i want to do a half iron...
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catwood posted 3 years ago.
Awesome! I wish I'd been doing tri's since I was little - I guess I have to make do with swimming since I was 9...
If you want to do a half iron, I say go for it! I mean it depends on your base, your resistance to injury, race nutrition, etc how successful you will be, but I'm sure you've done enough tri's to have a general feel... I guess just start making your long runs and rides longer. Make a training plan for yourself - I like the Triathlete's Training Bible myself and go for it! Good luck!
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BrettD58 posted 3 years ago.
TriBabe,
I have read recent reports suggesting that those athletes under 25-28 are more prone to injury while training and competeing in ultra distance events. This is due to the fact that the musculoskeletal system is still developing. At your age I would advise sticking to Olympic distance races and wait a few years for your body to mature before attempting a half or full iron distance race. I am sure that you could finish the race right now, however you have to ask yourself if it is worth possible long term injury.
Brett
Brett Daniels
USAT Level I Coach
www.thesportfactory.com
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TriBABE posted 3 years ago.
Thanxs yall...yeah after i ran the marathon at 16, i had a small problem with a muscle, and they suggested that i wait to do the marathon when i was in my twenties again...but i think ill just stick to the olympic distances and maybe put some longer training rides just to see how they woulld go...
YeHAW!
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inlovewithcerve posted 3 years ago.
There was one german guy, I recently read about him, he trained with Zack back in the eighties. He was in his early twenties and training for Hawaii, as far as I remember.
He got injured and never fpund his way back to being a pro.
This will not happen to me, hopefully. I will stick to Oly as well and do HIM when I am a little bit older. This is only building base, so watch out for me in 4 years :cool:
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bluebirdbiker posted 3 years ago.
It really depends on base, which sounds like you have a good one and WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH from the race like time to finish, different stage times, age finish, just doing it etc. It's really all about goals and knowing where you are in relation to your previous races as well as what can be a realistic goal for you.
I can send a copy of my schedule to give you some idea and to get you thinking if you want to do. Just let me know. Good luck!
BBB
There are no excuses - so don't look for them. As a product of your own choices, you directly determine your life outcomes.
Don't think, just do.
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TriBABE posted 3 years ago.
bluebirdbiker...that would be awesome if u could send me that...thanxs dude...yeah my goal would just be to finish and not be last :D
YeHAW!
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trigirl97 posted 3 years ago.
Hey TriBabe,
I think it's great you are active at your age. I played basketball in HS (I'm originally from Clifton, which is about 30 miles north of Waco.) but then took some years off through college, ate too much pizza and drank too much beer and got fat. About 26, I got active again and found triathlon.
Anyway, I'd say have fun with each sport, stick to the Olympic distance and work on building strength. I honestly think there's a reason many professional triathletes peak in their late 20s/early 30s and it's because their bodies have finally developed enough to withstand the training. I've only done one half-IM and the training was significantly more/harder than the Olympic distance.
I think another key attribute to training/racing longer distances and being a little older is that you'd likely be more apt to slow down when your body tells you too. I know I used to go, go, go until I'd just get worn down and sick. I think a key to my staying healthy and injury free is that I really listen to my body, feed it well and back off/rest when I need to.
In hindsight, the one thing I wish I'd continued consistently was strength training. I have lifted weight pretty regularly since about 25 and can tell a huge difference over the years. It's been a gradual build but I've been lucky in the injury department. This might help in building up your muscular base.
So maybe stick with Olympic races for awhile, focus on improving your techniques/race tactics and enjoy being young with many years of competition ahead of you. And if you want a longer challenge, maybe find a few century bike rides to do. I know Waco has one every fall and there's lots in the central Texas area. (I'm doing a century in Round Rock in Oct.)
Good luck,
Lara
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go." ~T.S. Eliot
trigirl97.blogspot.com
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rob6118 posted 2 years ago.
I'm shooting for my first half ironman just shy of my 21st bday. But my goal is just to finish, and not be last *grin*. I think as long as you don't get cocky (hard part for me) then you'll be alright. The longer distance training has really taught me to listen to my body and be proactive about injury prevention. On my runs I can tell exactly what the cost of going 1/2 mile to far and I no longer push the topic. I simply stop and run a few days later. As long as you are smart and very proactive about injury prevention I think you can do it. I just think most young people (myself) included approach it way to gung ho and don't have the maturity and patience that the older triathletes have, combine that with less mature muscle and skeletal systems and you get lots of injuries. Ontri.com has a beginner half ironman training program (I'm a member of their site) and I highly recommend it. But start the program from the beginning and don't be afraid to diverge from it if it means avoiding injury (two experiences learned by jumping into the program 2 months after it began for my event and hurting myself in too many run miles).
But I'm the type that won't say no to a challenge. Just remember be smart about it!
Rob
PS I'm hoping for my first ironman next year (Florida Ironman). I just want to finish one. I understand though that I have another 10 years to get to the top of Kona. At least that's what I tell myself when I see how much slower I am then I need to be *grin*.
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oucam posted 2 years ago.
The first and only race i've done so far was a HIM at age 20 last fall. From reading this, I don't know if that was a good idea. I was planning on doing the same race again this year in late september, but my plans may change. I do tend to have the so called "gung ho" attitude about working out, probably carried it over from football. Might just stick to the Olympic race this summer and do the team HIM or something. What do you all think?
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Triguy98 posted 2 years ago.
I myself didnt really stop growing untill about 22. I never did any real long distance stuff, sticking mostly to shorter and faster. Since then I have been progressing up to the HIM level this year. Knowing that I had such a long window of growth, I am glad I didnt do anything to mess that up, however, If you havent found yourself growing at all (my gains were in the hip and shoulder widths) I'd say go for it if youd like.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
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Flip12 posted 1 year ago.
I am 21 and am about to race my first HIM in just over three weeks. I have struggled a little with injuries from the training. Mainly from the running, but I also had very little preparation. I started tris only in November last year and decided to do the HIM 9 weeks out. If you have a strong base then I'm sure you would struggle less with injuries, just make sre you listen to your body. Hard to do at times I know! All the best!
so...yeah ive been doing tris it seems like forever, most of my life...im only 19 yrs old and i really want to do a half iron man...and one have any suggestions on how long to train for it...or if i should wait till im older....
YeHAW!