Why You Race Distance X?
417
Member
1135 days
BrianMc posted 2 years ago.
So far my favorite has been Olympic distance. I did a HIM, but I had pacing issues, so I feel that was my reason for not enjoying it as much.
I am doing IMWI next year, and am pretty pumped for that though. I think I will always be a a fan of longer races as I have always been more of an endurance and less of a speed type of guy.
127
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1032 days
GogglesPizanto posted 2 years ago.
My main reason for sticking with the sprint distance is simple -- the swim. I've done marathons and 28 mile mt. bike races, so I could easily step up to longer distances here. However, my swimming needs some work, so right now any triathlon with a swim longer than 1/2 mile is out. Being new to triathlons and having a busy life right now also makes training for the shorter distance convenient.
Googles, Out.
The Battle does not always go to the stronger or faster man,
Because sooner or later the man that wins
Is the man that thinks he can.
3331
Member
1318 days
RV posted 2 years ago.
Did only sprints the first year, Oly and sprints the next. Did a HIM the following year with sprints and oly's. Last year did 3 HIM plus a bunch of the shorter distance races. This year I have IMWI on my race schedule. I like all the distances. Sprints and Oly are an all out effort. The HIM start to involve pacing and nutritional strategies. Each distance presents its own challenges and excitement. They are all fun! And can't wait for the IM - Only 274 days, 18 hours 41 minutes to go!
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
146
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1202 days
VTIRON posted 2 years ago.
Over the past 17 years my wife and I have done perhaps 130 multi-sport events which have included 13 iron distance races and 44 marathons. I like the sprint and olympic distance races and usually go as hard as possible but the shorter races are just part of the overall training plan with the IM as the goal. What I mean to say, the shorter races are the speed workouts with no taper before the sprint or olympic distance race. Ride 80 miles Saturday and race Sunday.
The iron distance race is always my goal. I just love the training and working toward that end. My times have slowed considerably but the satisfaction level remains.
602
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1354 days
qb ant posted 2 years ago.
I've only done sprints so far, but am hoping to complete an oly this season coming up. I've never done any type of distance racing before, so the sprints were a good place to start out.
"90% of the game is half mental" Yogi Berra
102
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1064 days
merlinextraligh posted 2 years ago.
Sprint, similar to Goggles, its the swim, any longer and I'd drown.
417
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1135 days
BrianMc posted 2 years ago.
274 days eh RV? thats like 26 less than when I last counted.......CAN'T WAIT.
Brian
3331
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1318 days
RV posted 2 years ago.
BrianMc wrote:
274 days eh RV? thats like 26 less than when I last counted.......CAN'T WAIT.Brian
Yup, tick, tick, tick - The clock is running.
Wonder when the nerves really kick in?!? :eek:
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
4441
Member
1632 days
beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
I like to challenge myself so that is why I chose to do an IM.
I love doing tri so I do several sprints and oly's during the year.
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
247
Member
1376 days
o2Ripper posted 2 years ago.
I started out in sprints, did a few of those, then progressed on to Oly's, and now I am kind of eyeing Vineman Half this year coming up ;p. Right after Wildflower Oly, and Tinley's Oly. :)
-Branden
"Its an addiction"
830
Member
1394 days
catwood posted 2 years ago.
I like oly's the best because they're a standard distance so I can roughly compare times. Some things that I like about sprints and olys are that they are short enough that you can do as many as you want, you can decide to do one the day of or do two in one weekend, they're short enough that you can finish them no matter how badly you screw up your stomach, they're cheap, they're everywhere (I did 7 last summer and never traveled more than 3 hours and there were more that i didn't do within that radius from my parents house), you don't have to put all your eggs in one basket...
I haven't tried anything longer... I'm thinking about trying a half in 07 or 08 though, but I still think I'll like oly's better. I mean I can swim as far as any reasonable race no problem-- in my swimming days my longest workout was about 8000 yards in 2 hours. I've done road bike races up to 60 miles or so and my longest ride has been about 7 or 8 hours, but my longest run's only been about 7.5 miles because I keep getting injured... And my stomach is super hyper sensitive especially during running so the nutrition probably wouldn't be fun...
4202
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1550 days
kylie posted 2 years ago.
My first year I did a sprint somewhat on a whim and as motivation to crosstrain (was running too much) and loved the whole experience... I did another sprint and then I decided to try a half IM that same season, and liked it even more. I just felt more comfortable, and like I had more time to enjoy the experience. The next year I did some more sprints and my first IM, and I really like that distance as well. Although a sprinter in track in high school, I just love the longer distances. I look forward to the longer bikes and runs in training, and just loved spending my time out on the IM course. Then I tried an adventure race... and have done a few 24+ hour races. Another blast. I love the feeling as the sun comes up and brings a new dose of energy. I think it's that I just feel strong and stronger as the event continues...
