Go long or go fast?
-
No new posts
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller | Reply |
2006-09-28 11:57 AM |
Master 2447 White Oak, Texas | Subject: Go long or go fast? I have been planning for the upcoming years training and like most I keep thinking of going longer setting my sights on a Olympic then a half ironman. But now I am reconsidering I have done 2 sprint tris so far and while I have improved quite a bit I still came in near the bottom of my age group. I am competitive by nature and am not satisfied with my results and am questioning whether I want to go longer distance and continue to be a pure back of the packer of if I should work the short distance trying to move up in finishing order. I can dedicate 6 to 10 hours of training per week, have an average bike (Fuji team), and am 15 to 20 lbs overweight. I think I have my answer but would like any input you have. |
|
2006-09-28 12:00 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Pro 4675 Wisconsin near the Twin Cities metro | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? CBarnes - 2006-09-28 11:57 AM and am 15 to 20 lbs overweight. I think I have my answer........ You have a big part of your answer already. good luck. |
2006-09-28 12:00 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Not a Coach 11473 Media, PA | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? |
2006-09-28 12:07 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Expert 694 Charleston, SC | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? Do you determine speed based on where you place (you said you were a BOPer). This is the wrong way to go about speed evaluation b/c you have no control over who enters the races, and could cause unnessisary dissapointment (ie a PR but you still finished BOP). That being said I would go for the longer races, because its something new to accomplish. As time goes on and you progress in these you will also get faster at the shorter ones too. You can kill 2 birds with one stone that way, but thats just my $.02 |
2006-09-28 12:18 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Crystal Lake, IL | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? Can't tell you what to do but I'm constantly going for doing long races as fast as possible with the side benefit of occassionally taking on a shorter race and being able to do it faster than I did the first time. Make those shorter races my key workouts and see how I do. Keeps the training a little spicy, or at least that's the plan.
|
2006-09-28 12:41 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Member 120 | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? I will give you my opinion which is going to be different than many people on this board, and I certainly do not claim it is right for everyone. For me triathlon is a competitive sport, and therefore success is primarly (not exclusively) defined by competitive results. If I just wanted to see if I could swim, bike and run 140.3 miles I would not pay $200+, travel. etc. I would just walk out my door and see if I can do it. If I wanted to compete against my own time over xx distance I can do that myself without the trappings of a race. A race is a RACE not a path to personal discovery, and triathlon is a SPORT not a zen pursuit. Of course, as you push to the edge of your abilities you will find things out about yourself. So to your question, my opinion is that you should strive to be as successful as you can at shorter distances before you leap to longer distances. You also will learn what types of races are best suited to your skills and body. In track there are 100m runners and 5k runners and the best are almost never the same person. In football the best offensive lineman would make a poor wide receiver. You may find that sprints suit you best, or maybe it is Ironman races. Look if you wanted to see if you could do a 1/2 ironman, I will save you the time, you can. Any healthly, mildly-fit person who knows how to swim can slog their way through a miseable, slow, in the end run/walking 70.3 miles. I know that is an extreme example, but it seems to me many people approach longer races that way, given their performance times. Riding a bike for a few hours and fast walking 13 miles just isn't that hard. Many people in this world do a lot more physically challenging things with a lot less "training" when they are forced to. Where is this going. My opinion is to do the best you can do at shorter distances and start mixing in a couple longer races as your fitness and performance improves. Edited by actri 2006-09-28 12:44 PM |
|
2006-09-28 12:56 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Expert 702 Manchester, NH | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? I agree with all the above :-) ALL the above... AKA This is your party - you need to decide on your own - we don't know you well enough to really answer this for you. Here' a quote I saw once from a very wise person.If it is to BE, it is up to ME ;-) |
2006-09-28 1:11 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? Ask yourself this -- would you feel better about getting faster, or developing endurance. For me, I would not enjoy so much just going longer (and slower) as a challenge. To me, it's just a matter of training time and I'll make whatever distance I set out for. IM? Given enough training time, the finish line is a forgone conclusion (I've had people who have done IM's take great exception to that answer, but it's a personal one that I am confident in). But the question of "how fast" will always have a "little bit more" answer to it... |
2006-09-28 1:12 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Coach 9167 Stairway to Seven | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? if you've never done a longer distance how will you know if you like it? Maybe you're not a fast twitcher and will never do well in sprints, but can out endure the people who are beating you now. Maybe you'll be a FOP or MOP in an OLY ,but still BOP in sprints because others are just faster. You gotta figure it out for yourself, and there is only one way to know. If I continued doing sprints until I got really good at them, I would be bored sill and frustrated of triathlons by now. I like the oly distance, even though I'm not all that fast, and now sprints are a treat...I even placed in my last sprint in my AG (I was 3 of 5)! |
