question
128
Member
364 days
Quincyceltic posted 7 weeks ago.
Def the olympic. It is more of a challenge and your fitness will be better in the long run for going with the longer distance
92
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139 days
Clint-murphy posted 7 weeks ago.
Ironman! Don't be a wimp ;-)
Seriously, this is a hard question to respond to without more information.
For example, 50 pounds overweight, never swam more than 10 laps in a pool, riding a bmx, and your running shoes are the Nike Air Force 180 Pumps (yeah, look those puppies up - grade 8 basketball), then I would humbly suggest the sprint.
You've been doing marathons for a few years, used to be on the high school swim team and simply need to work on your cycling, then for sure an Olympic would be better.
Not trying to be an a$$, but think you see what I mean about how the more info we have the more informed answer we can give.
13
Member
56 days
roadhouse posted 7 weeks ago.
this could turn out to be a two part answer but i feel as if the i'll just dominate the sprint. i've been a rider for some three years, centuries and training rides with everything from beginner to pro's and some ex=ironmen and i always get competetive, i always want to beat everyone around me when i'm on the bike. i could roll out of bed tomorrow and put down 112 miles in less than 6:30, maybe 6:45 solo as a sunday stroll but the water is where i'd have trouble. running and the bike, half i could do but not with the water involved. i can run all day too. as a matter of fact, i run much better right after i get off the bike, just solid. never done any more than 8 miles directly after a ride though and i've only done this without any official training, just get up and do it and quit being a weenie type self motivation. the triatholons are the direction and satisfaction i'v ebeen missing.
i guess i should ask if it would be in every one else's best interest, being completely new to this, to just start out with the rest of the completely new poeple and stay out of everyone elses' way and possibly take it all in in the sprint . i feel as if i'd be wanting a helluva lot more than just what that has to offer though, or i can see myself thinking like that at the end of a sprint, like "no, it can't be finished already! i want my money back!! or wait for me you ironmen!@!!" :)
92
Member
139 days
Clint-murphy posted 7 weeks ago.
roadhouse wrote:
this could turn out to be a two part answer but i feel as if the i'll just dominate the sprint. i've been a rider for some three years, centuries and training rides with everything from beginner to pro's and some ex=ironmen and i always get competetive, i always want to beat everyone around me when i'm on the bike. i could roll out of bed tomorrow and put down 112 miles in less than 6:30, maybe 6:45 solo as a sunday stroll but the water is where i'd have trouble. running and the bike, half i could do but not with the water involved. i can run all day too. as a matter of fact, i run much better right after i get off the bike, just solid. never done any more than 8 miles directly after a ride though and i've only done this without any official training, just get up and do it and quit being a weenie type self motivation. the triatholons are the direction and satisfaction i'v ebeen missing.i guess i should ask if it would be in every one else's best interest, being completely new to this, to just start out with the rest of the completely new poeple and stay out of everyone elses' way and possibly take it all in in the sprint . i feel as if i'd be wanting a helluva lot more than just what that has to offer though, or i can see myself thinking like that at the end of a sprint, like "no, it can't be finished already! i want my money back!! or wait for me you ironmen!@!!" :)
Of the two options I presented, you're definitely in Box #2.
Take some swimming lesssons over the winter (I am) and then train hard swimming over the next five to six months. I imagine you're planning on doing your first race next Season?
If it's this season, maybe just do a sprint to give it a try - my first one was on a mountain bike and I forgot my goggles at home so breast-stroked in the lake, still thought it wasn't much...but I was slow ;-)
What I have noticed for a lot of people (even Ironman level) is that they start the season with a sprint to get the body warmed up, then olympic and then 1/2 or Iron.
Try that route and see how you feel.
101
Member
956 days
jperubog posted 7 weeks ago.
If you are racing next season, I would say focus on the Olympic, seems like you have biking and running down, just have to work on the swim or be comfortable with swimming the distance in open water. There is a big difference between a sprint swim(400-800m) and an Olympic (1500m). If this season, you didn’t mention anything about your swimming background, so like I stated above, 1500 meters in open water is not easy the first time out, so just make sure you are able to handle the distance and are comfortable with it.
