Given the choice between being “peak” or properly trained for a race or simply “survival” or minimally trained for a race, how many willingly accept the later vs not racing.
Seems that due to any number of reasons I’m simply not getting the workouts in that I should in order to improve this year. Knowing I’ll be going into my “A” races this year likely coming out with poorer performances than last is not a a thought I revel in. However I also don’t like the idea of not doing the “A” races simply because I’m not going to be able to do my best.
So what say you? Would you or do you race on the ill-prepared side or do you pack it in?
“Quitters never win and winners never quit, but those who never win and never quit are idiots”
As an official spokesman for the “idiot” faction I’ll answer your question with another question: Is there another reason to do the race besides it being an “A” race? Scenery? Food? Friends?
I don’t have “A” events anymore; I have “It’d probably be a nice race to do” events. It’s a lot less stress but, on the downside, I’ll have days like last Saturday when I do the hometown race where it seems everyone’s brought their “A” game but me. Ouch. But it was nice to see everyone and hang out just the same.
#1 - your bike dont fit and you just aint feelin fast on it - after spending a bunch of cash on it (call that regret #1 too)
#2 - you have a new baby at home who you would I hope much rather spend time with than be on your bike
#3 - the people you train with, though they are good people, and fun to hang out with are not better than you are - you will not improve unless you train with someone who can MAKE you improve.
#4 - you entered the game later in life than the people you compare yourself too…race yourself. For me, ever IM I enter is a one horse race…and I am that horse…dont care what other things go on in the pasture really.
#5 - do you even know what your goals are? If so, are the real attainable goals, or are the dreams (god knows we all have dreams of being on the podium…I wont ever be there at an IM race though, I know that).
It’s all about having fun. I’ve done races when not being at my best but still enjoyed the experience.
If you’re one of these ultra competitive types that hates yourself if you don’t have a great performance then maybe staying home is justified for your own piece of mind. If not, just go out and enjoy.
Life got in the way of my workouts too. And it shows. My tri bike cowers in fear whenever I walk past it. My wetsuit let me squeeze inside it for a swim this weekend, but I thought my heart was going to come through the rubber when I staggered back onto the beach after going half as far, twice as slow as last year at this time.
Races are the tests. If I can’t study for the test, I’m not taking it, if I have a choice, which I do. I’m just barely in “able to finish” shape. Paying to do a race in this condition has absolutely no appeal to me.
“#1 - your bike dont fit and you just aint feelin fast on it - after spending a bunch of cash on it (call that regret #1 too)”
Actually no regret at all. Certainly part of the problem as I simply don’t have the time to get the fit right and or do the necessary rides to get the fit right. I don’t regret the purchase though…and I never “feel” fast on anything that doesn’t have a motor attached.
"#2 - you have a new baby at home who you would I hope much rather spend time with than be on your bike "
True and a major reason why I’m missing alot of workouts…not to mention alot of sleep.
“#3 - the people you train with, though they are good people, and fun to hang out with are not better than you are - you will not improve unless you train with someone who can MAKE you improve.”
Actually about 50-75% of what I do is solo stuff. I could probably benefit from training with some faster people, which I do for the run. However I could also end up destroying myself trying to keep up as well.
"#4 - you entered the game later in life than the people you compare yourself too…race yourself. For me, ever IM I enter is a one horse race…and I am that horse…dont care what other things go on in the pasture really.
#5 - do you even know what your goals are? If so, are the real attainable goals, or are the dreams (god knows we all have dreams of being on the podium…I wont ever be there at an IM race though, I know that). "
I mostly am not worried about “others” and for the most part am in “competition” with myself. Unless some “miracle happens” I can say that I will be slower at most of my races this year than last. Question is…does it matter? on one hand as others have mentioned “If it’s fun it’s good” OTOH part of the fun, for me anyway, is getting better.
I will do a race when I feel ready to do one, regardless of whether I’m “at top level” or not. And I do the best I can on that day, and don’t worry about whether I win. That’s not the point. Races are tests of where you are on that day. And you can use that information to fine-tune the training plan to progress further.
I don’t have “A” races. Or “B” races. I just have races. I always put all I have on the line that day. And if that’s mediocre, then so be it.
depends on the race and how badly prepared I am. The only time I’ve missed Boulder tri was a month after our colicky baby was born, I was just shattered. But I’ve raced it with inadequate training 3 of the 5 times I’ve done it, because it’s a great race on a great course.
Most of my racing is in survival mode. With young children, you just have to accept this IMO. I treat it as a new experiment in efficient training, how fast can I be on an absolute minimum ? I already know how to get fast on lots of training, that’s not an interesting problem anymore… hey, you can rationalize anything.
I have had many years where life got in the way – I called those “Developmental years” – was not prepared for the race - but did it for fun and expirience – to stay in a little bit of shape – and get ready for next year.
This is kinda how I’ve been looking at things for teh last couple of months. Simply “holding” a base and getting in what I can. On some levels I find it extremely irritating and on others…liberating.
I always start and finish the races that I have entered unless finishing is going to make an existing injury worse. But, I also generally don’t enter races until a few weeks or at most a couple months before, when I already know whether I am going to be at least reasonably prepared to do what I want to do. Of course, I’m just doing this for fun, and while I try to improve and go as fast as possible in every race I enter, I’m know that I’m not even in competition for the AG awards.
