What is a successful race to you? Is it going faster (new PR)? Is it going farther? How about just feeling really good after its over? Or is it simply completing a new course?
Many have told me that I am doing much better in races, but I don’t see that yet. I just feel that I have yet to have a successful race. Just thinking that the reason why that is, is because I never really defined what a successful race is. I have been thinking that all the success in triathlons is not in the race itself, but in the training.
As long as i go out and do the best i can its a succesful race. I know what times i should be running and if i hit those i’m happy. This sport takes time and if you aren’t willing to see that you’re going to get frustrated really quick.
I had this discussion with my coach two weeks ago when i told her i was doing a sprint the day before a olympic. She doesn’t understand why i want to race so much and i just tell her until i start winning i’d rather go out and have fun every weekend. In a normal race whats the difference between a 2:10 and a 2:12… maybe a couple spots that don’t mean anything. so i went and raced and did both races basically in what i said i would do them at. could i have knocked off a couple mins on sunday without the saturday race, sure i could have, but it wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.
I also use the criteria that if I went as hard as I could, then the race was good. I do also add the additional criteria that I have no physical or mechanical issues.
This last weekend I raced the Buffallo Springs Lake half. I was about 10 minutes slower than I had hoped for. But, I raced as hard as I could. I might have gone a little too hard on the bike, as my run was slower than last year by about 6 minutes. My splits were pretty even, so I didn’t die, I just didn’t have fast legs. But really, whats 10 minutes in a race that is over 4 hours?
I had a great time, and a great race.
My take away. My estimation of my fitness was off a little; big deal. I had fun, hung out with some cool people, and now I know what I am going to work.
I know I have real issues with seasonal allergies. They totally kill my energy level. I was really feeling great until about 4 weeks ago, then they hit. I have never raced well in June as a result. In Sunday’s race, I felt like I wanted to take a nap starting about half way through the bike; I just had no energy. I mention this only to get people thinking about things that influence their race that is beyond their control. I wish I was not affected by allergies, but I don’t beat myself up for being a little slow due to something I have almost no ability to control.
Last, I will suggest that any race in which you end up in the medical tent, under distress, is not a good race; PR, win, or otherwise. (The under distress qualifier is to eliminate issues like blisters, which are not comfortable but not health threatening.)
It is all those things, and many others. Getting up in the morning and being able to race can be enough on some days.
But I’d have to say the over-riding “success” factor is feeling good. Whether that’s a physical “feeling good” or a mental “feeling good” is irrelevant.
I guess I am not calling my races a success until I finish an Ironman. Everyone thinks that I should be placing now. But I too put races “close” together to build up and prepare for the Ironman. But for some reason that seems to get a lot more negative reactions from fellow athletes when I am finishing in the middle to back of the pack.
Yeah well thats where i completely differ. I have no desire to do an ironman any time soon and no desire to do a half within the next 5 years. I have thought about it but after my 62 mile bike ride sunday im like yeah nevermind.
Pssh you’re preaching to the choir about races too close togehter. I have one weekend off between now and sept 16th. I love racing. Training only kinda. Coming from a hockey background i don’t remember ever actually wanting to go to practice it was all about the games. Im the same way with this. If i’m not racing 2-3 times a month i get bored.
As far as getting negative reactions from athletes. If you are telling them that you could do better you just choose not to because you race a lot then you would get negative attitude from me too if you are using that as an excuse. I never go out and say oh i raced last weekend i am probably not rested. I may say that if i do two in the same weekend but i don’t bring that up unless people ask. If you can’t decide what is succesful for you no one else will be able to be happy for you if everything isn’t a success in yoru eyes.
I basically only tell my tri group what races and when they are at the start of the season. Like I did a half on June 10th and a ten mile run on June 16th. On that run on the 16th I came in middle of the pack over all, and middle of my division. The reaction from my group was first that I never should have run that race. Or if I did I should have pulled out of the Half to place in the run. Thats were I seem to get those negative vibes. I was happy with my run coming in about where I thought I would. I am not using it as an excuse for not placing, but it feels like a disappointment when I still get the talk of doing too many races in a season.
A successful race is one that is well organized and one in which there are no accidents or bad things happen to participants. Then it’s about having fun and enjoying myself. Setting a PB, winning or podiuming AG are a bonus but doesn’t often happen. And don’t forget about a cold beer after an event.
All I can say is I know it when it happens, regardless of the clock.
I agree with that. It’s a feeling for me, not a time. That said, I’ve come away from races with so many different feelings and I consider them all successes. I don’t know if I could ever consider a race a “failure” unless I DQ on a turn (happened twice this year, damn back to breast turns…)
Successful swim races have that 'lightning, liquified 'feeling.
Successful running races it’s like I’m ice skating, just gliding through it.
Successful triathlon: I survive the cycling part!!!
Before every race (usually about 6-8 weeks out), I set a goal and a stretch goal based on how my training is going, my fitness level, etc. Not necessarily a PR, it might be a target time for my swim split, or my run split…or my overall time. If I hit either one, its a success…
What is a successful race to you? Is it going faster (new PR)? Is it going farther? How about just feeling really good after its over? Or is it simply completing a new course?
Many have told me that I am doing much better in races, but I don’t see that yet. I just feel that I have yet to have a successful race. Just thinking that the reason why that is, is because I never really defined what a successful race is. I have been thinking that all the success in triathlons is not in the race itself, but in the training.
Perhaps you could use the advice a cycling coach once told me.
Set 3 goals for your race. The first has almost a 100% chance of it happening. The second will happen if just about everything goes according to plan and the 3rd will happen if 100% goes perfectly.
For example
Goal 1 Finish the race. If you do this you have already had a GOOD race and you reached your goal and can feel good.
Goal 2 Finish the race with an overall time between x:XX and X:XX
