Other activities and marathon training?
Replies
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@sstini55 - Not to digress, but given your existing bike and run interest, you're just a few swim sessions away from a multisport career.
Can you say "Ironman" ?
Actually......it's something I have been thinking about. But I have no idea how to go from "thinking about it" to doing it. I watched the Ironman and those competitors are awesome! Maybe after my duathlon I should jump in the pool for a few laps!0 -
@sstini55 - Not to digress, but given your existing bike and run interest, you're just a few swim sessions away from a multisport career.
Can you say "Ironman" ?
Actually......it's something I have been thinking about. But I have no idea how to go from "thinking about it" to doing it. I watched the Ironman and those competitors are awesome! Maybe after my duathlon I should jump in the pool for a few laps!
I started later in life (at 54 years old) during recovery from a running injury. Did some biking and swimming as cross training to maintain cardio fitness. A friend suggested I join him to complete a Sprint distance tri, and once I did, I was hooked.
Most people start at the shorter distances, then some decide to build up their training volume to race the half iron or full iron distance events.
Lots of resources available online for people who are just starting out. Finding a local tri club in your area is another great option. Like the running community, triathletes tend to be very supportive towards people who are just starting out. If you have specific questions, feel free to shoot me a pm.1 -
A good resource for the OP & others who do endurance sports and would also like to keep lifting but think they have to stop or go easy is Alex Viada & his book "the hybrid athlete". He's also got a whole team of coaches for people who want to partake in strength and endurance pursuits and get the most from each.0
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deannalfisher wrote: »
Hmm. As a runner, that's different than the one I've heard about triathlons...
"Why be good at one sport when you can be mediocre at three?" 1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »
Hmm. As a runner, that's different than the one I've heard about triathlons...
"Why be good at one sport when you can be mediocre at three?"
ohhh I say that too...but I'm also mediocre at just running...if I had to pick one of the three to specialize in, it would be the swim - which most triathletes aim to just survive1 -
@sstini55 - Not to digress, but given your existing bike and run interest, you're just a few swim sessions away from a multisport career.
Can you say "Ironman" ?
Actually......it's something I have been thinking about. But I have no idea how to go from "thinking about it" to doing it. I watched the Ironman and those competitors are awesome! Maybe after my duathlon I should jump in the pool for a few laps!
I started later in life (at 54 years old) during recovery from a running injury. Did some biking and swimming as cross training to maintain cardio fitness. A friend suggested I join him to complete a Sprint distance tri, and once I did, I was hooked.
Most people start at the shorter distances, then some decide to build up their training volume to race the half iron or full iron distance events.
Lots of resources available online for people who are just starting out. Finding a local tri club in your area is another great option. Like the running community, triathletes tend to be very supportive towards people who are just starting out. If you have specific questions, feel free to shoot me a pm.
Great advice, however I live in the middle of rural Wisconsin, there are no local running or tri clubs near me. I don't know anyone else who runs or bikes. I can count on one hand the number of local "races" we have here. I asked a trainer at the Ymca about marathon training, and none of them have any experience with it. So, all I have to go on is what I have found online, and what you all have told me here. The nearest triathlon would be about half hour to an hour away from me. All we have here is the duathlon. I think with that and then a marathon I will see how it goes, but for any training, I am on my own.0 -
A good resource for the OP & others who do endurance sports and would also like to keep lifting but think they have to stop or go easy is Alex Viada & his book "the hybrid athlete". He's also got a whole team of coaches for people who want to partake in strength and endurance pursuits and get the most from each.
I will look for the book, thanks! Any help/advice I can get is appreciated.0 -
@sstini55 - Not to digress, but given your existing bike and run interest, you're just a few swim sessions away from a multisport career.
Can you say "Ironman" ?
Actually......it's something I have been thinking about. But I have no idea how to go from "thinking about it" to doing it. I watched the Ironman and those competitors are awesome! Maybe after my duathlon I should jump in the pool for a few laps!
I started later in life (at 54 years old) during recovery from a running injury. Did some biking and swimming as cross training to maintain cardio fitness. A friend suggested I join him to complete a Sprint distance tri, and once I did, I was hooked.
Most people start at the shorter distances, then some decide to build up their training volume to race the half iron or full iron distance events.
Lots of resources available online for people who are just starting out. Finding a local tri club in your area is another great option. Like the running community, triathletes tend to be very supportive towards people who are just starting out. If you have specific questions, feel free to shoot me a pm.
