Signing up for next year's races and...

savlyon
savlyon Posts: 474 Member
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a slight conflict.

I participated in my first half marathon in September and loved it. Afterward, I decided I wanted to do the Lincoln half Marathon on May 6 of next year. I also decided I wanted to do a Sprint triathlon in the spring. Well, my local YMCA, where I train, is hosting a sprint triathlon on May 17. So two things that I really want to do are really close together. Right now I am really focusing on the sprint in my training because it seems so far from what I am capable of doing. I'm not a quick person, so I am working on speed instead of endurance (I handled the 13 miles well), and I am working on swimming which is by far my most difficult sport. I also cycle twice a week. I'm just conflicted on how to train for the endurance part of the running while also training for the speed of the triathlon. I currently run a 5k in about 30 minutes...I'd like to cut it down to around 25 minutes by the triathlon.

It might also be important to note that I plan to run my first marathon in September of 2012.

Would it be ideal to follow a half ironman training schedule or a mix of the sprint triathlon and half marathon schedules?

Please let me know if you have participated in events this close together and how you trained.

Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    My suggestion would be to do longer runs to keep your endurance up, and to do brick workouts for your tri training. Going from the bike to the run is hard on the legs, and bricks are crucial preparation. I'm not sure they will make you quicker, but they will prevent you from losing time. I can do a 5k in about 27 minutes, but during a tri, if I wasn't good about my bricks, the run leg is usually in the 30-31 minute range.
  • what923
    what923 Posts: 100 Member
    Switch from the Lincoln half (if that's an IL race...or maybe it's Lincoln Nebraska?) and run the Run Abe 1/2 with us on April 7th in Springfield IL. That would give you a little more space.
  • savlyon
    savlyon Posts: 474 Member
    Ya, it's in Nebraska not Illinois. A lot of my friends and companions will be doing it. It's also a race they say you aren't a runner if you don't run it. I know that is dumb...but it's kind of a big deal to me and my friends. I know it would make more sense to push the triathlon back to later in the summer but the triathlon is more of a challenge to me.

    @jacksonpt...thanks for your input. If my running time is decent now, perhaps with the half training I won't have much to worry about. So you think biking and running bricks are the most important?
  • FrenchMob
    FrenchMob Posts: 1,167 Member
    Yes, keep following a half mary training plan, and throw in some brick sessions. Believe it or not, doing longer runs at an easy pace will get you more speed on the shorter runs than any speedwork will when still a beginner runner (<2 years running).
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