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Competing in Multiple Tri's

cheese0614's picture
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started by cheese0614 on June 3, 2008

I know several of you compete in multiple tri's during a season, but I am wondering how far apart to you space them to allow yourself time for recovery, etc.?

Here's what I'm considering. Let me know if this isn't a good idea for a beginner. I've already been training since December and am doing rather well. I can give specifics about where I'm at if need be. What I'm worried about though is over doing it since the first Tri I list here will be my FIRST Tri.

Here's the schedule:

08-05-2008
.5mi swim, 18.2 mi bike, 3.1mi run

08-18-2008
200yd swim, 10mi bike, 2mi run

09-09-2008
800met swim, 20 mi bike, 3.1mi run

cuds's picture
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cuds posted 13 weeks ago.

Those are all short enough. You should be fine. Just decide which one is going to be your A race and push hardest for that one. Let the other two just be "fun".

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 13 weeks ago.

Totally doable. But that 8/18 tri looks too short to be of any value at all. It's a step down between races. I can see it now: The 8/18 race is a pool swim. It is so short that every couch potato wants to do it, but they will walk the swim, break out the 20-year-old Huffy for the bike, and will walk the run. You will be in line on the pool deck watching or swerving your bike around a clunker, and think, "Why didn't I just go train on my own?" Don't race just because you can. Take the entry fee ($75 I bet) and buy a new jersey or something.

Would you get more out of a teeny-tiny race like 8/18, or a long bike, solid brick, or long run?

Ironmom's picture
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Ironmom posted 13 weeks ago.

I think I'd take out the middle race too. For one thing, as a beginner, you might find it hard to "train through" a race, meaning not going your hardest. If you go hard on all three races, you'll probably blow up a quadricep or something (I have unfortunately BTDT, and it took me a lot of years to be able to pace myself and not go hard on a "train through" race). Four weeks between races should be plenty to recover, but I don't think I'd recommend 2 weeks between for someone newer to the sport. It's just a recipe for disaster, and really - why hurt yourself when you have many more seasons ahead? Better yet, look for a terrific September triathlon if you really feel energized to do more races. September is actually my favorite triathlon season, the fall weather is usually refreshing after the heat of August.

In your first few tris you will learn SO MUCH, just about everything. Triathlon is great fun to train for, and racing can be a little complex with so much equipment and transitioning from one sport to another. I'd just enjoy your races and count on them being major learning experiences and have fun with it. Good luck!

Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/

CadenceGuy's picture
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CadenceGuy posted 13 weeks ago.

Its not uncommon to pile races back to back (to back) weeks just depending on your conditioning. Your 8/18 week though seems a bit on the week side. Id take the day to get in a nice training ride or a solid brick workout. But, +1 on what Trisooner said. Take the entry fee and buy something fun for your best friend (bike) or buy a crazy jersey, training gear, etc. Or maybe save the entry fee and do a little longer race at the end of the year to really test yourself, one that may have a slightly higher entry fee. Just my .02

UFTriGator's picture
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UFTriGator posted 13 weeks ago.

I like short races.....they teach you how to go hard. There are several races a year at a 10-mile course south of Tampa that I do for fun. I had never been able to average over 25 in a race until after I did it there. Since then, I've almost always averaged over 25 at all my races. I recently averaged 27 at the same course (haven't done that at another race yet, but hopefully that'll happen soon).

I think it would be good to go to the race on 8-5 to learn what a tri is about, then go to the race on 8-18 to see what it feels like to go really hard, then transfer that feeling over to the race in Sep. to have a really strong race.

______________________________________________
-Matt
Not fast enough.

TryScott's picture
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TryScott posted 13 weeks ago.

UFTriGator wrote:
I like short races.....they teach you how to go hard. There are several races a year at a 10-mile course south of Tampa that I do for fun. I had never been able to average over 25 in a race until after I did it there. Since then, I've almost always averaged over 25 at all my races. I recently averaged 27 at the same course (haven't done that at another race yet, but hopefully that'll happen soon).

I'd like to average around 30 MPH, but I'm talking about the drive from my house to the race. What are you talking about? J/K that's actually a good idea. I've been looking for nothing but olympic distance stuff this year, but it might be good to find a sprint race for "speed work."

RV's picture
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RV posted 13 weeks ago.

UFTriGator wrote:
I think it would be good to go to the race on 8-5 to learn what a tri is about, then go to the race on 8-18 to see what it feels like to go really hard, then transfer that feeling over to the race in Sep. to have a really strong race.

+1

And those short or super sprint races can be pretty wild - cuz there usually are some super fast people in those races - just seeing them fly through transition can really teach you a lot.

RV

It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss

beads1985's picture
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beads1985 posted 13 weeks ago.

Sprint tri's are a good workout. You really don't need that much recovery time between them.

''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/

cheese0614's picture
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cheese0614 posted 13 weeks ago.

Hmm.. Mixed reviews.

I'm thinking the extra practice cant hurt. Unless of course I get behind Slowy McSlow on the bike like TriSooner said and end up hitting the deck flying around him. I agree it would suck to hurt yourself for just another "practice".

jsk85's picture
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jsk85 posted 13 weeks ago.

I'm doing something relatively similar in the next few weeks...but I also have been doing tris for 3 yrs now and am actually training through all 3 since none are my A race, but it even has the super sprint b/w like yours...

6/15--500yd swim, 21 mile bike, 5 mile run
6/21--500yd swim, 10 mile bike, 3 mile run
6/29--Olympic distance

My A race is an Oly in late August and I have no more racing after June until then (wedding and festivities don't allow much extra time. I'm only doing the super sprint to support my fiancee who's doing it as her 2nd ever and first in 2 yrs...so I'll definately train through that one. The other 2 are B races w/ the focus of the Oly being on seeing where I am with the swim and the first sprint focusing on the bike&run since they are only slightly shorter than the Oly legs.

You could do it...just don't go all out on the middle one I'd say...Anyways...if you're new to the sport it isn't as much about having your best race, but getting experience and enjoying the race scene