What should my next goal be?

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2009-06-16 1:54 PM

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Subject: What should my next goal be?
i finished my first tri on Saturday, a sprint distance with a 500m swim, 16 mi. bike, and 5k run.  i came in 200/203 with a time of 2:31:55, which i have mixed feelings about (i was soooo slow on the bike, i need a new one...but i finished!).  Now i'm wondering what to aim for next, as i know that i need a goal so i don't fall off the bike when it comes to my weightloss (which has been slow).  Do i start aiming for an Olympic distance race in September (with 12 weeks of training) or focus on  improving my times?  And if i aim for the Olympic distance, is it okay to compete in two more Sprints during my training? The races i am currently considering are in Leadville July 19 (500m swim, 20k bike, and 5k run), Durango August 1 (500 yard swim, 13 mi. bike, 5k run), Glenwood Springs September 13 (825m swim, 15 mi. bike, 5 mi. run), or Western Colorado Triathlon September 19 (.9 mi. swim, 24 mi. road bike, and 6.2 mile trail run).  i obviously wouldn't be competing in both Glenwood Springs and West CO.  The West CO race is closer to home but obviously harder.

i'm not sure how much i weigh at this point, probably around 220-225.  i started training for my first triathlon 10 weeks before the race but could already run 5k.  My race times on Saturday were Swim 17:17, T1 1:54, Bike 1:23:39, T2 1:12, Run 47:54. You can see my training log at MapMyTri.com.

2009-06-16 2:26 PM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
Congrats on your first tri....I would stick with the sprint distance and maybe set a goal of a certain time to finish in....maybe shave a few minutes off your last race
2009-06-16 2:34 PM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
It depends: My opinion, stick w/ the sprints this year and get your times down and your comfort level up. This is your first year and it seems like you have a lot of other goals that you want/need to accomplish first before you do an Oly.  It will be there next year and you'll be better prepared for it.  Try and focus on getting your times down, get yourself a new bike and use that as motivators.  try and finish in a higher place, instead of the bottom 5%, shoot for 15% (putting you 170/203) or try and get your finish under 2 hours. (which is a 20% decrease in total time)  Those seem like more realistic and obtainable goals to focus on.

FWIW, I started triathlons last year, my first sprint was in August.  I did OK.  Struggled on the swim, crushed the bike and got by on the run.  The bike is the only reason i finished in a higher place.  I had planned on doing that race as an oly this year, but I dont think I'm ready  I mean, Do I want to just finish it, or do I want to enjoy it?  I know I could finish the Oly, but I think doing the sprint will be much more fun.  Plus I will be able to compare my first tri to a year later.  I'm in this sport for the long haul so I dont need to rush into anything.

If you had finished in the top 15, or were faster than the avergae time (1:45) and still had gas in the tank, Id say go for it.  But with your times, I would focus on improving that and keep your enjoyment & motivation positive.  Last thing you would want to do is bonk during the oly and DNF




Edited by ratherbesnowboarding 2009-06-16 2:43 PM
2009-06-16 2:35 PM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?

Actually, I would be concerned less with what race goal you have and more with trying to get up to 2x per week for EACH sport and then begin ramping up your volume.  Doing this will significantly help both your race-day fitness and your weight loss goals. 

Sure you could target an Olympic-distance race in 12 weeks - that's an aggressive goal though. 

There are 16 week Olympic training programs on this site.  Take a look at one and see if you could handle the week 4 volumes.  If not, choose the shorter race, but still try to set up a plan that will help you ramp up to the required distances. 

2009-06-16 3:29 PM
in reply to: #2222048

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
Step 1 - I Finished! - Check
Step 2 - I beat some people - ________?
Step 3 - I am solidly MOP  (Middle of Pack) - ___________?
Step 4 - Reevaluate while trying to not to spend too much on gear in the interim.


2009-06-16 9:14 PM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
I would train for the oly.  If you buckle down you can be ready in 12 weeks, though it sounds like you need to invest in a new bike...

2009-06-16 9:54 PM
in reply to: #2222048

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
roch1009 - 2009-06-16 1:35 PM

Actually, I would be concerned less with what race goal you have and more with trying to get up to 2x per week for EACH sport and then begin ramping up your volume.  Doing this will significantly help both your race-day fitness and your weight loss goals. 

Sure you could target an Olympic-distance race in 12 weeks - that's an aggressive goal though. 

There are 16 week Olympic training programs on this site.  Take a look at one and see if you could handle the week 4 volumes.  If not, choose the shorter race, but still try to set up a plan that will help you ramp up to the required distances.


