Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?

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2012-01-23 9:54 AM

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Subject: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?

Wonder if any of the grizzled vets could advise me on doing back to back to back weekend races? I have a Sprint Tri scheduled for 26 Feb. and my first OLY 11 March. Not looking to set any PRs or to make the podium. Just enjoy myself, as I think of races as a nice capstone to my training, which I mainly do just to keep fit. 

In between these two weekends my wife is doing her first half marathon. I have been doing all of the "long runs" with her in addition to my 3x per week OLY training (the 3x Balanced BT OLY plan), which I have been doing since October. 

So would it be too much to run the half-marathon with her? There is also a 10k along the same route that is an option, which seems more reasonable. I just don't know if races on three weekends in a row is typical for a beginner triathlete, or if it's too much. That being said, I would probably be doing a medium run (the BT plan calls for a 1 hr run) on the weekend of her half-marathon anyway. 

Thanks for your tips.



Edited by Bunsbert Montcroff 2012-01-23 9:56 AM

2012-01-23 9:59 AM
in reply to: #4005711

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?
How much of a beginner are you?
2012-01-23 9:59 AM
in reply to: #4005711

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?

Typical? No. Too much? Depends on you.

At the peak of my game, I raced almost every weekend, and sometimes twice in a weekend. These were sprint and Oly distance races, though. But... I was several years into the sport and going at a pretty high level.

Maxi Tri? Not sure the distances on that, but if we're talking a half-IM distance, you'll want time after to recover, and I wouldn't expect to do a 10K a week later with great results.

2012-01-23 9:59 AM
in reply to: #4005711

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?

My first season (last year) I did two sprints 6 days apart.  I only wanted to finish and have fun so - no problem at all.

It will depend on your fitness level but from your stated goals, as long as you have been  training well and none of these are your A races, then you should be fine.  I know that a sprint, an OLY and a HM all a week apart would be too much for me....

Maybe do the 10k instead? 

2012-01-23 10:03 AM
in reply to: #4005721

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?

japarker24 - 2012-01-23 8:59 AM How much of a beginner are you?

started training for triathlons last spring, did a few sprints last year, and have been running for years. 

and i should have been more clear about that "Maxi" Tri - it's a "Maxi" Sprint Tri so it just has an extra .9 miles added to the run. 

Thanks for the responses so far - the 10k seems more reasonable and it still allows me to be out there and running with my wife for a bit.

2012-01-23 10:17 AM
in reply to: #4005711

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?

Do you and your wife have the same HM race pace?  If your a fair bit faster than her but are going to do the distance at her pace, it may not be too bad as a reasonably easy long run between your two tri's.  If your really going to have to push it at 100% to stay with her the whole time, maybe not a great idea.

But what do I know?  I'm still a noob.

2012-01-23 11:54 AM
in reply to: #4005711

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?

It's entirely do-able, but depends on how hard you plan to go and what your training volume is. I know I could do it and run all 3 at least fairly hard but my training volume is higher than most. Know your priorities for each event and keep working on learning how much time and intensity takes out of you.

How fast are you compared to her? For expected HM race paces that is.

2012-01-23 11:59 AM
in reply to: #4005782

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?
2453V - 2012-01-23 8:17 AM

Do you and your wife have the same HM race pace?  If your a fair bit faster than her but are going to do the distance at her pace, it may not be too bad as a reasonably easy long run between your two tri's.  If your really going to have to push it at 100% to stay with her the whole time, maybe not a great idea.

But what do I know?  I'm still a noob.

This was my thought.  If she wants you to run with her and you can do it than that would be at the top of my list.  There are some things more important than a few ticks on the clock.

2012-01-23 1:41 PM
in reply to: #4005711

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Subject: RE: Back to Back to Back Weekend Races?
last year was my first year for tri's.  June 5 was my first one.  June 12 was my second.  And June 19 was my 3rd.  all sprints.  I too wasn't looking for any PR's, because  I had no idea what my ability was going to be.  I was off for 2 weeks and had another on July 10, then a half mary on July 23.  i was a busy boy last summer.  had another half mary in august and another sprint in sept.  your 'back to back to back' doesn't sound too crazy to me.  When I was off those couple weeks in August, with no races to do, I felt so bummed.
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