Should I Intentionally DNF a HIM ??

I say do it and walk the whole way if you have to. I walked at least half of my second half-iron, if not more. The "run" was just a slow shuffle. If you're still feeling that bad, then drop out.

Good luck.

Find someone to do the run and enter as a relay team. I'm sure you can find a Houston BTer to run a half mary.

Yes....good idea. You might be really ready to quit, but you might suprise yourself if you walk a couple miles and loosen your legs after the bike.

Hmmmmm....the relay idea isn't bad.  Although I'd be pissed if I did that and then felt good enough on race day to actually run the 13.1.  But it isn't likely.  Hey, Aaron...Andrew is going to be there right??  You think he might want to run a half mary?  My little wheels are turning in my head.

OK, I am certainly slow, but I shouldn't be THAT slow!! 

If you were going to run my relay, that would mean you would have to finish the entire HIM before I am off the bike.  If you do that, I will immediately jump off the nearest bridge in humiliation!

No don't do it.  I think it is a bad idea.

Looking at your log you are planning of doing your first oly tri this weekend, a sprint tri the weekend after that, a duathlon two weeks after that, a half marathon 7 weeks after that, and another half marathon 4 weeks later.  I think that you might be able to squeeze a half-ironman in there somewhere but why would you want to.  Maybe you are different but everytime I try to just race easy I end up hammering hard, the race monster just takes over.  IM training is all about long term, consistent, injury-free training. 

This is not ment to discourage you.  I have been following your log and know that you could finish a 1/2 IM if you really wanted to.  It just seems to me that your schedule is a bit race-heavy.  Good luck on your race this weekend.  T

T,

If it makes any difference in your opinion, the Half IM would replace the duathlon...they are on the same day.

Mmmm. I think I'm going to be Negative Nancy on this one. To me ANYONE who does a race to INTENTIONALLY DNF is a slacker and doesn't deserve a race director's time and consideration. OK that's a little harsh but you get my sentiment. We already get a bad rep as BTers for being weekend warriors, people who don't seriously train for triathlons just get out there to mess it up for the real athletes. I know that's not true but when I hear talk like this well, how can you blame the critics.

Why would you ever think that entering a race with the intention of not finishing is even remotely close to cool? Train on your own time, not on a RD's dime. If you want to get the swim and the bike's distances in then enter an aquathon or something. Enter a swim race or a bike race something you know you can finish. RD put in a lot of time and energy into their courses. Thank God they never get mad about slow people finishing (like me) and there are some who would do it just for the money who cares if you finish. But someone should care and that someone should be you. I just don't get it.

I guess I just think it's uncool to think that I trained for a year to FINISH my HIM and to know that there's someone else out there who did it on a whim with the intention of not finishing it and is wearing a t-shirt from it. It's just so uncool to me. Where's your passion for sport? I mean would you give a girl a ring, and then get to the altar and say well, maybe I don't. I just don't get it.

Help me understand. O.

WHOA....down, girl!!! 

Seriously Ovetta, have you looked at my logs or followed my months of training and posts here?  This is not something done "on a whim."  My point on the DNF is that if it comes down to not finishing because of risk of  injury, I'm not too prideful to admit that.  This doesn't make me a slacker or a loser, or a weekend warrior who doesn't care enough to train seriously.  And it certainly isn't wasting an RD's time when I have raced in his other race, and when I have the courtesy to fully explain my situation to him well before entering to get his approval.

If you read my post, you would see that 1) I will only do this with the race director's approval, and 2) I will only do it if the event is not going to sell out, so I won't take anyone else's spot.

It is about challenging myself and getting at least the swim and bike distances in, in a race environment, to enter my offseason and training for my Ironman CDA race next year.

I appreciate what you do here, and of course you are entitled to your opinion.  But I can't imagine you would have typed all that if you had looked at my logs, my race list, and my goals.

No offense taken, we're all friends here.  But I am a little perplexed by your criticism and assumptions regarding my training, my motivation, and my worthiness to enter this race.

Edited by OldAg92 2005-09-27 4:38 PM

Brandt,
I tend to agree with T. I know you have the heart to do it and I understand what you want to accomplish, but I also think you would be better off doing a long training day instead. As far as getting in the transition practice, there is no race similar to an IM. Not even a half. If you decide to do it, I would understand why, I just think you dont need to. Come June, you will be the most prepared guy out there on the starting line. Don't worry. Enjoy this time between now and the end of December.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Tom

Oh, now I understand. I wasn't quite following you at first. It seemed like when you asked the original question that you said, "I'm almost positive I could not finish." I guess I just reacted to that statement. I just don't understand entering a race that you're almost positive you couldn't finish. I read your post so I know you e-mailed the race director and squared it with him. So you won't take anyone's spot and I know YOU'RE not a weekend warrior and I know you've been training seriously and not a slacker. (Should have edited that comment out, oh well).

 That's why I was confused as to why you would enter a race with the intention of not finishing. I tend to agree with others that you probably could finish the race but that you have a lot on your plate.

Racing isn't just about how many you can enter but how many you can do well also plays a factor. So I guess I couldn't understand your rationale for entering a HIM when you knew you weren't prepared or ready to finish it. (which I doubt. If I can finish one anyone can).

Why not do aquathon or century/1/2 century bike rides that will get your time in? I'm still confused at the entering the race with the intention of not finishing.

My venom - and sorry if it was a bit much I'm a blunt girl and even more blunt online - comes from the fact that at my recent HIM people got off the bike and just went home. They didn't even attempt the run. I did and boy did I want to quit but I didn't cause I was so hell bent on finishing. I guess if I entered the race knowing I would quit on the run it would feel like I lost before the swim.Why enter a three-pronged event? Just do a dual one.

I just don't get that mentality. I guess I'm stuck on enter a race - finish a race. Can't finish don't enter. But each to his own. Whatever you do just don't over do it. Don't want to see you injured.

As I said, O, no offense taken. 

You are entitled to your venom...just aim it somewhere else please...he he he! 

WHAT!  You're not going to do the Du and the 1/2IM in the same day, whimp. (just kidding)

I think that madcow said it better than I did.  I understand why you might want to do it, I just don't think it is nessisary. 

Last year around 2400 people signed up to do IMCDA but only 1800 made it to the starting line.  Why?  Maybe a case of to much to soon.  You don't always have to go big.  You just have to go often and not get hurt doing it.  Train smart.  T   

Just heard back from the race director.  Here is the text of his email:

"Sounds great to me!  You won't be taking another person's spot so don't
worry about that.  Good luck in your training and congrats on a great first
year in triathlon racing!!

Thanks,  Greg"