I’ve recently begun to really enjoy cycling and since my season is over save for a relay or one Oly, I spend most of my time on the bike. I also have a 1/2 or full-marathon in Nov. so I get those miles in. Mentally then I don’t “feel” like a true triathlete.
BUT - I haven’t swam since Breath of Life over a month ago, and I feel guilty about it. I am still new to the sport and don’t want to lose any minimal gains I make, but certainly want to have fun.
Two questions:
I’ve swam since junior high (I’m now 36) and was a water polo player. I am confident in my muscle memory, but not my endurance. If I blow off swimming until next year, will it come back to me somewhat quickly?
How do all of you balance motivating to train in certain boring disciplines if there’s no race on your schedule?
You’re already a better swimmer than ~90% of triathletes. Unless you’re looking to place/win overall, I wouldn’t worry about it.
Either you love running and so do it out of pure enjoyment, triathlon is important enough to you to keep a consistent focus and train even though you may not want to, or you don’t - blowing off the run whenever you don’t feel like running.
i spend most of my time on the bike. and swim very little; hopefully i won’t pay too high a price on IM day coming up. DOH! for your distances, i wouldn’t worry about it. i have done HIM distance with only 1 or 2 swims under my belt. this doesn’t put me FOP, but not BOP either… as for run, i love to run in Fall and Winter and believe this sets me up for strong spring cycling. also, with (relatively) high bike voume i’m able to maintain run fitness to a good extent, and can run pretty well with only a couple of run sessions a week. now, i’m not fast runner–but find that nothing really crumble apart with this forumla. run a ton over fall and winter, bike a ton in spring, good mix of run/bike (and a little swimming) over summer. to answer your questions directly: 1. swimming will come back; but it all depends on what your goals are. 2. why not have races? i race in running all winter…alot of people think i’m crazy, but running races supports the running training i’m already doing. if you’re looking to swim alot, then pick out a swim meet…they go on all winter long, and master’s meets are a hoot.
I love my bike, I’m doing more cycling races/rides than triathlons this year. I’m learning to love running. It’s been a slow battle but I’ve finally got to the point where I look for ways to squeeze in a run rather than looking for ways to get out of it. I’m a major slacker when it comes to swimming. I’m very comfy in the water but I’m slow and don’t put much effort into fixing that. I’m going to have to find a way to kick myself in the butt over that this winter if I’m going to continue with triathlon. I hate having a FOP bike and decent run that goes for nothing because I was BOP in the swim and that’s been the usual story this summer.
Actually, I think it can be a benefit to focus on one sport for a few months. With a strong swimming background you will be fine. Even if you lose a bit of swimming form, it will cost you only 30-60 seconds over the length of an oly swim, whereas getting better on the bike might pick up a couple of minutes since you will presumably also be fresher for the run.
i was actually a breaststroker. i usually finish the swim in top 30%’ so nothing earth shattering but I’m also mot exhausted. My freestyle kick is horrible but that’s not a big. I average 20mph on the bike so I could improve mre there anyway. I just feel a little guilty not swimming at all.
nah, it’s the other way 'round for me. My cycling gets neglected.
if you are a swimmer, what stroke/event?
love from,
distance freestylist
You shouldn’t feel “guilty” about how you choose to train - do it because you enjoy it, not because you feel obligated. Triathlon isn’t the only sport out there - there are tons of people who train and race one sport only. They are neither better nor worse than triathletes, just different. But I bet you they don’t feel bad about the fact that they only do one sport.
I’ve been to the pool twice this year. I’ve done more races than pool workouts. I run 2-3 days each week. 3-5 miles each day. The only reason I run is to keep from getting passed in the races. I spend a ton of time on the bike. 4 days per week, at least. Any pool workout is ALWAYS combined with a bike ride!!!
I hate swimming…I only do it so I can ride my bike after T1
Running hurts and I mildly like to run…so I run enough to keep ahead, sometimes
I LOVE biking…I’m a really good biker and place quite high in most races with my overall bike split. Even for an old guy (52)
I’m very comfy in the water but I’m slow and don’t put much effort into fixing that. I’m going to have to find a way to kick myself in the butt over that this winter if I’m going to continue with triathlon.
The second annual Fishtwitch challenges start in November!!! You are welcome to join in
