Forming Off-Season Goals

Hello all,

Just like many of you I am approaching the off season and this being my first year I'm figuring out what exactly I want to work on most. I have my final Tri of the year on Sept 22nd (my first Oly).

I'm 22, I swim a few times a week usually around 1500 yards in about 25-30 minutes. Bike training is usually 18-19 mph (20-21 mph racing) on my commuter that I've slapped slimmer tires on, put cages on, and put some drop bars on, I commute (exactly) 20K four days a week, and I'll usually do about 30-40 miles on the weekends. For run training I usually do about 7:30/min miles for a 5k, and 8:30/min for 10k (race speeds are obviously a bit quicker).

I'm planning on getting some sort of Tri package with my tax refund to upgrade my bike and get some much needed equipment (better bike [that fits] cleats, wetsuit, something other than my $15 helmet, etc.) So during the fall/early winter I'm wanting to hit the run really hard. Upping total mileage for sure but I'm curious on others' thoughts about whether I should sign up for a early spring HM and work on building a base for that (current long run is 8 miles), or whether I would be better off working on building up some speed maybe shooting for a 6:30min/mile 5k and a 7min/mile 10k. I would continue to hit the pool and couple times a week, and commute + 1 longer weekend ride in order to maintain bike and swim fitness, and I currently attend a coached track practice once a week through the local Tri club.

My overall goal is to be competitive in my AG in OLYs, I'm thinking about increasing my distance to HIM in 2015. Does this seem like the right plan, or does anyone think I'm going in a wrong direction? I want to plan ahead so after my Oly I don't think that October and November are gonna be good rest months

Thanks,
Ian

Edited by Tribreitz 2013-09-05 1:06 PM