Podium or not to podium that is the question

No ethical question if you are at or over the minimum weight for the category.  Go for 1st!

So is it a series and you are already in first place and not doing this race would lose first?

Or are you just really really cocky?

True enough about the assumption.  I and the 3 others in the field are within minutes on all our average times.  It will be a fun competitive race.  But that being said, I know they are over the 225 line by a good margin.  I have lost a lot of the weight since my last race in HIM preparation so I think I will have the slight edge, but anything can happen in triathlon.

Sorry not cocky.  It is the Publix FFF series.  3 season sprints and 1 last championship race.  I am only 2 point behind the leader and a must have win would give me the season victory.  I might lose, the others are great racers and 1 I have never gone head to head against.  Just feeling guilty for being right at the cut off I think.

For me, I am more concerned about how I do against myself--my time, and how I felt, effort I gave. I'd rather be a small fish in a big pond with a great (for me) time than a big fish in a small pond, regardless of time. Translation: I would continue along with my weightloss goals, and race as hard as I could that day.

Well, in that case, it sounds like an awesome opportunity for a really good race!!  Try to keep the weight where it needs to be.

Just drink a lot of water to keep the scale up on race day.

*sigh*   So much to say...but going to pass.  Other than this...

Do you want to be a solid triathlete or do you want to be big fish in a small--albeit heavy--pond?  Looking at your race logs, you have very respectable swim and bike performances.  Your running sucks by comparison.  Guess what'll go a long way to fixing that.

So go get that medal...then resolve to make this your swan song as a "Clyde".  You appear to have too much potential to just settle for being the top dog out of a handful of big guys.

And, trust me, you'll be happier on your HIM the less you weigh.


Yours very truly,

A guy who used to be 240, but did his first HIM at 165

..that wouldn't be an opinion on the whole Clyde/Athena seperate race division thing would it?

since you are already to the end of the series, and doing well enough to be competing for the win, I say live large for another week and go for the win.  I know everyone always says you should just be competing against yourself, but going for a win in your class, whatever class that may be, is a thrill that is hard to duplicate.  This MAY be your last chance, certainly for some time, since you won't be a clyde anymore.  There is no ethical question, unless you lie about your weight.

After this race, get the weight down and don't look back.

I don't get it.  If the cut off is 225, it's 225.  If you weigh 225 or >, you can race in that group.  As far as grouping, 225, 225.5, and 235 are all the same.  If you weigh 224.9 on race day, you don't race that group.  Do racers 40yrs and 1 day old feel bad about racing 40-44, doubt it.  I got that you know who you're racing against and it's a series and all that, so I didn't read your post as being cocky. 

I agree.  Why would you want to force yourself to remain overweight -- for a medal?! 

eta: reread OP -- didn't realize the race is this weekend.  You're tapering anyway so it should be easy to not lose any weight in the next few days.

Edited by skarl 2009-10-08 5:02 PM

Go for the medal, people rarely get to win in this sport so take it if you can.

Drop the weight for next year.  Your body is not designed to carry large amounts of weight when running.  Its not even a choice; if you want to safely run training mileages then you are going to have to get below 20% bodyfat.  

Thanks everyone.  Yes the race is this weekend.  That is what I figured... so close so I should go for it.  Its not like I was 205 and am gaining to race, just 224.8 and need to get that little extra.  Water and salt should do the trick. 
The neat thing about publix series is they have many clyde classes.   185-200, 200-225, 225+.  Not sure why so many and many chose to race age group anyway.  But for me, I just don't see me ever getting to 185 (my high school weight) ever again.  205 I think would be great.  I like to bench press 255 multiple times as that allows me to throw my kids in the pool pretty far.    If I were to race age group, 35-39, I am in the most competetive group there is.  40-45 is not looking to good for me either when I get there as all those times are fast as well at the top.
  It is fun to race for your own PR as 90% of us do, but it is a lot of fun to actually be in contention for something.  Gives you that extra drive to get up and train.  I just don't think I would ever have that in the age group.  My coach (36) took 26th in IMFL last year.  Took 4th in the Gulf coast 1/2 with a 4hr 20min.  Not many of us could get to that level.  
But, looking forward to dropping 10-15 fast in 1 month for miami man.  I think my wife would agree.

I'm a clyde.  I place in my age group (40-44) in sprints.

I take more enjoyment placing 2nd in AG than first in clyde, but I am warped in that regard

I think this is really good advice.

This, (from a former 225 podium placer and current 200+ MOP'er.)

So ... what did you do and how did it go?

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=183620

I hope that link will take you to the race report. 
DID great even through they canceled the swim.  Took 1st, but kinda anti climatic.  The chief competition did not show up for the race and another was in the age group category and not clyde anymore.  But my times were the best of the year on the bike and run. I weighed 225.6 in the morning of the race.  The awards ceremony was great.  Got a nice trophy and swag. 
Now time to drop down to 210 if I can for Miami man.  See you all there.

Congrats, that is great!!  I am all for series/points races.  And because you were in the hunt, it didn't make sense to throw it away.

Schwag is good!!  Well done!

Now you can drop the weight and get even faster.