Great advice, however I live in the middle of rural Wisconsin, there are no local running or tri clubs near me. I don't know anyone else who runs or bikes. I can count on one hand the number of local "races" we have here. I asked a trainer at the Ymca about marathon training, and none of them have any experience with it. So, all I have to go on is what I have found online, and what you all have told me here. The nearest triathlon would be about half hour to an hour away from me. All we have here is the duathlon. I think with that and then a marathon I will see how it goes, but for any training, I am on my own.
Wisconsin has some of the best races - Door County triathlon sells out every year; Ironman Wisconsin; 70.3 Racine and now 70.3 Wisconsin (in Madison)0 -
honestly half an hour a way for a triathlon is nothing - but then I'm driving 2hrs for a 70.3 this weekend, because the only hotel near the course is now $250 a night and I can't afford that0
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deannalfisher wrote: »honestly half an hour a way for a triathlon is nothing - but then I'm driving 2hrs for a 70.3 this weekend, because the only hotel near the course is now $250 a night and I can't afford that
I agree that it's not a far distance. But there's not really much for training/support near me. Which is not a big deal, I can find resources. The marathon I'm doing is 3 hours away, so I am not opposed to traveling, I just have to do it alone.0 -
there are a couple of good facebook groups for Triathlon (if you are on it)
females only - women for tri - dedicated to getting more women involved - you may find some folks nearby you
pathetics triathlon group - you need a fairly thick skin but a fun group
Athenas - for female triathletes over 165lbs (USAT designation)0 -
deannalfisher wrote: »there are a couple of good facebook groups for Triathlon (if you are on it)
females only - women for tri - dedicated to getting more women involved - you may find some folks nearby you
pathetics triathlon group - you need a fairly thick skin but a fun group
Athenas - for female triathletes over 165lbs (USAT designation)
Thank you! I will check them out. I know I am not the only runner/wanna be triathlete around here, but the runners I do know (like 2-3) prefer solo running, and I am beyond their distances. Just having more people to talk to would be nice, I have no support from anyone to do these things. Which is what got me here, I don't know who to ask about training and throwing a duathlon in the mix. Maybe I will meet someone at the duathlon.0 -
OP, a couple thoughts regarding how to find information/support. When I started, I joined an online mentor group at the beginner triathlete site. Met others in my situation and learned a lot. Its sort of similar to MFP but geared to triathletes.
As far as some other resources, lots of good endurance writers and books around. One that comes to mind is "Your First Triathlon" (or some similar title) written by Joe Friel. Gives you an idea of how to plan your training for a first race. There is also a triathlon group on MFP. Its not a super active forum, but a place to get questions answered.
Finally, feel free to send a pm if you have a specific question that an over the hill, middle-of-the-pack endurance guy might be able to answer.0 -
OP, a couple thoughts regarding how to find information/support. When I started, I joined an online mentor group at the beginner triathlete site. Met others in my situation and learned a lot. Its sort of similar to MFP but geared to triathletes.
As far as some other resources, lots of good endurance writers and books around. One that comes to mind is "Your First Triathlon" (or some similar title) written by Joe Friel. Gives you an idea of how to plan your training for a first race. There is also a triathlon group on MFP. Its not a super active forum, but a place to get questions answered.
Finally, feel free to send a pm if you have a specific question that an over the hill, middle-of-the-pack endurance guy might be able to answer.
Thank you so much! The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?0 -
The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?
LOL. You're still young. I set out to become a runner at age 55, ran my first half marathon at age 58, ran my first marathon at age 59, and ran my first Boston at age 60.
I don't think I'm too old to become a triathlete; my older sister does triathlons. I do think I'd have cognitive dissonance, because I'm competitive in my age group as a runner, I'm an indifferent cyclist, and I'd be in danger of missing a cutoff on the swim. I might be able to train up to be a middle of the pack cyclist and a swimmer who could consistently beat the cutoff, but still . . . I'm competitive as a pure runner already.
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The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?
LOL. You're still young. I set out to become a runner at age 55, ran my first half marathon at age 58, ran my first marathon at age 59, and ran my first Boston at age 60.
I don't think I'm too old to become a triathlete; my older sister does triathlons. I do think I'd have cognitive dissonance, because I'm competitive in my age group as a runner, I'm an indifferent cyclist, and I'd be in danger of missing a cutoff on the swim. I might be able to train up to be a middle of the pack cyclist and a swimmer who could consistently beat the cutoff, but still . . . I'm competitive as a pure runner already.
You rock!!!0 -
OP, a couple thoughts regarding how to find information/support. When I started, I joined an online mentor group at the beginner triathlete site. Met others in my situation and learned a lot. Its sort of similar to MFP but geared to triathletes.