2006-09-28 1:16 PM in reply to: #554613 |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? actri - 2006-09-28 12:41 PM A race is a RACE not a path to personal discovery, and triathlon is a SPORT not a zen pursuit. Of course, as you push to the edge of your abilities you will find things out about yourself. Acutally my buddhist friend loves long distance running because it is a zen pursuit. Swimming and running very much can be a meditative activity and that does not mean you have to be going slow to do it. I do agree with actri that you can do a HIM. Does not mean though you do not have to work to complete it. Just because you know you can do it, its not the same as having it done. I completely agree with Hanglegoose on this. My friend who is a big 100 miler has dropped several minutes per mile off her 5k and 10k time. Distance can be one of the best things you can do it improves your cardio which helps you push yourself much faster at shorter distances. Since you inspire to do both I would follow his plan. I want to do my first Oly this year and be really really fast atleast for myself. My plan to do it is simple. Run really frinkin far. Complete my first 50 miler. Once I am done with that I can switch from a run focus using swimming and biking as recovery or wimp out on cold days only to a more balanced work on all 3. Having the endurance to really push myself in my training I know I will help me be able to go fast when it comes to the short distance. Plus I will have dropped the 40 lbs I need to drop before my big race. I have the exact same goals that you have. Mine just might be more insane but hey that is me. For you I would train for the HIM and use spirits to test yourself out. If you still as slow at the spirits then maybe switch to a more speed training workouts, but a good strong base will really help you out. |
2006-09-28 1:26 PM in reply to: #554677 |
Giver 18427 | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? chirunner134 - 2006-09-28 2:16 PM Hanglegoose Hanglegoose? Heh. Welshy, is that you? Edited by run4yrlif 2006-09-28 1:26 PM |
|
2006-09-28 1:28 PM in reply to: #554699 |
Crystal Lake, IL | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? run4yrlif - 2006-09-28 1:26 PM chirunner134 - 2006-09-28 2:16 PM Hanglegoose Hanglegoose? Heh. Welshy, is that you? That's his pet name for me. Goes back to my days as a French Goose Executioner. Get it? Hang le Goose? Nevermind |
2006-09-28 1:33 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Champion 5183 Wisconsin | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? as always, I need to add the female persepective: lwhen in doubt, go long and slow, mmmmmm. |
2006-09-28 1:35 PM in reply to: #554699 |
Runner | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? run4yrlif - 2006-09-28 2:26 PM chirunner134 - 2006-09-28 2:16 PM Hanglegoose Hanglegoose? Heh. Welshy, is that you? Thyierent in disguise? |
2006-09-28 1:37 PM in reply to: #554717 |
Arch-Bishop of BT 10278 Pittsburgh | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? possum - 2006-09-28 2:33 PM as always, I need to add the female persepective: lwhen in doubt, go long and slow, mmmmmm. Now just tell me... why is this the female perspective?? I am pretty damn slow myself... and.. oh... I see. never mind. |
2006-09-28 1:48 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Expert 1169 Charlottesville, VA | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. There's no reason you can't train to go longer, and get faster in the process. The key is how hard you want to work, and it looks like you're well-motivated. Whatever you do, allow enough time to train properly and get a good plan. Then keep at it! Good luck! |
|
2006-09-28 1:49 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? Do both. The two choices are not mutually exclusive. |
2006-09-28 1:52 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Science Nerd 28760 Redwood City, California | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? I've definitely gotten faster as I'm able to run longer. But, what you should focus on is really up to you. Personally, I'd like to do an IM in a few years, so my main goal is to increase endurance. I'm also starting to think about incorporating speed drills into my workouts to help improve that, although it's not my main goal right now. |
2006-09-28 1:52 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
2006-09-28 1:57 PM in reply to: #554534 |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? yeah for some reason I think hangloose is hanglegoose. I have no idea why. |
2006-09-28 2:10 PM in reply to: #554677 |
Champion 10668 Tacoma, Washington | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? "Acutally my buddhist friend loves long distance running because it is a zen pursuit. Swimming and running very much can be a meditative activity and that does not mean you have to be going slow to do it. " I think that actri is talking about the RACE, not the activity. Yes, going for a long run can be a very meditative act. Doing so in a race, however, is anything but. |
|
2006-09-28 4:16 PM in reply to: #554751 |
Expert 1169 Charlottesville, VA | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? |
2006-09-28 4:26 PM in reply to: #554794 |
Champion 6993 Chicago, Illinois | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? briderdt - 2006-09-28 2:10 PM I think that actri is talking about the RACE, not the activity. Yes, going for a long run can be a very meditative act. Doing so in a race, however, is anything but. Well tris maybe I know Chicago Marathon was very good for him that way actually. I know the swim is very peaceful for a long time until the next wave catches you and you are getting swam over. I do understand Actri's point. My friend may do his first tri next year. He would have done it this year but it would been a last minute thing and he would need his wife's ok. Plus I think he would also need a bike first also. |
2006-09-28 6:01 PM in reply to: #554670 |
Extreme Veteran 1491 northeast Ohio | Subject: RE: Go long or go fast? AdventureBear - 2006-09-28 2:12 PM if you've never done a longer distance how will you know if you like it? Maybe you're not a fast twitcher and will never do well in sprints, but can out endure the people who are beating you now. Maybe you'll be a FOP or MOP in an OLY ,but still BOP in sprints because others are just faster. You gotta figure it out for yourself, and there is only one way to know. I agree. Man there are some dang speedy people out there doing sprints! Maybe you would excel at longer distances. Never know until you tri. And I can't help but think the increase in base would make you faster at shorter distances too. And of course Bear is right. |