General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Goals Realistic? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2007-04-18 11:07 AM

Member
56
2525
Subject: Goals Realistic?
I'm in my early 50's and about 30 lbs. overweight. I swim 1.5 miles 4-5 days a week. Have worked up to 10 miles in 30 min on the stationary bike and walk 2.5-3 (17 min.) miles on the treadmill. I was about to register for a Sprint triathalon in early June but after reading some of the articles on this site I'm wondering if I'm pushing myself too fast. I'm getting ready to transition into a slow run/jog. This will be my first race, my goal is to get across the finish line. Do people ever jog/walk or even speedwalk to complete the course? Am I being overly ambitious? Thanks for any imput!


2007-04-18 11:15 AM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?

you mean that you're walking a 17-minute mile, not 3 miles in 17 mins?

people do walk/speedwalk... if you're serious about doing a sprint tri, you ought to get a bike. the stationary bike, while good exercise, is not much like riding a real bike.

I think that early June might be pushing the envelope a little bit. Are there any tris near you in July or even August? The shortest sprint program on this site is 13 weeks.

edit: I just think that waiting and building up a better base might allow you to enjoy your first tri, rather than surviving it.   



Edited by newLeaf 2007-04-18 11:16 AM
2007-04-18 11:17 AM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Pro
3730
2000100050010010025
NorCal
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?
I think a sprint would be fine in June. Is the sprint in a pool or open water? If it's in open water you should try to get a few open water swims before the race. When I did my first tri last year all of my swims had been done in the pool and it was big adjustment to swim in a lake on race day. Do you have a bike or access to one? If so, you should ride that rather than the stationary bike as there is a difference between the two. As for the run portion, you can walk/jog/shuffle...whatever is going to get you to the finish line. You can do it, good luck!!

Abbie
2007-04-18 11:19 AM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Champion
6285
50001000100100252525
Beautiful Sonoma County
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?

You can do it, especially if your goal is to finish.  You have 6+ weeks to add more volume to your walk/run and bike portions.

Do you have a bike you can use?  Can you get out on that at least once a week to ride for about an hour?

Lots of people walk during the "run" portion.  Any forward movement under your own power is legal.   

2007-04-18 11:35 AM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Not a Coach
11473
5000500010001001001001002525
Media, PA
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?
Absolutlely you can do it.  You won't be alone if you don't run the whole course.  Might be "better" for you if it were a month or 2 later to give yourself some more time to build up the running, but perhaps you can find another one and see how much you can improve from the first.  Good luck!
2007-04-18 11:45 AM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Master
3019
20001000
West Jordan, UT
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?

There are lots of people who run/walk the run portion and even walking is fine.  You'll find that people at Triathlons are generally very supportive and non-judgemental.    Pretty much everyone is happy to see someone finish the race no matter how long it takes.    I would probably suggest taking your run and bike workouts outdoors to get a feel for real distances.  The speeds and difficulty levels on treadmills and stationary bikes can be deceiving.  



2007-04-18 12:34 PM
in reply to: #766455

Member
56
2525
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?
Thanks for the encouragement, I'm goin' for it!!!
2007-04-18 1:28 PM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Champion
6993
50001000500100100100100252525
Chicago, Illinois
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?
Well its ok to jsut walk it if you need too.

My first tri I could not wait to get to the run since I sucked at the swim and the bike. Well Swim took so much out of me and I was hurting a little after the bike I just walked to finish. Was my time alot slower than I wanted it to be? yes. but frankly since I was last no matter what I did I figured might as well jsut finish and be happy with it.

most important rule is to go out, have fun, and finish. Finish part gets trump if your hurt. I mean hurt and not just hurting. Trust me I pushed myself so many times when I should have said when and it has cost me big time.
2007-04-18 1:33 PM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Master
2447
200010010010010025
White Oak, Texas
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?
I think you will be fine i started last year and was about 30 lbs overweight I could not run further than 1/2 mile with out walking, and a 3 mile ride was a long way.  Feel free to look at my logs.  I completed my first TRI after 3 months of training and walked about 1/3 of the run.  I say go for it...
2007-04-18 2:59 PM
in reply to: #766455

User image

Champion
7547
5000200050025
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Goals Realistic?

amyanne - 2007-04-18 11:07 AM I'm in my early 50's and about 30 lbs. overweight. I swim 1.5 miles 4-5 days a week. Have worked up to 10 miles in 30 min on the stationary bike and walk 2.5-3 (17 min.) miles on the treadmill. I was about to register for a Sprint triathalon in early June but after reading some of the articles on this site I'm wondering if I'm pushing myself too fast. I'm getting ready to transition into a slow run/jog. This will be my first race, my goal is to get across the finish line. Do people ever jog/walk or even speedwalk to complete the course? Am I being overly ambitious? Thanks for any imput!

Please consult with your doctor (crossing my fingers, hoping you have already...)

If the rest of your introduction is correct (not doubting it) then you can certainly do a triathlon in early June.  I've walked during part of the run on EVERY triathlon I've done (including several miles during my HIM).  At least one regular here on BT speedwalks races and is faster than many "runners." 

When you talk about goals, realize that you are talking about your specific situation, not an average of some anonymous group.  At one extreme, someone could go from couch to IM in 3 months IF that was the most important thing to do during those 3 months (quit work, hire domestic help, big $$ on gear, etc.)  They might not be fast, but they could train enough to be confident of completing it in <17 hours.  On the other end, many of us started out barely able to commit to training for a sprint (jobs, kids, household duties, friends, TV, etc.)  Until you make the goal of completing a sprint triathlon more important than those last few "priorities" even a sprint tri is "unrealistic." 

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Goals Realistic? Rss Feed