If next season, why not try both? use the sprint as a warm up for your Olympic, you will be able to go through the whole race without any expectations, see what works, what doesn’t, then you will be semi-prepared for the Olympic and possibly have a better race.
Good luck, just don’t underestimate the swim.
564
Member
677 days
xc800runner posted 7 weeks ago.
Don't be overconfident that you'd win the sprint because you're capable of "riding 112 in 6:30 and running all day." Sprints are more focussed on speed than overall endurance, and a lot of fast oly guys will do them just for kicks or as short, over-speed workouts during their tapers for bigger events. For example, I raced 3 sprints this past year, expected to win a couple, and wound up 4th and 3rd in the first two with bike averages around 24-25 mph and run paces right at 6:00/mi (swims were short, and at 1:05-1:10/100m). I then raced a field with prize money for a sprint (3/4 oly distance) that drew out some local pros. Winner: 1:16/100m swim, 27.3 mph bike, 5:40/mi run. I took 5th.
If the event offers both a sprint and oly, then, yes, you will probably find the competition skewed towards the oly. But that's not always the case. You'll be more challenged in the oly from an endurance standpoint, but it won't necessarily be "harder."
191
Member
437 days
sasquatch posted 7 weeks ago.
roadhouse wrote:
this could turn out to be a two part answer but i feel as if the i'll just dominate the sprint. i've been a rider for some three years, centuries and training rides with everything from beginner to pro's and some ex=ironmen and i always get competetive, i always want to beat everyone around me when i'm on the bike. i could roll out of bed tomorrow and put down 112 miles in less than 6:30, maybe 6:45 solo as a sunday stroll but the water is where i'd have trouble. running and the bike, half i could do but not with the water involved. i can run all day too. as a matter of fact, i run much better right after i get off the bike, just solid. never done any more than 8 miles directly after a ride though and i've only done this without any official training, just get up and do it and quit being a weenie type self motivation. the triatholons are the direction and satisfaction i'v ebeen missing.i guess i should ask if it would be in every one else's best interest, being completely new to this, to just start out with the rest of the completely new poeple and stay out of everyone elses' way and possibly take it all in in the sprint . i feel as if i'd be wanting a helluva lot more than just what that has to offer though, or i can see myself thinking like that at the end of a sprint, like "no, it can't be finished already! i want my money back!! or wait for me you ironmen!@!!" :)
If you mean dominate, as in you personally will be able to feel great doing and completeing a sprint distance event, then great and more power to you. You may want to look into the oly or even 1/2 IM distance if this is the case. I mention the 1/2 IM because the swim isn't that much longer than a oly swim(1500m oly vs 1900m 1/2IM), but the rest of the day is Much longer and bigger...
If you mean dominate as in win the event, you may be surprised by the speed some guys/gals put down in the sprints...... Some of those guys are seriously fast....
72
Member
318 days
dkhartung posted 7 weeks ago.
sasquatch wrote:
roadhouse wrote:this could turn out to be a two part answer but i feel as if the i'll just dominate the sprint.You're probably right... I'd just go ahead and do a full ironman as your first tri.
Or, do a sprint so you have a feel for what's it's like to do an open water swim and then roll through the other two disciplines, and do an Oly later once you had some experience.
709
Member
523 days
jonovision_man posted 7 weeks ago.
xc800runner wrote:
I then raced a field with prize money for a sprint (3/4 oly distance) that drew out some local pros. Winner: 1:16/100m swim, 27.3 mph bike, 5:40/mi run. I took 5th.
Wowsah. I could maybe do that if the swim was with the current (a VERY strong current!) and the bike/run were both dramatically downhill!!! :)
jono
12
Member
56 days
trekrider posted 7 weeks ago.
xc800runner wrote:
Don't be overconfident that you'd win the sprint because you're capable of "riding 112 in 6:30 and running all day." Sprints are more focussed on speed than overall endurance, and a lot of fast oly guys will do them just for kicks or as short, over-speed workouts during their tapers for bigger events. For example, I raced 3 sprints this past year, expected to win a couple, and wound up 4th and 3rd in the first two with bike averages around 24-25 mph and run paces right at 6:00/mi (swims were short, and at 1:05-1:10/100m). I then raced a field with prize money for a sprint (3/4 oly distance) that drew out some local pros. Winner: 1:16/100m swim, 27.3 mph bike, 5:40/mi run. I took 5th.If the event offers both a sprint and oly, then, yes, you will probably find the competition skewed towards the oly. But that's not always the case. You'll be more challenged in the oly from an endurance standpoint, but it won't necessarily be "harder."
