Each season I find myself switching 3 or 4 times on what to train for. The end result is my overall fitness improves each year, but I rarely sign up for more than a single race and I have no focus.
Some off seasons I decided next summer will be all about open water swims, or sprint triathlons, or a HIM, or maybe a marathon.
How about you guys?
Do you know exactly what you want to accomplish or do you get stuck in limbo and just enjoy the hodgepodge training?
I’ve had that issue in the past, but this year having to sign up for an IM 364 days in advance took care of that…
Same problem here. I like long races, but I seem to fill a lot of weekends with sprints and olys at the last minute. I sign up intending to use it as a good training day and then hammer and wreck myself for a few days after. I just love to race.
I swear next year I will only race 4 times (ok, no more than 8 times … but that is all.)
I plan a year or so out with a focus on 4 or 5 races. I “train” for the longest one or the closest one. This year was Florida 70.3 & Rev3, NYC Olympic, Skinnyman Sprint and IMAZ. So I trained for Florida & Rev3 all winter, then focused on NYC for June/July and now increasing for IMAZ with a “2 week sprint focus” before Skinnyman. I did a few others for the sake of racing.
Next year I will train the winter for Rev3, and the summer/fall for Skinnyman and Toughman 1/2. I’ll also do a lot of other races just to race.
Each season I find myself switching 3 or 4 times on what to train for. The end result is my overall fitness improves each year, but I rarely sign up for more than a single race and I have no focus.
Some off seasons I decided next summer will be all about open water swims, or sprint triathlons, or a HIM, or maybe a marathon.
How about you guys?
Do you know exactly what you want to accomplish or do you get stuck in limbo and just enjoy the hodgepodge training?
I was planning on doing my first HIM at SOMA this year, but two things came up. I found I needed a bunch more classes than I thought to be able to test for my 4th degree, and I realized I just didn’t enjoy the time that would have been necessary to get the goals I wanted. So, I’m doing shorter workouts, but way more intense and looking at doing sprints mainly.
Sunday will be my second sprint this season, so we’ll see how it goes. On the bright side, I’ve managed to drop my 5 mile training pace below 7:25/mile.
John
just train
sign up for neat races
you aren’t pro (right?) I don’t think that last 5% from training specific for a particular will matter much in the scheme of things
.
These are my goals for 2010 (as of now)
Goal 4 could be difficult.