coming into the spring i felt like my cardio fitness was down, but leg strength/conditioning was up compared to the past couple of years and i was optimistic. now, the wheels have fallen off. i bought a new (old) house and the job has been crazy … so i’ve been averaging about 1.5 hrs training per wk for about the last 8(?) weeks. it’s gotten so bad that i’m giving consideration to skipping the columbia, (md) oly coming up on may 22, for lack of overall fitness. it’s a hilly course that is challenging on the bike, and painful on the run.
i want to do the race, and would be happy with finishing in the last 1/3 of my a.g. … it’s more to do the thing than to really race it, obviously.
so the question is, if i hit the bike reeeallly hard over the next few weeks, and work in swimming and running as i’m able (job demands haven’t gone away, i’m just ready to start training at midnight if need be), can i expect to get my legs/lungs up to a reasonable state. really, can anyone? or is it too late to do any good at all? my waking heartrate is still in the 50’s, my body fat percentage is still around 10 … i don’t need to be sharp or fast, just capable of finishing uninjured, if not in style.
Go and do the race. You will be fine … Most of us need more recovery from running and we bounce back quicker from cycling and swimming, so, maybe … Run a lot now-soon and taper for the week before the race; Build up the cycling from today through 3-4 days before and swim when you can. It won’t get you too far, but its better than bagging it. Good luck! -TB
I think it takes something like 3-5 days to recover and reap the fitness benefit from a workout, so yeah, you can still gain some fitness in three weeks. Get out
Don’t forget key technique sessions. I find good gains by maintaining solid drill based work on all 3 disciplines.
Do the race though. Every athlete irrespective of ability rarely feels like they’ve done enough when they tow the start line. Chances are that often that they’re wrong…
I’ve read that there is no physiological benefit from workouts less than 10-days before an event. I would do the race, but just treat it as a long workout. I would not totally fry myself in the next 21-days, because you will get hurt, and you will not get in shape in 3-weeks anyway. Maybe some long slow distance bike workouts and lots of swimming to build your endurance without risking injury, and then ease off the last 10 days.
how optimistic! … i figure i’ll do the race, guess i’m just trying to find out if i can avoid an absolute survival-fest and have somewhat of a good time at what i hear is one of the best-run races around.