So a friend is wanting to do a Half-IM. I did some research for him, and found the bike cut off is 4:45 after start. The problem is, he figures that his swim will be around 45 mins, and his bike will be around 3:45. Toss in transition, and he is not playing with much time to spare. Is it worth it to him to go and spend the money and maybe miss the bike cut off, maybe not? Or should he stick to shorter races for a little while. I figure around the same time for the swim for me, but I would be much closer to 3 hours on the bike, so I don’t know what to tell him. Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I would think that it if he wants to do a HIM, it would be worth it to pay the money and see if he can do it.
Well wants to isn’t really the best description. His focus is other sports, but he did a bike trip and there were days of 100K+, and someone had said “Well we did this, we could probably do a half…” He was kind of roped in. He did not spend much time on the bike until after April though as he was focused on his other sports, so…I would agree with you normally if he was really into it, just not quite on the fast side, but that isn’t the case here. I don’t want him o put himself in a postion where he could get cut off before he even gets off the bike, and then maybe decides he doesn’t want to try this sport down the road.
I don’t want him o put himself in a postion where he could get cut off before he even gets off the bike, and then maybe decides he doesn’t want to try this sport down the road.
Then, I’d recommend starting with a sprint or an olympic. Not likely to miss any cut-offs (are there any in these races?). I did 2 sprints my first year and it was the right way to start. I was hooked immediately.
Pull the trigger and give it a try. Just don’t tell mequonman. Try and get a few half distance bike rides in so you can gauge his speed.
Also choose a smart course. I wouldn’t try savageman as my first if I was concerned about cut-offs. I am not 100% sure but the cut-offs have more of an impact if you are in the last wave. If you are one of the first waves you have a head start.
I’d suggest doing it as I always seem to go faster in a race then in training. Even when I try to go fast in training that is.
Just let them know to not stop during the bike and keep focused and they will make it.
Well the race is Peterborough, for the canucks out there. It is somewhat hilly. It is a mass swim start however, so no real concern about waves.