75% sure dropping out of Half-Ironman in April; help convince me to pull the trigger (Page 2)

I couldn't agree more - this is Beginner Triathlete.  Again, my personal opinion, but too many people make the jump to HIM or IM and would be better off taking longer to build some base, focus on shorter events, and learn what and how their bodies and lives adapt to Tri training.  People want to go long early on, that's absolutley their choice, but from personal experience there are better ways to do it.

Part of BT is to be encouraging, part of it is to offer differing opinions and advice.  I gave mine.  She can choose to listen to the encourgement, which in a lot of cases is the right thing to do, or she can further assess and decide if she's really ready for this distance.

OP, to answer your question it all depends on what your goals are (unless you are or will be injured by this adventure, then all bets are off the table).

Did you sign up for this race expecting it to:

-be easy?

-be non-challenging?

-guaranteed finish?

-not learn anything about tri's, racing or yourself?

-not have fun?

-not take pride in the accomplishments of what it took to make it to the starting line?

-not have a better idea of how to adjust training, nutrition, planning, scheduling for future endeavors?

-never wonder what you have in you when stretching your limits?

I'm going to guess the answers to those questions will point you in a direction you are most comfortable with. Whether you participate or not you will learn something about yourself, and YOU get to determine what that will be. If you can project yourself to the day after the race and say with confidence, "I'm glad I chose to do X", then that is likely the right choice for you.

What's the worst that can happen if you start the race? You don't finish? As many have mentioned in their own way, the difference between doing 1% of the course and 0% ... is infinite.

Directed to GOFaster, That wasn't your argument though. Your argument was that there's no point in doing a race just to say you did it. But that's why most of us do it. Most of the people here are not going to place.  More than likely she is ready for the distance. She had one bad ride, and you were encouraging her to quit.

You just don't agree with her motivation, which is the same motivation that drives most of us.  Complete a goal, live a healthy lifestyle.  Almost anyone can do a Half IM if you train properly, which she seems to be doing. She just had a rough period, which almost everyone goes through during training.  Pushing through those times is what makes the accomplishment that much more of an accomplishment. Like someone else said, if it was easy it wouldn't be worth doing.

Neil didn't say that...he said that was HIS perspective on why he should or should not race, and shared that perspective with the OP to give her an alternative perspective to what was being posted otherwise.  He did not claim that his perspective/opinion is the truth for everyone...just simply stating that what brings enjoyment for some people, does not bring enjoyment for everyone.

Frankly...this isn't your argument either.  Congrats on finishing your HIM and IM, but what makes you happy to finish races isn't what makes everyone else happy.  You're no more right than Neil is.

This is the OP's decision.  She will be the one who goes through the experience, and she will be the one who decides whether or not it is satisfying to her.

My advice to the OP is to simply take some time to evaluate the situation.  Try to understand why YOU have decided to race, and determine if actually doing the race will satisfy those reasons.  I also agree that one workout, or one bad week is not something you should base your decision on.  Best of luck in your decision.

Thanks for the advice.  Its all good and it mirrors a lot of what is going on in my head.  I tend to over think things. 

I appreciate it a lot.  I know I seem negative, but I'm trying to rectify that. Its a lifelong process.

Thanks I do have to swim and bike more.  I'll shoot for 3 to 4 times on each. I appreciate your advice.  Its what I need to hear.

Oh I am excited about them.  I can't wait for the Austin Half which is this weekend.  But see, I'm not nervous about them because I've already completed a few.  I know I can do it.

Great Advice... Awesome post.

I would have to ask what do you expect to get out of it? 

IMO i wouldnt worry about the money. To me it is about the experience! If you are not going to enjoy it (even though you KNOW you are going to suffer) why bother? This should be fun and exciting with a little pain thrown in.

You are not the most prepared and you are not the least prepared but you are prepared enough to finish if you want. So back the the original question of what do you want and why?

Only three things to worry about IMO.

1. Can you safely handle the swim.

2. Will the bike or run cause long term injury that will make future training more difficult. Sounds like you think you can run/walk the HM so it doesn't sound like this is a problem.

3. Will a DNF be damaging to your psyche? For me a DNS in a race I already paid for and planned on doing would be more damaging to my psyche than a DNF. But I also know I could bounce back from a DNF and do better next time, it would motivate me to train more for the next one. If that is the case for you then go for it. If a DNF is going to demoralize you to the point that you don't want to do another tri, then I would DNS. Only you can know the answer to this one.

Good luck with your decision. I went into my last HIM with bad bike training and a problematic sciatic nerve. The run was an absolute suffer fest but at the end and today I am still glad I did it. I would have felt worse about a DNS or DNF than the pain of that run.

By the way, assuming you're going ahead, I have two pieces of advice:

1.  Go back to your plan and stick to it. I think swimming 3-4 times a week, at this point is excessive, but I am not a coach... the bike is the hardest part of the event and the run is second. I am a TERRIBLE swimmer and I feel this is true.    Anyway, did you have a plan?  If not, find one and jump in and DO IT.

2.  Do a search here on HIM Nutrition.   I personally went with 200 cals/hour on the run and 300 cals/hour on the the bike. I am about your size, based on the weight you put in your log (not fat, by the way).  But generally you need to eat more so you feel like you can do that run off the bike.  It IS possible.   But do a search here on the topic to get different ideas and then make a plan and practice it.

Good luck!

Enough of this already.  There is nothing about this site, or the atmosphere it encourages, that mandates all advice be the same.  If the OP seeks opinions, the OP is going to get opinions.  Shockingly, sometimes they may differ - on BEGINNER triathlete.

OP, you sound just like my wife with one notable exception.  You are far better trained at this point than she is for her first HIM in June.  If you are comfortable getting through the swim, you know you can ride the distance.  Running most of the 13 might be a tall order but it is for many, many people and there is no shame in walking as much of it as you feel you need to.

You will need to start practicing (as others have mentioned) a hydration/nutrition plan.  Start simple with some gel on your longer run or ride.  Search back through other threads for info on different nutrition ideas.  There is a lot of information out there.  I'm a fan of Hammer products and their website has a look of information to think about.