I'm starting to think about planning out which sprint triathlons to sign up for next year and when to start training. This past year I did one in April, but I'm not sure if I'll be ready for it next year since I've been slacking on the biking. OTOH it would be nice to do to see if I could improve on last year's time. In general at least I know I'm running faster now, although I haven't been working on distance much.
I did sign up for 4 weeks of swimming lessons, starting January 11. If it's good I may sign up for more after that. So at least hopefully my swim time will improve, since that is really where I'm slowest compared to other competitors. Once the swimming start I need to modify my workout schedule. I think it will be swim MW, weights TTh, run FSu, rest on Saturday. It will be too cold/treacherous for biking outside still in January.
I think in my area there's a sprint in June, one in July, and three in August, at least if it's the same as last year. Training is easier once the weather is improved so I'm kind of considering skipping the April one and going for June or July instead. OTOH the one in April is an easier course. I'm so conflicted! Plus I have about seven weeks left on my strength training program, so I can't do much intense leg stuff until after I finish it.
I'm having a somewhat similar dilemma, in that I'm not sure which tris to do. So far I just signed up for one in April to have an official race that I've paid for to get me to the gym and training. But after that, I have no idea. There are a few in my area but they tend to sell out pretty quickly (we have a huge tri scene here) so I feel like I'm going to have to make that decision before I decide if triathlons are really for me.
And yeah, it's so much more pleasant to train in nice weather. I'm in California for the holidays and the bike ride in t-shirt and shorts was actually insanely warm, as compared to the few layers of clothes required for my Colorado rides.
Augeremt, did you decide on any tris yet? I still haven't! I was in SoCal for the holidays too and got a lot of good running in.
A friend of mine who has never done a tri before signed up for an IronMan. I think she's nuts, but I wish her the best of luck!
How's everyone else doing? Any winter training plans? My swim classes start next week and I'm excited to see how it goes! Still need to figure out the food situation though. I think I'll just cook big batches of food the day before my class so that as soon as I get home from work (around 5:30) I can heat up leftovers and eat right away, so I won't have a full stomach for my 7:15 swim. I might also buy some Lean Cuisines so I have food in case of emergency. Poor DH will have to handle dinner on his own for a little while.
Also it turns out that my swim class ends the same time that I finish my strength training program, so that will be a good time to determine a new training schedule or start a program.
We are all on the same wavelength. I've been thinking about the upcoming season and What and when and where. I've also been playing around with the idea of doing a half marathon this spring as well. So many options, my brain hurts and I overload. I definitely need to get back in the pool. Running has been the easiest and most consistent for me. Spinning next, often just in spin class, but often enough. swimming -- not so much. I do know that I want to do an Oly distance though. I think that that will be a nice step.
Paperclippy: 0- iron man that is a little crazy. I wish her the best of luck.
Paperclippy - Ironman?! Wow. I agree with you, she is kind of nuts.
I've finally registered for an Olympic distance: Rage in the Sage in Vegas on April 17th. I technically started training a week and a half ago, but haven't done nearly as much as I should've. So I need to play catch-up.
This whole triathlon business is a bit disheartening being a big girl. Since most triathletes are skinny and tall, they don't make anything real-people sized, such as wetsuits, which I'm going to need since the water's going to be super cold. I was telling my concerns about wetsuits always being too long for me in the arms and legs (so that they fit my boobs and hips) on a tri-specific forum which I frequent, and this girls responds:
"I'm short and heavier (5'3" and 130 lbs)"
Seriously?! That's "heavy"?! If so, then I'm in trouble!
SGeranium - A half marathon and a tri, you go girl! I've had trouble figuring out what I want to do as well, so I feel your pain. I'm the other way around in terms of exercise, though. I need to start running! I've been avoiding it like the plague, swimming a lot instead. Biking is second, and running is way dead last. But I'm slowly starting to change that so there's hope. Good luck with the decisions!
augeremet: which tri site. I mostly lurk, but post a little at beginnertriathlete.com there is a specific athena area for questions just like that.
That would be the one I used to be a lurker, but recently joined their winter mentoring program since I don't know squat about this new sport. Great site! I absolutely love it. I didn't think to ask wetsuit questions on the Athena threads Duh, that makes so much sense!
Aug: I'm in pirate girls mentor group. I have the same name there too. Ask in the Athena or weight loss section, I'll bet you'll get a more helpful answer.
clippy: I have the same problem with a Monday night yoga class I love. I usually end up having something light before and something light after. It's not perfect, but it's the best solution I've come up with. I've tried to eat before only. But I eat light to not feel gross in yoga then I'm STARVING.
I managed to put off getting in the pool again all week. I think I have a problem................
I prepped enough food so I can eat right away when I can get home tonight. But then, I looked at the parks department website and it says that currently 3 people are signed up for the swim class, but there is a minimum enrollment of 4 (maximum 6). I'm really hoping they don't cancel it due to insufficient enrollment! I'd be happy to pay another $20 to the instructor to not have it be cancelled. Well, I'm crossing my fingers in any case. Nobody's said it's cancelled yet, so hopefully they will offer to just let us pay a little extra.
Swim class happened! It was good. It was just me and two other guys, and I was probably the best swimmer of the bunch, but both of them could also swim. I think I'll learn a lot because in the first class we covered just about everything I know and the limits of my abilities. I signed up for 8 sessions so hopefully my technique and speed will improve. Next class is tomorrow!
Hi there, I figured I'd poke my nose in here because I'm hoping to get some triathalons done this year. I've done about 5 sprint ones a few years ago (pre-kids, but still big-210 or so) but nothing for a while, and I'm the type that really needs something to train for. So I've been looking at races, and trying to decide what to do. I haven't even looked into training yet, because I'm still working at getting into an exercise routine, but I'll be looking shortly and trying to pick up some advice here. Thanks!
