General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Regrets? Rss Feed  
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2015-10-13 12:31 AM

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Subject: Regrets?
Ever trained for and completed a race and afterwards though it wasn't worth it?


2015-10-13 12:50 AM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Expert
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Boise, Idaho
Subject: RE: Regrets?

Only when the "A" race didn't go as I had hoped.  I don't know if I'd call it 'regret', but I sure wish it had gone better.   Makes you wonder if the huge investment in time; not just your time, but everyone and everything around you for 5-6 months; makes you wonder if it was all worth it.  For "B" and "C" races-NO, I've never regretted those.  If I don'tt like them, I'll just chalk it up to a training opportunity and write a bad review. lol

2015-10-13 8:32 AM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Champion
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Philly 'burbs
Subject: RE: Regrets?

I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption

2015-10-13 9:37 AM
in reply to: 0

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Champion
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Sarasota, FL
Subject: RE: Regrets?

The worst race for me was the Sarasota Half Marathon earlier this year.  It was the fifth time I had done the race and I had followed the same training plan as in previous years when I had done well (at least for me).   I had even done a 12K race at about 85% effort as a warm-up a few weeks before where I felt great, so was confident going into the HM. 

But nothing seemed to go well during the HM:  multiple muscle cramps, painful Achilles, bloody blisters that fused to my socks, etc.  Things that had not been major issues leading up to the race.  The last four miles were agony, both physically and psychologically  as I was reduced to painfully shuffling along while watching my pace group disappear into the distance.  

After finishing I found a shady spot and just sat there for about half an hour, bitterly disappointed after all the training I had put into preparing for the race, and thinking at age 62 that it might be time to think about giving this stuff up.

As soon as I cross the finish line at most races I immediately start analyzing the race in my mind, thinking about things I could do better with my training or strategy.  After this race though I didn't even want to think about running again for a long time.  I was really bummed out.

Ironically, six weeks later I had one of my best races ever, finishing 8th in my AG at St. Anthony's.  Go figure.

 

 

Mark



Edited by RedCorvette 2015-10-13 9:46 AM
2015-10-13 9:50 AM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Master
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Washington, DC Metro
Subject: RE: Regrets?

Regrets?  Just one.

 

 

 

 

2015-10-13 9:58 AM
in reply to: Sous


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Subject: RE: Regrets?
LOL!


2015-10-13 10:24 AM
in reply to: Sous

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
HAHA!
2015-10-13 10:43 AM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
Originally posted by TriCDA

Ever trained for and completed a race and afterwards though it wasn't worth it?


I look around at everyone else my age with beer belly's and medical problems, and I have to go to events just to find people in better shape than I am. So no regrets; this is a life style, a healthy journey off the beaten path. I enjoy my bike rides, and my runs, and yes even my swims. If something does not go right at an event, I either get it back on coarse or change my objective.
2015-10-13 11:10 AM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
Good point there. I don't have any regrets about specific races, but sure there are one or two in my fresh 'career' that I wish I had done better on. But the only thing I somewhat regret overall is not getting into triathlon sooner. I didn't get into it until I was 29, I'm WAY behind a lot of people. Always been a sprinter, too, not a distance person, so that is an adjustment.

haha, that tattoo is great. I've seen a comparable one in which the tattoo said "no ragrets".

Edited by dlaude6 2015-10-13 11:11 AM
2015-10-13 11:15 AM
in reply to: mike761

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Subject: RE: Regrets?

Originally posted by mike761
Originally posted by TriCDA Ever trained for and completed a race and afterwards though it wasn't worth it?
I look around at everyone else my age with beer belly's and medical problems, and I have to go to events just to find people in better shape than I am. So no regrets; this is a life style, a healthy journey off the beaten path. I enjoy my bike rides, and my runs, and yes even my swims. If something does not go right at an event, I either get it back on coarse or change my objective.

I've only thought the expense of some races wasn't worth it. Training and being in shape for them, none whatsoever.

2015-10-13 11:19 AM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Madison, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Regrets?
I have yet to "regret" any race. I have never seen a race have that negative of an impact to even have that consideration.

If I were to completely F up my race for my biggest race of the year with a lot invested I would still look at what I got out of the training whether it be something I learned personally or physically. If I did a destination race with a lot of money invested, well at least I'm on vacation.


2015-10-13 11:31 AM
in reply to: bcagle25

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Subject: RE: Regrets?

Originally posted by bcagle25 I have yet to "regret" any race. I have never seen a race have that negative of an impact to even have that consideration. If I were to completely F up my race for my biggest race of the year with a lot invested I would still look at what I got out of the training whether it be something I learned personally or physically. If I did a destination race with a lot of money invested, well at least I'm on vacation.

Yup - i had a marathon where i lined up hoping to get my goal even though i woke up with a chest cough. things went downhill quickly and i walked the WHOLE second half. I was upset that 16 weeks of hard training seemingly went down the tubes. But that big ol' dose of perspective showed up: 

- I am the only one who cares about my time

- as others have said, better to be in awesome shape and missed my goal than sitting on the couching wondering what could be

- I had an awesome training partner the whole time who made training so much more enjoyable 

- i still did a freaking marathon which is never something to scoff at! 

