Who is planning to train for 70.3 in 2013?

My goal: Atlantic Coast Triathlon 70.3 in October of 2012. Why do this? Because I really enjoy running and kept injuring myself so I started triathlons and so far, other than a few minor muscle cramps/pulls, I've been able to stay on target with training and still keep running.

2011: Savannah Rock and Roll Marathon

2012: Ameliaman Sprint Triathlon

2013: First HIM

2014: First IM

I was thinking of doing eiter Austin or Galveston. Still undecided!

I'd chose Galveston over Austin ten times over.

Read race reviews of Austin over the past few years.  Generally unfavorable reviews mostly do to the horrible and dangerous road conditions on the bike course.  I did Austin in 2011 and will never do it again.

Galveston I have done four times and will do it every year.

I will take your advice! Is the trinewbies plan a good plan to start with? I would be a week behind but I have some good base fitness so I should be ok...you think?

Signed up for Austin 70.3.

Will be my first HIM.

Hired a coach and now I am looking into a powertap...

I will be prepared.

Smart choice on picking Galveston over Austin.

I Googled the Trinewbies HIM plan.  I see that it's an 18 week plan.  Don't worry at all about missing a week.  I won't even begin to think about Galveston until sometime in January.  My advice is to enjoy the holiday season and worry about the race come January.  Continue to get some workouts in for the rest of December but don't follow a regimented plan.  Just have some fun.  It's is my opinion that many (if not most) newbies to both the IM and HIM distance come in overtrained.  As the saying goes... I'd rather be 10% undertrained than 1% overtrained.

As for the Trinewbies plan: I really, really dislike plans that don't give you specific workouts.  All the Trinewbies plan says is to swim, bike or run for a certain amount of time.  A good plan should have detailed workouts telling you how to swim, bike or run during that workout.  You get what you pay for when it comes to free training plans, which is my nice way of saying they're slightly better than worthless. I don't think the free BT plans are all that great either but they're better than the Trinewbies plan.

My suggestion would be to spend some $$$ on a more detailed plan.  How much money is up to you.  I think the BT plans aren't that expensive and have some good detail.  I think they're like $50-$100 per year.  Then there are more expensive and more detailed options like Endurance Nation or Purple Patch.

Oceanside 70.3

Buffalo Springs 70.3

Ironman Wisconsin

It's going to be a big year of "firsts" for the long courses....whoop whoop!

I'm going with Buffalo Springs HIM.  It will be my first for that distance.  From the reviews I have read it is one of the most challenging HIMs around.  Like my ol' Pappy used to say "Son if you're going to be a bear, be a freakin Grizzly."

Also I am grew up in that area and still have family and friends in Lubbock so I'm going home to race.

same reason for me.

There is a german saying:

"In der Ruhe liegt die Kraft"

Which means as much as the strength is in calmness.

Also similiar to "Good things come to those that wait"...

Hence I am not rushing to my first 70.3 and wait for Austin

What is this "train" you speak of?

I'm in for Galveston for my second year.  I JUST broke 8 hours last year. 

I would like to take 30 or an hour off of that.  If next year goes better than this did I'll signup for Oilman too. 

Austin 70.3 is not worth waiting for.  I wouldn't consider it a "good enough" thing personally.   The course is just horrendous.  Until they change the course, there are many better 70.3's in Texas to choose from.

Well, I already signed up...

So I will have to see how it goes, maybe I get lucky and will be a great race this year.

A few from my tri-club ahve done Austin and they liked it, to the extend that they have done it several times.

Generally there are lots of folks walking.  But it's like that at every half because most people overcook the bike.

uhcoog - 2012-12-13 8:41 AM

NewClydesdale - 2012-12-12 1:27 PM

What is this "train" you speak of?

I'm in for Galveston for my second year.  I JUST broke 8 hours last year. 

I would like to take 30 or an hour off of that.  If next year goes better than this did I'll signup for Oilman too. 

That was the reaction I was going for.

But really I said that based on how this season went (work stuff mostly), and how my marathon training was interuppted by an injury recently. 

I am hoping to be able to run all, or most, of the HIM run this year, and having been in marathon shape was suppose to help that.

Yep.  Steelhead 70.3 in Michigan on 8/4 with a buddy that lives in MI.  May do Austin 70.3 if I enjoy my first one...

Good luck!