ago), It looks like you're heading in the right direction. If you're interested in competing at the national level as a junior, especially in draft legal races, then here are some things you need to focus on:

1st and foremost you need to get your swim fast enough that you can get out of the water with the main pack. In draft legal races there are usually a few key moves that are made very early in the race. If you aren't around to react to those moves, then your day is done. Now, this doesn't mean that you need to be leading out of the water, but since these guys are faster than you right now, you need to train like you want to be first out. Start making your typical swim workout at least 3000 yards. You should also look into joining a swim team.

If you take history as a lesson, take a look at the development of people like Hunter Kemper, Doug Friman, Nick Radkewich, and a number of others who were great juniors who went on to solid pro careers. In high school these guys ran cross country AND swam on a team. Hunter primarily swam down in florida through high school, then gave it up to walk on for cross country at Wake Forest. Why? He knew he needed both to be solid for tri's.

Look at those results and take a look at how many 10-11 min swimmers also have a roughly 30 minute bike. It's because that's the pack. That's where the race went down. This means that you MUST get out of the water with these guys if you want to mix it up.

Bike: Don't let the word "draft" fool you. It can be some of the most brutal racing you will ever experience. Typically the first few miles will be where all the action is. The cyclists will be trying to weed out the field of weaker cyclists/stronger runners. This is also where a lot of crashes happen. I would recommend hooking up with a local cycling club and get them to teach you criterium racing so you will feel more comfortable in this environment.

After the shake down, life usually settles down in the pack in anticipation for that run. The pace will ease up, and it gives you a chance to catch your breathe. The last part is simple. Run like crazy. If you are running with a cc/track team, then I would leave that piece alone.

The best advice I can give is go enter one of these races as a learning experience. Be prepared to get your doors blown off. It will likely happen, not b/c you aren't as strong, but b/c this format takes a lot of getting used to. Once you understand all the differences, then it's just a matter of making those changes in your training.

Above all don't get discouraged. I spent a good bit of time with Sam Sutherland (14th in that race) over the years as he was getting into this and it doesn't happen overnight. But it will if you stick with all that work. Sam has been able to see the world because he got so good at these races.

As to where these races take place, I don't have a clue. The USA Triathlon website should have the schedule, but if not, grab the phone and call them. They will put you in touch with whoever heads this up and will probably be able to send you some great training advice.

Dang that was a long response!! Sorry about that.

Hope this helps and best of luck.

TJ

No junior elite here (not even close!) but just looking at the run alone - 18:30's a smoking fast time for any junior (great job!), but 15-16min 5ks is not just one league away, but 2-3 leagues of difference there. Most guys who have the genetic ability run those 15min 5ks could go 17s with minimal training to begin with (<30mpw). Average joe guys like myself can run low 18:00s (my PR) or even 17:xx with a LOT of running (>70mpw), but can only dream of 15s. You have potential though, if you're hitting 18:30s as a junior!

That was the winner, but would I be in there closer to the BOP.

In three weeks dropped 500yd time from 11:00 to 8:30.  Hopefully in 3 months I'll be able to drop another 1:45.  Might be able to hit the 32:30 time after a month of hard riding (Holiday Break and January).  The run will be tough though.  Thanks for all the input.

If you want to win any major junior elite races you need to be doing a 750yd swim in about 8-9 minutes, the 20k bike in 32-33 min, and a 5k run in about 15:50-16:30ish in a triathlon.

Its really all about the swim, if you are 30 seconds behind the leaders out of the water then your race is done. The bike isn't so important just because nobody really works too hard, then the run is obviously where the race is won.

At junior worlds in 2005 Steven Duplinsky won the race, and he ran a 15:10 5k off the bike. There are juniors running in the low 15's for a 5k.

Edited by gocorey 2008-12-20 5:18 PM

you run alot, consistently, over a long period of time.