 

2015-10-13 11:32 AM
in reply to: bcagle25

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
Never regretted a triathlon- they are always worth it in a weird sort of way. Sorta felt very "meh" after my one and only marathon though. I did it several years after completing an ironman so it didn't feel like any sort of accomplishment, if that makes any sense. Who cares about a piddly little marathon if you have already done one after biking and swimming a bunch? Anyway, I think the "meh" had more to do with my general attitude at that point in my life than anything else.
2015-10-13 1:50 PM
in reply to: louiskie

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
starting to feel that way about Chicago Marathon this year. Baby momma not happy because it kept me away from the new born. While the race was fun until the heat made it a slow death march. For some reason I do not have half my results shown up so I might get DQed and lose my legacy spot. Worse they closed the course early so I did not even get the joy of crossing the finish line. So in hind sight might been better to just sit on the couch waiting for baby momma asking me to get her a bottle of milk. Then again 2 to 3 hours on Sunday morning at 6:30 is not a huge lose of time either for me. She just resents me for doing it.

2015-10-13 2:02 PM
in reply to: chirunner134

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Master
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Falls Church, Virginia
Subject: RE: Regrets?
I regret not sticking with triathlon when I first started. I did my first mini in 2004, then a sprint in 2007 and another sprint in 2010, then nothing since. Each time I would get near the race and self sabotage, then quit the sport entirely for a few years. I wish I hadn't. I'm building up from scratch this time and really having fun with everything, and this "Year 0" has been lots of fun for me. I'm looking forward to racing next year. I wish I could have done it this way from the beginning!
2015-10-13 3:11 PM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
Here is a good blog from Heather Wurtele who pulled out of the world championships on Sunday for an very out of her control mechanical. She makes some excellent points

http://www.teamwurtele.com/blogs/240-the-process


2015-10-13 5:19 PM
in reply to: 0

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
No regrets about training for or doing any race. I did go through a very tough time in the past few years because I kept getting sick before races, sometimes A races. (I'm using past tense optimistically--I've been healthy for my last three races.) By this I don't mean butterflies in the stomach or something. I mean full-on flu, bronchitis, fever, etc. Besides this I rarely ever get sick--the timing just always seems to work out really badly. Guessing it has to do with some combination of season, training stress, taper, and exposure to sick kiddos at work. But there were definitely times when I started to feel like, "Why am I even bothering to train or pay $$$ when I'm just going to get sick before the race anyway?" At one point I was sick for the same race two years in a row. That really makes one wonder what one is doing wrong or what the curse is!

After bombing my A race last year with the flu, I knew I was in good shape and didn't want to "waste" all that training--I entered another HIM in the summer and did a 24-minute PB.

As for regrets, more that I didn't get into tri in my 20's. I even lived in Hawaii for a few years, for goodness sake. How does a runner and swimmer live in Hawaii and never even think of doing a triathlon? I can't recall regretting doing any specific race. If it didn't go as planned, at least it was a catered training session, and most of my races involve travel so I got to swim/bike/run somewhere different and probably do a little shopping.

Edited by Hot Runner 2015-10-13 5:23 PM
2015-10-13 6:09 PM
in reply to: mrbbrad

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
Originally posted by mrbbrad

I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption




HAHAHA!!!
The good news is that I was singing this in my head as soon as I saw the thread title.
The bad news is that it was in Sid Vicious' voice.
2015-10-13 6:33 PM
in reply to: #5146278

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
No

Regretted signing up beforehand? Occasionally
2015-10-13 8:39 PM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
I have to agree with several responses before mine:

Up to this point I have no regrets about any race, good or not so good, ...and I have had some not so good races. I have learned something and moved forward with each race. Racing is one of my favorite states to be in (if that makes sense) and I guess it's clear the positive outweighs the negative because I keep signing up for these things!

(ps, if you posed this question to me 30 seconds before the gun went off at any given race, there may or may not be a 180 on the above answer)
2015-10-13 8:43 PM
in reply to: TriCDA

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
Two years ago I raced a 10k where I missed what I found out later was a pretty obvious left turn. I ended up running 10 miles because I didn't suspect anything was wrong until I hit mile marker 7 of the half marathon. I had never run more than 8 miles at once, nevermind the fact that there was only water on the course. My legs felt awful at the end of the race and I had to take a whole week off because of what was supposed to be a "B" race.


2015-10-13 9:57 PM
in reply to: CRFTX2001

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Master
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Overland Park, KS
Subject: RE: Regrets?
No regrets and I've had some mishaps and poor performances. All were experiences where I learned something, either in general or about myself. Also all were experiences of joy, frustration, luck-bad and good, respect etc. Good life lessons and the enjoyment of being around others.
2015-10-13 10:40 PM
in reply to: reecealan

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Subject: RE: Regrets?
Nope.

I've felt horrible after occasionally, but never regretted racing :p
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