When to sign up for the race\?
835
Member
1291 days
glbrum posted 2 years ago.
I am the same as you, I am very competitive. I want to do well, but doing well (or not doing well) doesn't make my decision on whether or not I do a certain race. Here's my suggestion, if you can afford both, do both. Here's why...Do the first one (disney) and race your heart out, like you are going to win. Give it everything you have. Meanwhile, knowing that you are going to use the information you gather (race results/nutrition/etc) for Miami. I'm guessing that Disney would be your first 1/2 (??). If this is true, you don't know how your body is going to react and trust me, as I just did CA 70.3 last weekend as my first half, it's not a little more than double the olympic. (I really wanted to come in top 5. I finished 23rd. Now I know what to work on for next time). Try not to put all your eggs in one basket if you can avoid it. Either way, good luck and kick a$$.
Up to this point, I've been in the habit of signing up for races and then training up to them, not training up to that as a goal and then signing up.
2346
Member
1243 days
Triguy98 posted 2 years ago.
I have my schedule set for the season, as far as races I'd LIKE to run. However, the schedule gets modified for various reasons as the season creeps along. My two A races are at the end of the season this year, so basically everything from here till July is optional for me. I wont sign up for those unless I WANT to do them.
I didnt feel completely ready for my first oly. Looking at the previous year's times, I knew I would get my butt handed to me. That was alright. I came in the top 30% of the AG, which was better than I was expecting, but i KNEW i couldve done better. So i worked my butt off during the off season preparing for whats to come.
But dude, if making disney means training to the point of exhaustion like you say in your other post, back off and wait for Miami Man. I'll see you there.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
2727
Member
1280 days
Anton posted 2 years ago.
Like Triguy, I have a list of races that I'd LIKE to run. I have only one "A" race this year but have signed up for several...will use them as catered training races and for fun..
Being very unlike you Young Lions, I'm not competitive and don't care where I come in...
It's about the journey for me.
I keep a list of "jump ins", races that I know don't fill and that I can get into the week of or even the day of...so if I'm feeling full of piss and vinegar,I can jump in.
As too big, races,I always check the refund policy before sign up....alot can happen in 6 months or a year.
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" - Vincent Van Gogh
My Blog: http://anton.trifuel.net
4464
Member
1638 days
beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
I figure out my ''A'' race and sign up for it when it is necessary. For IM FL I was online the minute it opened a year before the race took place. This year my ''A'' race is and Iron Distance in Maryland. I signed up for it just recently. I plan to do 3 marathons. One in the winter, one in the spring, one in the fall. They give me goals to train for. In between I do sprints, olympics and maybe a 1/2 IM. I also do 5ks 10ks 5 milers etc.. as they come up on kind of an Ad Hoc basis.
I really am in it to challenge myself and compete with myself. I am content with being a middle of the pack age grouper. It feels great that I can train my body to accomplish these things. :D
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
122
Member
1162 days
Beldrueger posted 2 years ago.
It depends on the race. I signed up early for the races that I knew would sell out like the Chicago Triathlon. I have something like 22 races on my calendar, but only 3 are "A" races. In truth the Chicago Tri is not even an "A" race, but I knew I wanted to do it. I did the half marathon at the national half marathon yesterday, and I only signed up 4 days in advance. I wasn't sure I really wanted to do it until the week of. All of my "A" races are tied to my primary goals within the Nissan Xterra championship series. All other races are just training for my primary goals.
I think I'll probably do 16-18 of the 22 races I have outlined and the bulk of those will be last minute decisions based on travel, work, school, etc.
122
Member
1162 days
Beldrueger posted 2 years ago.
To answer your other question, Yes, I lined out my whole race schedule at the beginning of the year and signed up for all the "A" races. This is only my second year. Last year, I was much more ad hoc with the races, and completed 15.
4464
Member
1638 days
beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
I pick 2 or 3 definites, then about a half a dozen or so follow.
Others I add on a month to month basis. I end up doing 35-40 events a year. I am going year round though.
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
3337
Member
1324 days
RV posted 2 years ago.
I lay out my schedule at the begining of the year. I sign up for the races I plan on doing as soon as they open. It is easy not to do a race if it isn't actually scheduled / registered. Things always come up, but I find that if I am registered I will find a way to make the schedule work. I also select my races to work with my training plan for my 'A' race. This year IMWI is my 'A' race. The other races (2 HIM, 3 sprints, 3 marathons etc) are there to compliment my training as well as to give me a break from training and go out and race.