Well i was doing each sport twice a week and then i had finals and my work started having me work an extra day per week, which sounds like a lame excuse, but is the only thing i can figure for my increasingly sporadic workouts.  The biggest thing is that on work days i absolutely cannot go to the pool because it's not open at the right time (unless i get up before 6 a.m., which is difficult for me because i close at work), so i would double up a lot of workouts on my days off, perhaps cutting back on the distance slightly as a result (i got a couple of mini-tri's in that way).  The only other change that i can possibly make is getting up early enough to workout before work on some days.

The Olympic training plan that i am looking at looks easy and focuses on my weaker points, the run and bike.  Coming out of the swim i was 153/203, which isn't great but i felt was pretty good.  The intermediate Sprint training plan that i saw, however, looked hard, and has longer workouts than the Oly plan!  i haven't looked at the plans here, though, i guess i'll check them out.

Ugh, now i feel like i'm not focusing on training enough, when in actuality i feel like all i do is work and train right now.  i have no life anymore lol.
2009-06-17 4:09 AM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
I'm normally a fan of you can do more then you think you can, as I did an Oly only a month after my first sprint (as an athena), but also I trained for the Oly to begin with. I'm not going to say it was easy, but I WAS glad I did it.

However.... with those bike times you may struggle to finish if there is cutoff times. How far off are you from being able to bike the distance now? Can you do the minimum suggested times that the plan suggests to start with? For example the Oly plan I did said you should be able to run 40mins beginning this program. (the 3x balanced plan here at BT)

There is nothing wrong with challenging yourself, but you don't want to hurt yourself either in the process. In the end only you can know what you're comfortable with attempting.

Edited by IdealMuse 2009-06-17 4:10 AM
2009-06-17 6:51 AM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?

I am usually also someone who says that you can do everything you set your mind too but looking at your volumes I would personally rather go for another sprint and get comfortable at this distance.

I have been doing Triathlons for 4 years now and I have NEVER done an olympic distance(mostly because there is no one available where I live). Right now I am training for a Half-Ironman on Aug 8th (which I still think its insane and that I can not do it) and I have a scheduled OLYMPIC Distance TEST on July 5th as part of my program because I believe I need to do this distance to see if I am at all ready for the HIM.

I do train a lot and I put in quite some mileage BUT I still don't know if I can actually do the Olympic test in 3 weeks. I am scared as hell about it!

Olympic Training plans should have a higher volume that Sprint Training Plans so you might want to re-check those plans and also look at the plans here on BT.

I put in about 9-11 hours of training in for the week for the Olumpic test and then the HIM.

Evaluate if you have enough time to train for your life circumstances and then decide.

 

Good luck

 

2009-07-05 5:20 PM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
Sorry about my absence (in case any of you were missing me):  i twisted my ankle a little over a week ago, my mother had surgery this week, and my computer crashed, so it's been rather eventful.  i went on my first bike ride today, no pain, but took it easy as my ankle is still stiff and a little achy at times.  That's probably contributed to by my job, where i stand the entire time.

So i am definitely not going to do a race in July at this point, i'm just too busy and need to have time to recover fully.  After reading all of your advice i think that i'll train for an olympic distance but only compete in sprint triathlons this year.  i'm not sure if i'll be competing in one or two more races, but i really do not want to let my training to fall by the wayside.  i have also put a new bike on layaway and am eager to see how much that improves my time.

IdealMuse, i did have 25 mi. bike rides training for the Highline Hustle, and on my current bike do not enjoy the distance, but imagine that by September if my cycling continues to improve and with a new bike this will be much less of a challenge.

How did your olympic length training go today Joblin?
2009-07-15 3:42 PM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
Olympic DISTANCE????!!

This is my 4th season and I'm still trying to perfect the Sprint. I finish in the top 20 or 30 percent with respect to the swim and bike (10 min/mile pace puts me in bottom 10% of run) and I'm still not ready to be competitive in an Olympic.

I would recommend staying with the Sprint distance until you can get with the Top 50% consistently - then re-evaluate.

2009-07-16 3:52 AM
in reply to: #2263074

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?

luinel - 2009-07-05 10:20 PM

How did your olympic length training go today Joblin?

I hope your ankle feels better now!

My olympic distance test went very very well. I kept moderate tempo in all 3 disciplines and finished easy in 3:10 plus transition. The next day my legs were fine and I am ready to continue training as it was nothing.

I am still surprised of how good it went but it shoes once more that proper training defintely pays out!!

I wish you a speedy ankle recovery and good luck with your next TRI!

 

2009-07-16 9:43 AM
in reply to: #2221910

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Subject: RE: What should my next goal be?
I have my first sprint tri in 2 weeks, I assume I will do about the time you did. I have a second sprint scheduled for mid September. I would work on getting up more speed before attempting a longer tri.
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