Meredith - That's great! Are you looking to do a sprint again? I'm training for my first triathlon and also started because I needed something to train for and needed some variety in my workouts (not a fan of just plain running). Good luck with the exercise routine!
paperclippy - Sounds like you'll get a lot out of your swim class. And lots of one-on-one instruction. I can't remember, do you have a specific triathlon you're training for?
SGeranium - I'm in GrooveTime!'s group. Same name on there too. I'm so glad I signed up since it's been so helpful with everything. I'm going to put off getting the wetsuit until a little later in the season since I've been dropping a few pounds lately, which I hope will continue to happen, so I may be a size down by the time I need one in April. And want to get one that'll fit. But I will definitely consult the Athena forum.
clippy : I'm really glad the class happened for you. It sounds like you will get a lot of attention .
Shea welcome there are a lot of beginner training plans out there. I used the one at beginnertriathlete . It's much easier for me to stay focused in the day to day with a goal as well.
Auger, I still haven't decided which one to train for, but it will be a sprint. At this point I'm thinking it may be too late to train for the one in April. I'm thinking I might go for one in June and one in August. The August one would be one of the same ones I did last year, the June would be a new one (with an open water swim, which I haven't done before). My only concern is that the June one is on a hilly course, and there aren't really any hills to train on right near me. I would have to drive my bike over to the park that the tri is going to be in to train on the hills, which is kind of annoying. That and I'm not sure if I'd need a wetsuit for the open water swim, I don't have one.
Ladies, I need advice. Beware, this is really long.
I signed up for an Olympic tri in mid April in Vegas and have been training for it semi-seriously for the past week or so, when I should've been doing it for 3 weeks now (the first problem). At this point, my heart is not in it at all and it's making it very hard for me to motivate myself to get stuff in every day.
I also have a lot on my plate now, which I know all of you do so I guess that's not an excuse at all. But I'm essentially going from 0 to 60 with workouts and it's getting really stressful. Like, I didn't really exercise regularly before this so going from that to 6 days a week is really getting to me. I mean, I play in a few sports leagues and sometimes make it to the pool, but nothing this intense and this regimented.
In short, this isn't fun anymore and I'm super duper stressed, which I haven't been in a while. I signed up thinking it'd be a fun way to get myself to exercise regularly, but it's turned into a complete stress bomb.That, and a weekend in Vegas, with flights, hotels, food, bike and wetsuit rentals (and the list goes on) is getting pretty expensive, and since I'm not feeling this thing at all, I'm weary of spending that kind of money on something that's making me stressed and essentially miserable.
If you can't tell, I'm seriously leaning towards skipping out on this one and instead attempting one near home and about 10 weeks later in mid-June. It seems a lot more reasonable with regards to finances and training time since I can build up a base now before the "official" training begins (again) 16 weeks out from the tri. Also, the course is A LOT flatter than the Vegas one, which a seasoned tri friend told me is "challenging but difficult". Not something I want to hear when I'm already doubting my abilities to do this.
So, here's where I need advice. I'm already signed up for Vegas with my roommate (who just happens to be my best friend, which complicates things somewhat since I can't really flake out on her as easily), having paid the registration fee a couple months ago in hopes of the money motivating me. She's really set on going and has very excitedly been training diligently, and does not take my saying "I don't think I wanna go" very well. I know because I talked to her about it last week and she got very upset, mad, and disappointed. I feel bad copping out, but 1) I honestly don't think I can complete the course since it's so hilly and I don't really have a base, 2) it's really expensive to get out there, and 3) I'm not ready to train 6 times per week.
For that last point, maybe I'm just being lazy and not wanting to go to the gym every day. I do generally have that problem, and once I get in a bike ride or a good swim, then I feel great. But it's getting out that door which is the killer. I can motivate myself to workout a few times a week, with the knowledge that I can rest sometime soon. But 6 days straight is just too much. Everywhere it says that you should ease into workouts/diets/life changes slowly, and I feel like I need to do that before I take on this HUGE thing. Those extra 7 weeks of build-up before the June tri I mentioned would be used for just that. I know I could've done the same with the weeks before Christmas, which I didn't, but I'm more focused with food choices and everything now, so I think I'll be able to manage 3-4 times per week workouts to build up a base and increase from there. I just think I'm rushing into things and it's stressing me out like crazy. I mean, look at me, it's 2 am and I'm posting to 3FC cuz I can't sleep.
Anywhos, any advice? Should I try to train for April and see how it goes? Or somehow find a way to reason with my roommate without really pissing her off and go for late June? I'm really leaning towards June for so many reasons, but I also don't want to quit on myself and, yet again, not accomplish something I committed to do simply due to laziness (the not building a base before Christmas, not the not wanting to go to the gym 6 times a week part now, although I guess that also qualifies).
Another alternative is to drop down to the sprint distance in the Vegas tri (which my roommate is ok with), though I'm not sure I can do yet as I haven't contacted the race director, but it's the same day, same price, etc, so I'm thinking that shouldn't be a problem. The 12-week training for that would start next week so I wouldn't be behind and I wouldn't piss off my roommate, but it wouldn't eliminate the getting-to-Vegas problem and the I'm-not-ready-for-6-straight-days-of-workouts problem.
Sorry this is so long, but I'm having a huge dilemma here.
I think she's nuts, but I wish her the best of luck!
I used to be a lurker, but recently joined their winter mentoring program since I don't know squat about this new sport. Great site! I absolutely love it. I didn't think to ask wetsuit questions on the Athena threads 
Duh, that makes so much sense!