RV
It takes a long time to get good. - Scott Molina
Slow is smooth; smooth is fast. - Rich Strauss
325
Member
1605 days
jeslol posted 2 years ago.
Race Director Hat: Please sign up the minute you think you're going to do the race. I hate week of entries!
Triathlete Hat: Depends on when they sell out or when the price starts increasing.
84
Member
897 days
thebiochem1000 posted 2 years ago.
I'm still pretty new to triathlons. But, having run cross country and track in college however I'm pretty used to already having my season planned out so that I know what kind of workouts will be coming at a given time during the season.
Since this is my first season doing triathlons I went ahead and looked through the NCTS for ones I want to do and put them on my schedule. Of course some of the races had filled up 2 days or so after opening! But I just try to sign up in time to get the lowest entrance fee.
1488
Member
1318 days
brittda posted 2 years ago.
I pick my "A" races and sign up. Like Beads and anyone else doing a IM-- I will sign up as soon as registration opens the year before. I am never going to WIN my age group so this does not come into play at all. All you you young competitive guys thinking is a bit skewed. If you don't do a race because you don't think you will win, then what is the point of racing? If you "know" you will win then why even bother doing it to begin with. You can't and wont always win, You cant and won't always do well..stuff happens you have a bad day, drink too much, drink too little , get too little sleep blah blah blah -do you even realize how absurd that sounds to some of us who are "middle pack-ers"?
146
Member
1208 days
VTIRON posted 2 years ago.
Plan ahead? My wife and I entered IM-New Zealand March,2007 last night! If I can find somone or sometwo to help enter us in IM-Canada 2007 that would be great and if not Couer d'Alene.
4464
Member
1638 days
beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
brittda wrote:
I pick my "A" races and sign up. Like Beads and anyone else doing a IM-- I will sign up as soon as registration opens the year before. I am never going to WIN my age group so this does not come into play at all. All you you young competitive guys thinking is a bit skewed. If you don't do a race because you don't think you will win, then what is the point of racing? If you "know" you will win then why even bother doing it to begin with. You can't and wont always win, You cant and won't always do well..stuff happens you have a bad day, drink too much, drink too little , get too little sleep blah blah blah -do you even realize how absurd that sounds to some of us who are "middle pack-ers"?
I think it is a matter of different goals. In the big picture my goal is to stay healthy and fit so I live a long life, and be a role model to my kids. Doing triathlons and marathons is just the fun way to get there! and you get cool t-shirts!! :D
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
122
Member
1162 days
Beldrueger posted 2 years ago.
rob6118 wrote:
I'd love to win a race, but don't see the point in signing up for something I don't see myself as having the potential to win.
To add to earlier comments. I'm a very competitive guy, but expecting to win every race is a bit unreasonable unless you are an olympic gold medal caliber athlete.
Unless you only plan on signing up for small local races with a handful of participants. Even then you better not live near a seasoned pro.
As for myself I'd rather try my hand at the most competitive races and see how I stack up.
4464
Member
1638 days
beads1985 posted 2 years ago.
:D
Beldrueger wrote:
To add to earlier comments. I'm a very competitive guy, but expecting to win every race is a bit unreasonable unless you are an olympic gold medal caliber athlete.Unless you only plan on signing up for small local races with a handful of participants. Even then you better not live near a seasoned pro.
As for myself I'd rather try my hand at the most competitive races and see how I stack up.
I have done the NYC Olymipic tri and there are some pro's and olympians there. They have drafting but it is interesting to compare how you do against there times.
Of course I factor in my full time job, 2 kids, etc against triathlon being a full time job for them and I feel pretty good.
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
So when do you guys decide to sign up for a race??
Do you all sit down at the beginning of the year, decide which races you want to do, sign up and spend the money, and since you already paid the fees use it as motivation to keep training?
Or do you train with a goal in mind and as you reach that goal sign up for the race?
Want to do my first half ironman this year, and was shooting for the one in Disney in May. Started reconsidering though when I looked at peoples times and matched them to my own. I'm the type of guy who loves to compete, maybe even too much. I don't want to pay $300 just to come in last place.
For me triathlons are all about competing with myself, and 99% of the enjoyment is from the day to day training. I'd love to win a race, but don't see the point in signing up for something I don't see myself as having the potential to win. I think instead I'm going to keep training until the Miami Half Ironman in November. Hopefully by then I'll be much more competitive, and therefore feel more comfortable entering the race.
Any differing opinions. Should I race just to race? Or is it ok to save your money and just train harder and longer until you feel you are ready to take on the pack? Figured I'd toss out the question and see what the consensus is.
Rob