From Runners to Triathletes...
283
Member
1388 days
Amy Lee posted 3 years ago.
hey scout ,
congrats on your race yesterday-that's awesome that you and your son both placed! a very cool family activity you guys have going there!
transitioning from long distance running to multisport training has done a number of things for me...
1. improved overall conditioning and less injuries because i'm not pounding my previously injured feet so much anymore. yeah!
2. my physique is more balanced. my upper body was significantly under-developed in comparison to the musculature on my lower body (even with weight training) until i started swimming. now everyone is commenting on my arms, back and shoulders being" so buff?" 43 years old and buff? that's kinda nice! :D
3. i don't dread workouts because i have so much to pick from. i use to feel like i HAD to run to get a REAL workout. now any of the three disciplines will kick my butt- even a good yoga session!
4. i think multi sport training is "intelligent fitness."(well most of the time-except when we tend to go" over the edge." ) it requires a healthy diet, a great deal of planning, uses all the muscle groups, keeps our cardiovascular system fit, a great way to meet people, have fun, set and obtain personal goals... yada, yada, yada...
5. i can't comment on improved times yet, cause i've only been back to training and racing for 6 months. but i'm sure it will help!
happy training!
amy
211
Member
1431 days
Scout posted 3 years ago.
Thanks Amy!
I got alot out of the swimming thread you had going a few days ago...Up until January I had no clue about freestyle breathing what so ever! Now it's all about technique for me...Speed isn't even in the picture yet...But I'll get there...In fact, I'm off to the pool now!
And the "buff" compliments....SWEET, eh? At 48, they are a real boost for me...
Happy Memorial Day!
283
Member
1388 days
Amy Lee posted 3 years ago.
scout,
if only we could "buff up" the mammary glands?... :D
211
Member
1431 days
Scout posted 3 years ago.
HeeHee! You got that right! At this point, I just see them as extra baggage...But when I was a young girl I used to say "God, why didn't you make me more like my (very well endowed) mother and sister??" It took me until the age of 44 to see the light..."Oh, so you want me to be a distance runner, eh??" :p
I thought I would post about how my transition from runner to newbie triathlete (in training) is developing. I have been a high mileage distance runner for 4 years. I typically do 2 marathons a year and several half and shorter distances. I've run Boston 3 times and I'm qualified for 2006. Last fall I bought my first entry level road bike and started riding occasionally with the group from my bike shop. My son, a collegiate runner (just graduated), also started transitioning into tri training last year (competed in one Olympic distance last August). My swimming was (and still is) pretty pitiful, but I have definitely made some progress. I have a fabulous coach. She has competed at Kona twice and is an awesome athlete. I can't believe that I am lucky enough to have her near by. Her husband is also an IM triathlete...
Needless to say, the training schedule she developed for me reduced my weekly running mileage (I typically peaked in the 80 mpw range for my marathons) and added in the other two disciplines. This was a tough pill for me to swallow! But I saw the results that my son was getting (Ran his first marathon in March in 2:47). Well, now that road race season is upon us (here in northeast PA) I've been able to test my training.
Yesterday my son and I raced in a very challenging 12k. This one is all hills with a significant climb from mile 2 to 3. He won the race overall and I was second female! He took almost 2 minutes off his time from last year and I took :36 seconds off of mine. More importantly, I climbed that mile hill a full minute faster this year. I know for me this is in direct correlation to my overall improved conditioning and strength. I am no longer panicking about my reduced mileage. Plus. KNOCK ON WOOD, my recovery is much shorter and the aches and pains from slamming out that kind of mileage are greatly reduced.
I don't know if any of you have experienced concern when you transition from one sport to multisport, but if so, I would be curious to hear about it...
By the way, my first duathlon is in June and my first sprint tri is in July. My son and I are going to the Musselman (Lake Geneva) where he will do the half IM and I'll do the sprint distance...