Think of backing out of first Half Ironman (Page 2)

congrats on being a cancer survivor! you're a tough person!

I'd say listen to your gut feel. There's no shame in changing plans. No one is judging you or watching you to "race" these events, except yourself ....really.

So if you feel you have to prove to yourself to tough out this HIM, do it!!! you can....but it comes down to what you really want.

There are lots of races to do out there, do what benefits you the most.

Do it. Last summer I did my first. Originally, I backed out a few weeks prior (actually formally withdrew)because I didn't feel ready...training and nutrition was way off because we had moved and it was hard to maintain a strict regimine when you're living out of boxes. I didn't want to push through it because I am injury prone. Once it settled in for me that I was actually withdrawn I got a little depressed. I called the race director up and asked to be let back in, which they agreed to. I went to the race unprepared, but looking at it as a learning experience so I would know what to do for my next one. I aimed just to finish. I finished in 6 and a half hours and was very pleased with my time. And there's something to be said for doing a race for the fun of it...when the pressure is off you enjoy the scenery, crowds and experience so much more.

Go for it and enjoy the expereince!

My (maybe harsh) two cents,

a HIM or IM is difficult because of the time commitment for training of it.

The challenge is to make training and life work and often put private life on a back-burner.

I think the question is not should you back out or not, but what is more important to you?

Personally I think long and hard before I make a commitment, but then once I have done so I will stick to it to the best of my abilities. This means when I signed up for my 50k and put a 20 week plan together that I was not going to miss one mile. When I signed up for my HIM I knew I might have to put other things on the back-burner...

So it seems you either did not think your HIM race all the way through, or you underestimated the time commitment. Either way you NOW need to re-evaluate what it means to race a HIM.

I read every post in this thread...great advice on both sides of the fence.  My advice is straddlin'...if the family is willing to support you through the process, and you really want to do it, how can ya not go for it?  If it's a net negative though, don't do it.

Good luck!

btw, the next time your best friend breaks up with her boyfriend, be there for her...just take her to the gym and talk to her as you're both getting in an hour on the exercise bike!  The endorphins will do you both good!!!    Where there's a will, there's a way.

5.5 months is def enough to put up a really good personal showing for a HIM without devoting your life to it. 

It's ok to bail if you think the training in general is more than you'd like to commit to, but I think it would be a mistake to bail because you lost a month due to colds.

I hit 4 separate colds (for real!) in Nov-Dec that cumulatively wrecked my workout plan. I'm still getting back to form, but I'll be fine in less than 6 weeks total.

5.5 months is tons of time to train for a HIM and have fun with the training and have fun at the race.

If you are looking for permission to scrap it, then look to yourself.  Your health and sanity are usually worth more than any race you can do.

Well put.  That's where I am in my thinking.

Funny you mention this because this best friend is my training partner, so we have been going on long walks/runs and talking through things.  Killing 2 birds with 1 stone is always good!  Only trouble is she keeps feeling like she's going to vomit, so we have to take it kind of easy for now.

I'm stealing the thread - Jo you have to do it.  No matter how you finish, it feels pretttttttttttty cool to hear Mike Reilly scream your name as you cross the finish line.  

To the OP - do you want to do the race?  If you want to do the race, you'll find ways to train when life allows it.  If you don't want to do it, there's no shame in backing out until things slow down for you a bit.   You may not go as fast as you could with a full 5.5 months of training, but you've already paid for it - why not make it your longest training day and have a blast on the course with people cheering you on?  

Same here. If it makes pressure on you, not a wise choice.

If it fulfills you, do your best. After all, you always race against yourself. You'll have an experience to build on.