I find myself in an interesting predicament that I’m sure many of you can relate to. My major race for the season is over, and since I am not fully recovered,* *I see the remainder of my race season quickly fading. (How some of you are racing again 4 weeks after an IM is beyond me!) This saddens me somewhat, but not as much as my two main concerns.
First, I find myself without any goals in the near or intermediate future. This is only a small issue, since I will be planning the next year pretty soon, and I hope to be back at it in time to at least do a century and catch the fall road racing(running) season this year. The second issue is the real problem. I love racing, and I am getting pretty good at it. However, the time commitment that is required for me to feel that I am training properly and race well effectively requires me to be a hermit. However, I would really like to spend more time actually getting out and doing moreswimming, running and riding with others. I know a lot of people who do open water swims when I would normally be riding, or do group rides, but go out later than I normally do, and for less time.
So the question I pose to you is this: Is it better to sacrifice a season of racing to meet new friends and build relationships with existing training partners, or would you rather relegate yourself to improving your race performance, but spend your post race time hanging out alone? Is developing your personal relationships and making friends a worthy goal for the season?
I realize that viewed in a certain light, say, by almost any rational person, this question might seem stupid, but I’m interested in hearing what people think about this, since we often talk about the compromises we make to train and race. Many people who are in this sport have a social support network that is part of the sport as well. For others among us, a training plan means a lot of time alone, and little time for friends.
Is it better to sacrifice a season of racing to meet new friends and build relationships with existing training partners, or would you rather relegate yourself to improving your race performance, but spend your post race time hanging out alone?
Sounds like you’ve already done the latter (improving your race performance, trained alone). I think now is a good time for the former.
When I was training and racing seriously I experinced two very different worlds:
When I was younger and single I trained with many other like minded people who had a fair amount of free time to do this sort of thing. My best friends were my training partners.
As my life advanced onwards training time had to be wedged or fitted in around other things - family, work other things. In this time period, I tended to train mostly on my own. Training sessions were at odd hours or completely spontaneous( Oh great, I have a spare hour. Let’s go for a run!) This tends to be how I go about things now. Although, it’s all for fun and fitness at this stage.
I think that you need to figure out where priorities are.
As for what to do. Training for and doing an IM builds up a tremendous resevoir of fitness, that does not go away if you allow proper recovery and then start back. Off season or post-IM, IS the time of year to perhaps try something a bit different - focus on a running event. Ride with a local cycling club etc . .
List your priorities in order on a piece of paper. Spend the majority of your time on the top priorities. I know it’s simple, and may sound obvious … but that’s what happy people do.
What is going to be more fulfilling in your life … improving race performance or having relationships? I know what I would answer for myself, but I won’t impose that on you. Which do you think will be your greatest regret when you’re 65 … not improving your performance enough or not spending enough time getting to know others.
I have both read and discussed with others the idea that most pepole do not have time/room to be intimate friends with more than 3 people (including spouse/partner).
From the discussions you’ve been invomved in here, you seem like an interesting and easily likable guy. I wouldn’t think that you would have to put much effort into friends/activities, etc.
Next year my potential earnings from triathlon will be just under $0.00. If you assume that I decide that I now need a tri-specific bike, then that number drops precipitously.
I’m not doing LP next year, but I’d be happy to meet up for a ride. Like I said in my post, I spent so much time training for Lake Placid this year, that I didn’t reap any of the social benefits of doing triathlons. So I am going to pick some races to do, but I don’t know which ones yet. A big part of my problem is that I like doing Oly’s and 1/2’s, and not a lot of people I know do longer races. The ones who do are all training for different races, so our schedules never mesh. It’s tough when you and your potential training partners are all trying to walk the fine line of maintaining an overtrained state while borderline neglecting your family and job. ;p
J - interesting question regarding training. NOt sure I am in your league, but I do OK. I have been at some point in a simular situation. Do I train alone in an attempt to do things “perfectly” for me to improve or do I “sacrafice” trainign to build relationships.
I think over time I have come to understand that these two ends are not mutually exclusive. Possibly you can too. What they are (metaphorcially) are counter weights on a balance. Neither can be done exclusively or you loose equilibrium in life and thus do not attain your optimal potential.
Think about how many people you know that always train alone. Over time I would venture that many of these folks have some motivation issues that hinder their training and thus limit their abilities. I think you know the converse of this situation for the person who only trains in social settings with people either much better or worse (athletically) than them.
SO I think your quandry is to figure out your balance. How much time do you need on your own and how much time to you need with others. As I have gone through this journey one great outcome has been, as I train with others I have been able to find a core group of people with simular abilities as me in the swim, bike and run. Many times these folks become my training partner when time and dates match and I don’t want to work out with a big group that may not fit my specific abilities.
I’m excited about the FM, I had a bad spell with overtraining and now i’m basically doing base work (getting a head start for IMLP05) and i’ve decided that i’m not gonna go sub 4:30 (haha), so i’m gonna use it an experience race and have fun with it. Goal time approx 6:00. This will be my first half and i just did my first olympic last weekend. That was muchos fun. Most of my race experience is in long adventure races and mtb races, i’m just a newbie at the tri thing. (i swam the mile in 30 minutes, and i was quite pleased)