+1
just because you can bike 112 miles doesn't mean you could kill it in a sprint distance. You wouldn't ask a marathon runner to compete in the 800M at the olympics. If you are confident in the bike and run go for the oly. Or do the sprint and be competative, but there are some darn fast people in these sprints throwing down some sicks times
good luck!
13
Member
56 days
roadhouse posted 7 weeks ago.
trekrider wrote:
xc800runner wrote:Don't be overconfident that you'd win the sprint because you're capable of "riding 112 in 6:30 and running all day." Sprints are more focussed on speed than overall endurance, and a lot of fast oly guys will do them just for kicks or as short, over-speed workouts during their tapers for bigger events. For example, I raced 3 sprints this past year, expected to win a couple, and wound up 4th and 3rd in the first two with bike averages around 24-25 mph and run paces right at 6:00/mi (swims were short, and at 1:05-1:10/100m). I then raced a field with prize money for a sprint (3/4 oly distance) that drew out some local pros. Winner: 1:16/100m swim, 27.3 mph bike, 5:40/mi run. I took 5th.If the event offers both a sprint and oly, then, yes, you will probably find the competition skewed towards the oly. But that's not always the case. You'll be more challenged in the oly from an endurance standpoint, but it won't necessarily be "harder."
+1
just because you can bike 112 miles doesn't mean you could kill it in a sprint distance. You wouldn't ask a marathon runner to compete in the 800M at the olympics. If you are confident in the bike and run go for the oly. Or do the sprint and be competative, but there are some darn fast people in these sprints throwing down some sicks timesgood luck!
i understand what you're saying completely, that's why i'm doing this.
13
Member
56 days
roadhouse posted 7 weeks ago.
xc800runner wrote:
Don't be overconfident that you'd win the sprint because you're capable of "riding 112 in 6:30 and running all day." Sprints are more focussed on speed than overall endurance, and a lot of fast oly guys will do them just for kicks or as short, over-speed workouts during their tapers for bigger events. For example, I raced 3 sprints this past year, expected to win a couple, and wound up 4th and 3rd in the first two with bike averages around 24-25 mph and run paces right at 6:00/mi (swims were short, and at 1:05-1:10/100m). I then raced a field with prize money for a sprint (3/4 oly distance) that drew out some local pros. Winner: 1:16/100m swim, 27.3 mph bike, 5:40/mi run. I took 5th.If the event offers both a sprint and oly, then, yes, you will probably find the competition skewed towards the oly. But that's not always the case. You'll be more challenged in the oly from an endurance standpoint, but it won't necessarily be "harder."
that's some thinking news for sure, thanks.
so when did you know that you were ready for what or rather how did you start off in the triathlons? sprint? and when did you know that you were ready to move up to the next one? does it takes wins to be able to move up or can one just jump right in and do an ironman, not that i can right now..
this is an open question to any who would like to answer.
709
Member
523 days
jonovision_man posted 7 weeks ago.
roadhouse wrote:
so when did you know that you were ready for what or rather how did you start off in the triathlons? sprint? and when did you know that you were ready to move up to the next one? does it takes wins to be able to move up or can one just jump right in and do an ironman, not that i can right now..
this is an open question to any who would like to answer.
It's really down to personal preference and what you think you're capable of... for some people, said Ironman was their first triathlon ever!
Personally, I did the longest races I could, with the swim being my limiter. As soon as I thought I could swim 3800m I signed up for Ironman. :)
jono
897
Member
1843 days
catwood posted 7 weeks ago.
It totally individual. I like to do sprints and olys as fast as I can and I don't have much desire to go longer. Others go as long as they can and worry less about speed. Whatever motivates you...
13
Member
507 days
for the first time, better the sprint or the olympic?