As far as some other resources, lots of good endurance writers and books around. One that comes to mind is "Your First Triathlon" (or some similar title) written by Joe Friel. Gives you an idea of how to plan your training for a first race. There is also a triathlon group on MFP. Its not a super active forum, but a place to get questions answered.
Finally, feel free to send a pm if you have a specific question that an over the hill, middle-of-the-pack endurance guy might be able to answer.
Thank you so much! The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?
Ha,ha. As @MobyCarp says, you're young. And it sounds like you have a great fitness base.
As a point of reference, I started running again after a long layoff at 54yrs old. Did my first Sprint distance tri at 56, moving up in distance to complete the Ironman 70.3 Timberman race in each of the last two years. I also did my first marathon this past March. (I don't like marathon training as much as multisport training, so not planning to do another marathon at this point.)
This year, I'll do a couple half iron distance races, including the Ironman 70.3 at Lake Placid in September. So far, I've resisted the pressure from my coach and partners to train for and join them for the full Iron distance race in Fla this November, but who knows.
If you want some additional data points for motivation, go to the Ironman site, pick any race, then take a look at the finishers by age group. You'll see lots of men and women in their 50's, 60's and beyond who complete the race, including many who place near the front of the pack. Many of these folks did not move to multisport until later in life.
Finally, to put additional emphasis on the "age is just a number" point, at last year's Timberman race, I met TWO gentlemen on the run course who were in their 80s. That was very inspiring.
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Thank you so much! The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?
Cut back? Never...... well at least not until you want to or need to due to health issues.
Here's an interesting article comparing the leg muscles of a 40 year old triathlete, a 74 year old sedentary person and a 70 year old triathlete.....
https://bettermovement.org/blog/2012/use-or-lose-looks-like
BTW I'm 61, didn't start running consistently until my early 50s......you've got a great head start on me!
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OP, a couple thoughts regarding how to find information/support. When I started, I joined an online mentor group at the beginner triathlete site. Met others in my situation and learned a lot. Its sort of similar to MFP but geared to triathletes.
As far as some other resources, lots of good endurance writers and books around. One that comes to mind is "Your First Triathlon" (or some similar title) written by Joe Friel. Gives you an idea of how to plan your training for a first race. There is also a triathlon group on MFP. Its not a super active forum, but a place to get questions answered.
Finally, feel free to send a pm if you have a specific question that an over the hill, middle-of-the-pack endurance guy might be able to answer.
Thank you so much! The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?
You don't have to cut back until you want to!
My mom didn't run her first half marathon until she was in her late fifties. She's now 61 and training for her first marathon. I was running with a group the other day and struck up a conversation with the woman next to me -- she didn't run her first marathon until she was 45. She is now in her sixties and has run over twenty marathons (!). I live in an area with lots of organized running activities and I see so many 40+ women rocking it. When I was in Tucson, I noticed even more. As I approach 40, I anticipate some of the best running years of my life. I have determination and ability to meet goals that I just didn't have in my 20s and even my early 30s.1 -
Thank you so much! The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?
Too old? At 45? Haven't you heard? 45 is the new 25! lol.
Seriously, you're making me feel like I might as well hang up my shoes and quit since I'm 51! Even though I ran my second marathon sub-4, barely, back in January, shortly after turning 51. And I'll start training for my third here in a month or so.
You're only too old if you're dead. Write that down. It's gold!
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Thank you so much! The only other thing I ever wonder is.....it too late for me to even begin taking part in different things, for the marathon I figured it's now or never. (I am 45.) but I do work out a lot. Run, bike, yoga, p90x, weight lifting, jump rope. cross fit when I have time. Probably up to 11 hours a week of exercise. Of course now I am marathon training and will adjust as needed. At what age do I need to cut back?
Too old? At 45? Haven't you heard? 45 is the new 25! lol.
Seriously, you're making me feel like I might as well hang up my shoes and quit since I'm 51! Even though I ran my second marathon sub-4, barely, back in January, shortly after turning 51. And I'll start training for my third here in a month or so.
You're only too old if you're dead. Write that down. It's gold!
I only think that I may be since people seem to tell me so. Very few people know of my running goals. Everyone here is so nice and has given me great advice. I'll have to stop listening to non runners. I usually assume when I see about an older runner that they have done it all their life. But you all have posted stuff showing it's never too late. I shouldn't have doubted myself in the first place. I can totally do a little duathlon and a marathon!2 -
Ok- that's it..... you all have greatly inspired me....sign me up for the Ironman!1
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