Go long or go fast?

You have a big part of your answer already. good luck.

Do you determine speed based on where you place (you said you were a BOPer). This is the wrong way to go about speed evaluation b/c you have no control over who enters the races, and could cause unnessisary dissapointment (ie a PR but you still finished BOP). That being said I would go for the longer races, because its something new to accomplish. As time goes on and you progress in these you will also get faster at the shorter ones too. You can kill 2 birds with one stone that way, but thats just my $.02

I will give you my opinion which is going to be different than many people on this board, and I certainly do not claim it is right for everyone.

For me triathlon is a competitive sport, and therefore success is primarly (not exclusively) defined by competitive results. If I just wanted to see if I could swim, bike and run 140.3 miles I would not pay $200+, travel. etc. I would just walk out my door and see if I can do it. If I wanted to compete against my own time over xx distance I can do that myself without the trappings of a race. A race is a RACE not a path to personal discovery, and triathlon is a SPORT not a zen pursuit. Of course, as you push to the edge of your abilities you will find things out about yourself.

So to your question, my opinion is that you should strive to be as successful as you can at shorter distances before you leap to longer distances. You also will learn what types of races are best suited to your skills and body. In track there are 100m runners and 5k runners and the best are almost never the same person. In football the best offensive lineman would make a poor wide receiver. You may find that sprints suit you best, or maybe it is Ironman races.

Look if you wanted to see if you could do a 1/2 ironman, I will save you the time, you can. Any healthly, mildly-fit person who knows how to swim can slog their way through a miseable, slow, in the end run/walking 70.3 miles. I know that is an extreme example, but it seems to me many people approach longer races that way, given their performance times. Riding a bike for a few hours and fast walking 13 miles just isn't that hard. Many people in this world do a lot more physically challenging things with a lot less "training" when they are forced to.

Where is this going. My opinion is to do the best you can do at shorter distances and start mixing in a couple longer races as your fitness and performance improves.

Edited by actri 2006-09-28 12:44 PM

I agree with all the above :-) ALL the above... AKA This is your party - you need to decide on your own - we don't know you well enough to really answer this for you. Here' a quote I saw once from a very wise person.If it is to BE, it is up to ME ;-)

Ask yourself this -- would you feel better about getting faster, or developing endurance.

For me, I would not enjoy so much just going longer (and slower) as a challenge. To me, it's just a matter of training time and I'll make whatever distance I set out for. IM? Given enough training time, the finish line is a forgone conclusion (I've had people who have done IM's take great exception to that answer, but it's a personal one that I am confident in). But the question of "how fast" will always have a "little bit more" answer to it...

if you've never done a longer distance how will you know if you like it? Maybe you're not a fast twitcher and will never do well in sprints, but can out endure the people who are beating you now. Maybe you'll be a FOP or MOP in an OLY ,but still BOP in sprints because others are just faster. You gotta figure it out for yourself, and there is only one way to know.

If I continued doing sprints until I got really good at them, I would be bored sill and frustrated of triathlons by now. I like the oly distance, even though I'm not all that fast, and now sprints are a treat...I even placed in my last sprint in my AG (I was 3 of 5)!

Acutally my buddhist friend loves long distance running because it is a zen pursuit. Swimming and running very much can be a meditative activity and that does not mean you have to be going slow to do it. I do agree with actri that you can do a HIM. Does not mean though you do not have to work to complete it. Just because you know you can do it, its not the same as having it done.

I completely agree with Hanglegoose on this. My friend who is a big 100 miler has dropped several minutes per mile off her 5k and 10k time. Distance can be one of the best things you can do it improves your cardio which helps you push yourself much faster at shorter distances. Since you inspire to do both I would follow his plan. I want to do my first Oly this year and be really really fast atleast for myself. My plan to do it is simple. Run really frinkin far. Complete my first 50 miler. Once I am done with that I can switch from a run focus using swimming and biking as recovery or wimp out on cold days only to a more balanced work on all 3. Having the endurance to really push myself in my training I know I will help me be able to go fast when it comes to the short distance. Plus I will have dropped the 40 lbs I need to drop before my big race. I have the exact same goals that you have. Mine just might be more insane but hey that is me.

For you I would train for the HIM and use spirits to test yourself out. If you still as slow at the spirits then maybe switch to a more speed training workouts, but a good strong base will really help you out.

Hanglegoose?

Heh. Welshy, is that you?

Edited by run4yrlif 2006-09-28 1:26 PM

as always, I need to add the female persepective: lwhen in doubt, go long and slow, mmmmmm.

Thyierent in disguise?

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive. There's no reason you can't train to go longer, and get faster in the process. The key is how hard you want to work, and it looks like you're well-motivated.

Whatever you do, allow enough time to train properly and get a good plan. Then keep at it!

Good luck!

Do both. The two choices are not mutually exclusive.

I've definitely gotten faster as I'm able to run longer.  But, what you should focus on is really up to you.  Personally, I'd like to do an IM in a few years, so my main goal is to increase endurance.  I'm also starting to think about incorporating speed drills into my workouts to help improve that, although it's not my main goal right now.

This user's post has been ignored.

yeah for some reason I think hangloose is hanglegoose. I have no idea why.

"Acutally my buddhist friend loves long distance running because it is a zen pursuit. Swimming and running very much can be a meditative activity and that does not mean you have to be going slow to do it. "

I think that actri is talking about the RACE, not the activity. Yes, going for a long run can be a very meditative act. Doing so in a race, however, is anything but.

Hey, I said it first

Well tris maybe I know Chicago Marathon was very good for him that way actually. I know the swim is very peaceful for a long time until the next wave catches you and you are getting swam over.

I do understand Actri's point. My friend may do his first tri next year. He would have done it this year but it would been a last minute thing and he would need his wife's ok. Plus I think he would also need a bike first also.