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Please help with planning rest of season- peer pressure/dreams vs REALITY

Leslie KnightLeslie Knight
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

I think I may be too ambitious and I'm looking for some realistic advice. 

I finished my firm IM last Oct and since then have been goofing off- several half marathons, a Duathlon, and metric Century.  Not really following a training plan, but I'm running up to 10 mile long runs, 30-40 long bikes.  I just moved a few weeks ago, so swimming has been erratic, but can get to 1500m in the next month or so. I'm enjoying staying active, but not wanting to "race" this year. 

Committed to half marathon 26 Sept with friends.  Committed to Tour de Tucson 21 Nov with friends and Tucson Marathon 6 Dec with friends(distances for both are up for negotiation here!).  Would "like" to do a HIM in my parents' town (Challenge Venice) on 8 Nov.  That one would be alone.  My hubs would come and Sherpa and parents would come to finish. By "like", I mean it sounds good in my head, but I'm not passionate about it.

The dilemmas- I KNOW I cannot, at current level of fitness, do a HIM, 2 weeks later 100 Mile Tour, two weeks later marathon.  I'm not really sure I even want to commit the time to HIM training, given that it's 12 weeks out  and I am traveling at least one week per month for job.  And still unpacking house!  And the mental stress of a new job.  I don't really like marathon distance, but I would train for that to hang with my buds.

What does the Haus think about a nearby Olympic on 24 Oct, skip the HIM in Nov, then do the 55 mile version of the Tour (one of our group will not be ready for 100 anyway!), then the marathon two weeks later?  Or don't cave to peer pressure and drop down to the half marathon, which has a different start, but the same finish location as the full that my other two friends are doing. 

HELP!!!

 

Comments

  • ezellrhezellrh
    Leslie, if it doesn't sound fun, then definitely don't do it. This is a game. From the tone of your question and post, it sounds like you really are not fired up about any of it. I'd suggest just bailing and waiting until the fire in your belly grows hot. When you stop asking yourself these questions, then its time to get after it again. image
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    If you have good fitness you can "do" all of the above I'm sure. The tone of your post says to me you won't be targeting a particular performance level so why not have fun as a person with excellent fitness and "do" the events. Note: this is different than "racing" them, targeting PRs or particular performance goals, etc.
  • tim cronktim cronk
    X3 on making sure you keep it fun ..... But absolutely nothing wrong with all or non of your choices as training .... If one of your plan decides to turn into a race then you would have to make some better planning decisions around that race event ....

    Challenge Venice- I did the inaugural race there and loved it (although the swim got cancelled that year for a hurricane) Nice venue and location....

    Tour de Tucson- I'll be participating this year with absolutely ZERO intention of riding hard anywhere on the course... Completely a fun/buffet ride....

    Tucson Marathon- Looks really good but I plan to be fat and rested by then... But maybe?
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    Sounds to me like you've already got a plan that you feel comfortable with: local Oly, shorter Tour, then half marathon. Follow your instinct here.

  • Ralph MooreRalph Moore
    I think the other wiser heads have covered the answer to your question but I wanted to point out the fact that you are basically asking permission to do "only" more than most folks do all year. I have heard Rich talk several times on how easy it is to start feeling "guilty" when we limit ourselves to "short" activities that most other people would consider major achievements. Have fun with your fitness!
  • Leslie KnightLeslie Knight

    Thanks for the thoughts.  I talked with my friend who can't commit (the one I am doing the TdT and Tucson marathon with and here's the plan (official bc I submitted a new Season Plan today and am waiting feedback!):

    26 Sept- Half Marathon (registered); 24 Oct- local Oly (trying to talk a new tri buddy into going as well); 8 Nov- Challenge FL 70.3; 21 Nov- 55-75 Mile Tour de Tucson- distance to be determined by my non-committal friend; 6 Dec- Tucson Half Marathon- no matter which distance non-committal friend chooses. 

    Now I have to get me a Ruster bag!

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