When do you start plotting your 2012 race season? How long do you hold onto your money before giving it to the race? Do you normally sign up for your more important races early and hold off on “b” or “c” races? Just trying to figure out how much money I can hold on to before christmas.
I try to hold onto my money as long as possible. I’ve had to miss races in the past and usually you don’t get a refund. I also generally enter races that I can sign up for less than a month in advance.
i already have a few races plotted out for 2013. almost all my 2012 season as well just the dates arent secured on my calendar yet. thats just the races i really want to do. training races and fun events are thrown in there sometimes a month before or even that week if i want a good workout with some friends but for the most part all my big targets are set out already. I already have goals so it gives me quite a while to work towards the big goal as well as setting some smaller goals for B and C priority races.
I usually sign up when the fee either rises, or at the point where it selling out becomes likely. Definitely look to not pay up until the last minute as a general rule.
I planned out 2012 races a few weeks ago, I’ll probably sign up for most of them just before the price increase or early spring to make sure I can get time off work.
jaretj
I made a spreadsheet of about 20-30 races (runs, tris, etc) that I wanted to do along with their dates, locations, distances, price, and priority of how much I really want to do them (about 5 are for sure and then 10 or so probable, 10 or so possible and 5 or so not very likely)
I plan on whittling it down to about 10-15 events in the next week or two and planning my training/vacation/travel around them.
But unless they are raising the price or about to sell out I will still wait until the last minute to register just in case anything comes up.
I will probably keep the rest of them on the sheet though, even if I don’t plan on doing them because I never know what will come up or when a buddy will be making a trip to a certain race that I hadn’t planned on doing.
Is there a particular website you visit to find 2012 events? Or do you go off of last years calendar?
I go off experience, referrals from friends, and of course trimapper.com and trifind.com. Sometimes those sites are outdated, but they can get you some leads to different racing series and event organizer’s websites.
I also go off of race reports I’ve read and what places sound like they would be fun races and/or fun destinations.
I start signing up for the races that I know are going to sell out as soon as I can. Then, I fill in the gaps as budget/time allows through the season. I “try” to schedule my bigger races around the most convenient times of year for my family too.
Choose the A races and then work back from that.
Signup early or the important races
What are your end of season goals?
To qualify for something or to race certain types of races?
Give me a shout out sometime, I am always looking for a training partner. I can help you with your sub 34-10k?
You thinking of doing Boulder series? whats your focus olympic, half?
FYI I can help you destroy the bike too and run sub 34 off the bike.
Maybe you and Cody need to make a little visit to longmont.
For me? I sign up for the qualifying races first, then the races to get me prepared for those qualifying races (sometimes last minute).
The Big race the championship race, is last, but save your money cause you know you’ll be doing it. and thus usually requires travel and such which is a costly affair outside of the race itself.
I would rather race a few more (shorter races) than race long and have less racing and less recovery. Shorter races you can race almost every weekend. Not saying you should but Could. Most of those shorter fun races are part of the weeks training, There is no special preparation and shouldnt be. Hell I ran 32:38 off the bike with 6x1200 uphill the Tuesday before and it was viewed as a nice training race. Bike intervals on Wednesday, drive on friday race on saturday. Denver triathlon was with Mt Evans Hill climb the day before and come to find out an out of wack L5.
The point is, experience in racing will often get you more comfortable racing and faster. So a few races gets those “things” dialed in. so they are important to do in a mental sense of your year end objective.
Take care
Be careful
What are your end of season goals?
To qualify for something or to race certain types of races?
Give me a shout out sometime, I am always looking for a training partner. I can help you with your sub 34-10k?
You thinking of doing Boulder series? whats your focus olympic, half?
FYI I can help you destroy the bike too and run sub 34 off the bike.
Maybe you and Cody need to make a little visit to longmont.
For me? I sign up for the qualifying races first, then the races to get me prepared for those qualifying races (sometimes last minute).
The Big race the championship race, is last, but save your money cause you know you’ll be doing it. and thus usually requires travel and such which is a costly affair outside of the race itself.
I would rather race a few more (shorter races) than race long and have less racing and less recovery. Shorter races you can race almost every weekend. Not saying you should but Could. Most of those shorter fun races are part of the weeks training, There is no special preparation and shouldnt be. Hell I ran 32:38 off the bike with 6x1200 uphill the Tuesday before and it was viewed as a nice training race. Bike intervals on Wednesday, drive on friday race on saturday. Denver triathlon was with Mt Evans Hill climb the day before and come to find out an out of wack L5.
The point is, experience in racing will often get you more comfortable racing and faster. So a few races gets those “things” dialed in. so they are important to do in a mental sense of your year end objective.
Take care
Be careful
Hey Jim,
Great to hear from you! Right now I’m trying to really make an honest attempt at the itu races next year. This is going to require an amazing swim, but hopefully the college team is getting me ready for that. March in Clermont is my starter race, but I’m thinking of doing the chilly cheeks duathlon series to get ready for that just as an easy/fun effort like you mentioned and train right through it. If I don’t get the elite card I’m probably going to try and give hy-vee my best effort.
I’m hoping to do boulder peak this year again, last year was a learning experience on 3 weeks of fitness. I learned a lot last year in terms of what the course is like and what level you and those top guys raced at. For now at 20, the olympic distance is my focus. When I probably get older I’ll try for the halfs.
I’m in a “run focus” right now and my coach has me doing about 35 to 40 miles per week. I’m going to try to do that yeti chase in golden as my 10k. Other than clermont and boulder peak I’m up in the air about what I really want to/can race.
hmmm,
Some thoughts, (and we can sit and talk about some ideas)
Take 1 more year at least before you jump hard 100% on that ITU Pro card. I mean do the races you have planned, but
Get some more experience too you know?
Choose some races that offer that elite pro field without the procard. do a little traveling in the back of your car, the home stay deal, etc.
But dont do races with the pressure of the ITU Pro business just yet, until that magical experience starts to let you know your ready.
1 more season at the elite mixed pro races. Your super young and have years of growth. I mean I have raced for 13 years, some ups and downs but technically I am still getting a bit faster every year. So there is plenty of time.
Just my 2 cents.
Good luck and still, really lets get together when your available.
CJ…for 2012? 2010. I’ve already got 2012 planned & should wrap up 2013 by January. This coming year is a building block for the following, a cycle that continues year after year. Unless it is a “rest year” like 2011 was for me where I raced primarily local & short.