Miles of Life --- Powered by MarkyV
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1599 days
jeslol posted 2 years ago.
Olys rock, because the swim to bike/run ratio is better :) Never understood why they doubled the bike and run, but only added 500M to the swim for the 1/2 IM.
830
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1394 days
catwood posted 2 years ago.
jeslol wrote:
Olys rock, because the swim to bike/run ratio is better :) Never understood why they doubled the bike and run, but only added 500M to the swim for the 1/2 IM.
Totally agree there!!! :)
186
Member
1189 days
inlovewithcerve posted 2 years ago.
jeslol wrote:
Olys rock, because the swim to bike/run ratio is better :) Never understood why they doubled the bike and run, but only added 500M to the swim for the 1/2 IM.
cause they trippled the swim coming from the sprint.
My favourite is going to be the HIM I guess. So far I worked up to an Oly and enjoyed it. Maybe I'll try the longer ones in a year or so...
This year Oly beause it is taxing enough to give you a hard time when you are not prepared but you can manage it better than HIM or IM.
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1338 days
trollhunter posted 2 years ago.
my favorite distance is definitively 1/2 IM because it fits in half a day, not too long not too short
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1068 days
Katbry posted 2 years ago.
One afternoon, after watching a friend run the Sydney marathon, my husband said he wanted to do an IM and I replied how I did too! That was the beginning. We enlisted the help of some IM friends and they drew up a training plan for us. Then arlier this year, after 16 months training, we did our first IM which I hve since followed it up with 2 more.
I love IM distance - probably because I'm slow and steady and know I'll get there in the end. I'm very slow in transition, so hence this makes the least differnece to my overall time in IM where most people take a bit longer. I can't sprint in any of the three disciplines, so the longer races are definitely for me.
KB
38
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1294 days
Paiko posted 2 years ago.
Did sprints and olys my first two years and now am ready to try a long course. I like the shorter because you can go all out and don't have to worry too much about nutrition. I have never been an endurance athlete until recently. I like to push my limits but also know what I am capable of. So the first couple of years was building up towards getting to the longer distance. Now I'm ready for the 1/2 and if all goes well I'll try the full.
I got mine and you can't have it back!
JC
232
Member
1228 days
ironmike12 posted 2 years ago.
I've done mostly sprints and Olym. and one 1/2. I really like the Olym. because I like the speed part of it. I can really push the bike and half enough in the tank for a good run. I really enjoyed my 1/2 although I know I can do better. It was my 4th race in 4 weeks so I wasn't even close to being tapered...lol. You can take in more in a half, the people there supporting you...etc.
122
Member
1156 days
Beldrueger posted 2 years ago.
I still have not done a road tri, but I have done 5 xterras. 3 were about sprint distance. 2 were close to oly distance. It is not apples to apples of course. The Olympic caliber athletes take over 2.5 hours to complete an Oly distance Xterra. The long races fall somewhere between olympic and half ironman. I think the fastest finish at the Odyssey tri was around 4 hours.
I will always love off road cycling and xterras because of the variety , unpredictability, challenge, and camraderie that you just don't get with road events. I have no interest in a longer off road event. I get a kick out of going fast through the trees. As soon as you really have to slow the pace down, it becomes less exciting. There is a much bigger skill factor in mountain bike racing than in road racing.
Just curious what the draw is to people in the community to the different race distances. I know some people love the quick sprint or a just happy to be able to do a TRI and are happy to have the shorter distance. There’s the OLY/INT distance that is my personal favorite. The Grand Daddy Ultra Prestigious IRONMAN as well as the 1/2 and crazy 2-10X Ironman races.
SO WHY DO YOU DO DISTANCE....X?
For me it's the pace. First off I’m no pro and don’t really have the time or attention span to get up to the IM level. So after doing a few sprints, a bunch of OLY's and 1 1/2 IM. I can say I found a home in the OLY distance. The sprint was just too quick. And I just wasn’t in good enough shape and honestly got kind of board in the 1/2 IM. I got to a point towards the end of the bike and most of the run where I was breathing pretty easily but my legs just wouldn’t take me any faster. Guess my legs just weren’t in as good of shape as my lungs. I've gotten into the OLY races because it seems like each distance in each discipline is long enough to test your endurance but not to long to where I get bored. I also like to push the pace on the run and feel the OLY races are well suited for me to have something left in the tank come time to get off the bike. I'll admit that like most I got into the sport at first by watching the IM on TV. And there will always be a part of me that would love to be able to say I'm an IRONMAN. I just don’t think I'm there yet.
Which brings up another question...What’s been everyone's progression?
How many of you said, "Hey I want to do an Ironman" Trained and trained then went out and did it. How many started shorter then after a few seasons worked there way up?
[FONT=Arial]"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."