Keep building base or race

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General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Keep building base or race Rss Feed  
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2010-11-29 8:38 AM

Veteran
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Subject: Keep building base or race
First, I know I don't have much base to begin with, last week being the first tme I hit 30km/wk. Second, upon the unanimous advice of people here, I'm in the process of building my base to somewhere around 40 miles/wk with the hope of completing a first HM and enabling me to work on speed in the shorter 5/10km distances. As of now, I still feel very slow - I'm not sure I can break a 30min 5k.

The above being said, there is a local sprint tri on Dec 11 (900m/32km/6km). Should I join or do I wait for another, an open water (a first for me) sprint tri on January 23 when I am closer to my base mileage goals? Or wait even longer when I've progressed to doing speed training.

I suppose my frustration is that I now run day in day out, when am I gonna be able to be able to "showcase" what I've been working on (which is not to say I have much if any to showcase)? I don't really know what to do as I am new to all of this and I've been doing this on my own - none of my friends and family share this new-found interest.

To clarify my question: should I wait until I complete my base building phase and speed training phase before I join a race? If not, what's a good plan for me? My logs are up to date, if you care to look. I swim 2-3x per week @ 3000m each, m/s being 10-12x100m leaving on 1:55. Bike 2-3x per week, 20km each exclusively on a trainer. Run 5x/week now at 30km/week. Run is my real achilles.

Ron

2010-11-29 8:50 AM
in reply to: #3228557

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Runner
Subject: RE: Keep building base or race
Nothing wrong with racing at any time.

It run lots, mostly slow, sometimes hard. Not "Never run hard".
2010-11-29 8:51 AM
in reply to: #3228557

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Subject: RE: Keep building base or race
I say race. It'll be fun, you'll meet like-interested people, etc.. If it comes down to it, maybe you end up walking some of the run. Who cares? I did in my first sprint. That said, that race you mention is a long sprint.... actually intermediate between sprint and international, so it may be less than ideal for your first. Also, it might be helpful to get the distance on the bike up to at least race distance for several workouts before the race and make sure that goes ok. And finally, is your location "TOR" = Toronto? If so, that's going to be a hell of a OWS!
2010-11-29 8:52 AM
in reply to: #3228557

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Expert
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Colorado Springs, Colorado
Subject: RE: Keep building base or race
No reason you can't race during base building. I do it all the time. Simply use the race as a training day - no taper. You still go as hard as you can in the race, but since it's not an "A" race just use the times as a measuring stick. Carry on with your training after the race with a recovery run/swim/bike or whatever you would normally do on the day after.
2010-11-29 9:02 AM
in reply to: #3228557

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Master
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Subject: RE: Keep building base or race
I say race.  You will learn something about how to race as well as learn something about yourself.
2010-11-29 10:26 AM
in reply to: #3228557

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Master
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Bedford, MA
Subject: RE: Keep building base or race
I'm trying to do about one race a month during the 'off-season.' It's something to look forward to, even if it's kind of a part of training. Otherwise, my first 'A' race isn't until June, and that seems a long way off!

Edited by natethomas2000 2010-11-29 10:26 AM

2010-11-30 9:54 PM
in reply to: #3228557

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Coach
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Stairway to Seven
Subject: RE: Keep building base or race
I think the opinion to race is unanimous.

ALthough, I'd suggest rather than looking at where you are in your "base" training (which does not mean don't run hard as Scout noted already), look at your overall season plan.

If this early race motivates you nad you are looking forward to it and it isn't too close to the next race that you'll start to get "burnt out" before teh season is really underway, then go for it.

But just because there IS a race going on doesn't mean you need to race it. BAsically, if you want to do it, go ahed adn do it.
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