Planning the race season - frustration

Triathlon Forum
1

Well, here we go again. I’m less than 48 hours out of Lake Placid, and I find myself anxious to figure out what big race I want to next year. Last year, I did Tupper Lake, then had four weeks to decide to sign up for Lake Placid. This year, I’m not bold enough to decide right now that I want to do Lake Placid next year, so I guess I have to let it slide.

That there were over 2300 numbers issued for the race this year, but only 1961 starters(and it was still crowded!) is a pretty good indicator that they are way overselling the race, hoping that folks like me will buy entry even if we don’t know we’ll do the race.

I just have trouble committing to events a year away when I don’t have any idea what will be going on at that point. My father dying four weeks ago underscores that point. I haven’t even signed up for the other races I’m doing this season because they are still open with four weeks to go.

I guess I’m just frustrated that I have to decide one year ahead of time that I want to do a particular race, because I then feel obligated to focus all of my attention on it until the race occurs(I don’t corner the market on singlemindedness, do I?)

Thanks for listening.

2

You can do a non WTC IM distance event like ultramax or the californiaman? Perhaps the WTC needs a little competition, the demand is there.

3

There’s still plenty of time for IMCDA as well. Registration has been open for a month, but there are still ~1000 slots available. It probably won’t fill for a long time.

4

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not hung up about it having to be an M-Dot race. I chose Lake Placid more because I could drive there than anything else. I know I’ll probably have to fly to my next IM distance race, unless the vague rumors of a New England-based IM distance event materialize.

I just have so much going on right now that planning next year’s season is the last thing on my mind. Well, obviously not, but it is the last thing I need to worry about right now.

Jaylew, I’m surprised that CDA hasn’t sold out yet. Do you think that IMAZ has drawn away a lot of potential CDA competitors?

Actually, I’d like to do Vineman. It’s a beautiful location, my wife loves SF and Sonoma, and we have friends in the area. So that’s a strong candidate right now. St. Croix is also attractive as a destination race. And Lanzarote is in the back of my mind. I think I’d like to do a flat IM one day, though. I can go fast when it’s flat.

5

Hey J,

Any insight as to why CDA does not fill up as fast as the others? It was really well run overall and a great venue. I’ll be there again next year.

6

Jeff,

What races are you eyeing for the rest of this season? I’m currently considering the Monster Challenge (tight budget = no travel), but I’m at the very least a bit apprehensive about swimming in the harbor. I got closed out of the Hyannis Sprint 2 and I don’t have many options left. Do you know of any good races in Aug/Sept/Oct.?

7

I hope to do Cranberry Country Oly in Lakeville and FirmMan 1/2 in Narragannsett.

Cranberry Country Triathlon(CCT) is an awesome Oly race with a nice swim(a little short at .8 miles) in a small pond, a beautiful, flat bike(near the ocean so you have quite a bit of crosswinds), and a nice run with plenty of shade. The distances overall are pretty accurate, the course is of lower difficulty, and the organization is good. The post-race meal is nice, and the transition area is situated such that there is no real transition running to do except for maybe 75 yards from the water to the transition area. The post-race barbeque is very nice. The best post-race meal I’ve ever had.

Nothing rewards hard effort like eating half a chicken and potato salad at 11:00 AM on Sunday morning. And the T-shirt is nice, too. (They even have boca-burgers for the veggie-sauruses!)

FirmMan is a 1/2 distance race with an ocean swim(you have to do one of these!), a bike course that is flat for 10 miles, very hilly for 15, then flat the rest of the way. Again, a pretty fast course. They are changing the run course this year, so I don’t know what it will be like, but I’ve heard it’s better than last year, which was a brutal, double mirror image course with lots of short steep hills.

The CCT is around $65, and if you’re in eastern MA you can drive down on race day with no problems. FirmMan is $100, and you have to check in the day before, but I stayed about 10 miles away an the whole race cost me under $300, including lodging and gas. A nice race 90 minutes from Boston, and it’s nice to hang out on the beach afterwards.

I’m not doing Monster because I’m not paying $100 for a sprint race, even if it is downtown.

The only thing that is limiting me is that I won’t be doing much organized training for the next few weeks, so CCT will depend on how I feel. I loved it last year because the bike course is so flat that I hammered the whole thing and averaged around 21.5 mph. I usually can’t do better than 18 on hilly courses.

Anyway, check out http://www.firm-racing.com/ and see if any of their races appeal to you. They usually have a race every weekend through the end of September, when triathlon season in these parts abruptly ends.

Train hard, have fun!

8

Why one every year?? I am on the one every two year plan…easier on the mind, body and the bank account!

t~

9

Hey J,

Any insight as to why CDA does not fill up as fast as the others? It was really well run overall and a great venue. I’ll be there again next year.

Not sure. Perhaps it’s because population density is much lower in the NW?

LP has huge metropolitan areas w/in driving distance. Florida has all the SE states. Wisconsin has all of the midwestern states. AZ has the Phoenix area and Socal. Idaho only has Seattle and Portland. Idaho itself and the other states around it(Wyoming, Montana) have very small populations and presumably, fewer triathletes. Even Sacramento and San Fran are closer to AZ than CDA.

I think the largest percentage of participants the last couple of years came from Cali. Many of those guys will be at AZ next year.

It will fill eventually though, as many people can’t commit a full year in advance(like me - After Moo, I’ll have done 5 and I’ve only signed up a year in advance once).

10

I am very sorry to know of your dad’s passing. Got me thinking about that kind of thing and what happened to me. I signed up for a full racing season last year in September and had it all mapped out. My Mom passed away this past Feb. 19, 2004. I decided to go ahead and keep on training and racing as best I could in her honor. I have dedicated all my races this year to her…in her memory and because physically she couldn’t ever do or experience what I am able to as I do these races…so in my goofy way I am hoping perhaps she is looking down or is with me somehow in spirit and experiencing the same things I do…

11

That’s the way to do it. I got into this because of my Dad’s having heart disease at a young age, and my desire to avoid making the same mistakes that he did(smoking, drinking, eating bacon by the pound…) Doing triathlons was the logical conclusion of my somewhat obsessive fitness regimen. Part of my virgin IM outing was dedicated to raising money for IronWishes in memory of my nephew, Andrew, who died due to complications caused by surgery to correct his cardiomyopathy.

We need to take care of one another, and tell each other how we feel while there it still time to do it. There’s no time to waste, so make every second count.

Sorry to hear about your Mom, Jonathan. I hope that your love for her, and fond memories of good times shared, will offer you some comfort, and keep you strong.

12

thanks…I wish the same for you and your memories of your dad…lots of love and good memories.

When you mentioned heart disease…well thats the same history in my family…its my dad…his heart…he is still here. and doing ok…but thats what got me into running and had kept me running and now doing triathlons. I understand what is motivating you in part.

thank you very much for the good wishes …

Train and race well!!!