Jumping into an unplanned Olympic race?
Hey Team- I wanted your thoughts on jumping into an unplanned Olympic race. The reasons are mostly rooted in giving me an opportunity for an open water swim at somewhat of a 'transition' distance. I have an Olympic scheduled for June 15 but it has a 1500m swim. A disclaimer, the swim is by far my weakest discipline, as I am a 2:00+/100m swimmer at that distance. However, a friend told me about another Olympic that is 2 weeks sooner on June 1 but only has a 600m open water swim. I'm trying to decide if I should jump into that as somewhat of a confidence booster, but I don't want it to derail my long training sessions planned for that same weekend. My "A" race of 70.3 is July 27 so I still have some time to get the swim hours in, and hopefully some open water sessions. Guess I'm just looking for input on what some of you might be inclined to do? Jump into the race and still do the other one 2 weeks later, or just stay on track with the training plan, forgoing the June 1 race? Thanks!
Comments
@Nikki Pembrook - seems like your 6/1 "Olympic" is not actually an Olympic but a sprint. An Olympic Triathlon, like an "ironman" and a "marathon" has a set distance for each discipline. Not all running races are "marathons" unless they are 26.2 miles, and not all triathlons are "ironmans,' but some non athletes use the words interchangeably.
More importantly, perhaps do both if they fit your training schedule if your goal is to improve your confidence in the open water, go after them. You don't have to crush the bike and run (or you could if it fits your training goals), but you will have one or two great catered training days to gain confidence in your OWS as well as work through transition issues and pick up the free time available there through real world practice!
@scott dinhofer - thanks for the fast response. I guess I should have clarified that the bike portion of the June 1 event is 25 miles and the run portion is 6.2 so it is more Olympic than Sprint in my opinion. I have been on the endurance scene for years and am all too familiar with people asking things like "how far was your marathon?" Lol. I just felt the need to clarify that I wasn't completely incompetent at our sport and the associated events and distances.
As for your advice, I was trying to decide if it would just be overall good practice, but it definitely goes against my normal routine to register for 2 events in a 2 week period like that. Looking forward for insight from the rest of the team.
Nikki, here are my thoughts. First off, you describe swimming as your weakest discipline, which makes me think you also have the least confidence in it. My belief in training for triathlon is, go after what's hardest for you, what you're slowest in, as your first priority. (Confront, rather than avoid, your fears.) Also, I believe that racing, specifically, builds confidence. (I find training a bit boring, and racing quite exhilarating.) The 70.3 swim is 1900 meters, so doing an Olympic swim in a race 6 weeks earlier strikes me as a perfect way to get you into a positive mind set for the A race.
If there is a race rehearsal scheduled that week in the plan, I;'d substitute that Olympic race for the RR. If not, then I would not do any bike FTP work, run intervals, or sprint session in the swim that week.
Now, should you do the other Oly with the shorter swim two weeks earlier? Again, I believe racing is superior to training in many ways (up to a point, of course) both in terms of mental and physical preparation. So my bias would be to go for it.
A little late responding, but I agree with the above. Doing open water swim practices are great but open water swimming in a race is much different. The best way to prepare and get more comfortable is to do triathlon or open water swimming races. I do this and treat Olys/sprints as "C" races (low priority/no performance goals). I do not taper for these races. I'll follow the HIM or IM plan through Saturday (for a Sunday race) and will only cut back on the Saturday run. Then I take the day after the race as a total rest day (or recovery swim) and get back to training on Tuesday.
x3 on go for it!
Swimming is my strength, but an OWS in a race situation (particularly with a wetsuit) requires some modifications, and I am always nervous at the start of my first race of the season. A couple of opportunities to get comfortable (particularly with the start... finding the relaxed rhythm), will pay big dividends in the minutes prior to the start of your A-race.
+1 on @John Culberson - I'm a decent swimmer, but OWS is a different beast. Any chance to do that, especially in a competitive setting, will only help on A-race day.
I have a planned Oly this monday, Memorial Day, down in Austin. TX.
I'm trying to decide to go at all at this point ($ that I just don't want to spend, after the reg fee is already sunk).
Swimming is my limiter too, always has been - and not done too much to remedy that in my 15 year tri career.
Eagleman is my "A" race at this point, although with the amount of time training that I've actually been able to complete, it'll be more like a "B-". haha
Thanks everyone for chiming in! Sounds like an opportunity to race and get in an OWS in a race setting trumps whatever was on the training schedule for that weekend. I appreciate all your input on how to handle the week leading up to the event. In some ways, i'm still adjusting to the idea of C priority races, which is what I would consider this since it was completely unplanned. Anytime I have to pay a decent amount of money for entry fee, fork over money for hotel and other travel logistics, I want to do well and make it a worthwhile experience.
@Scott Alexander - I have been in your situation where a race is on the calendar but as the day arrives, I am indifferent about participating. Guess that makes me one of those endurance junkies that truly enjoys the training more than the racing? What I have found is that as long as i'm not ill or it is not completely terrible weather, I am always glad when I go ahead and complete the event that I registered for. Keep us posted what you decide to do and how it goes!
Looks like i'm gonna go ahead and jump into a race this coming weekend. Thanks everyone-
PS. I'm also going to be posting a pre-owned DeSoto T1 Black Pearl Pullover for sale in the classifieds. It is a size 3 and simply too small for me even though I was diligent about consulting size charts and getting input from reviews. I bought it preowned on ebay and got an excellent deal, so I just want to sell it for what I paid for it. $40.00 and it is all yours, shipping included.
@Nikki Pembrook , I skipped my Oly in favor of a long ride (77 miles) with friends, food and adult beverages after. No regrets whatsoever! ;-)
Hey everyone- Just thought I would update, as today was the unplanned event that was discussed. The short version is I'm really glad I raced today. The swim was only 600m but it was tough. Water was cold, murky with zero visibility, and lots of nervous people. Myself included. I got to try out my Desoto speed vest and speed tube pants and they felt great. But the water was so cold on my face that it was hard to really even breathe. I didn't feel like I could get into a rhythm at all and was only really comfortable for probably the last 150m or so. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised, if not amazed, that my pace mimicked my pool swim times. Is the wetsuit to thank for that?
In general, my transitions need improvement, but today seemed to be more a result of sharing a rack with people that treat transition like a giant yard sale, throwing gear everywhere, including mine. 🙄
The bike course was beautiful. Nice and rolling around a scenic lake with just a slight headwind at times. After the questionable swim, it felt really good to get on 2 wheels.
The biggest surprise of the day is the fact that thanks to EN, my RUN is improving! I NEVER...NEVER pass anyone in my age group on the run. Today, on a hot course with limited shade, where many people looked like they were near death, I passed 3 women in my age group and felt really good at the finish. I attribute it to my run simply improving from the workouts, but also to how I ride the bike to set myself up for a stronger run. I'm no speedy-pants by any means, but my run split was 3rd out of 20 in my age group. I seriously thought my chip had malfunctioned.
Hoping for opportunities in the near future for some open water swims to try to get those jitters out. In all honesty, it made me question whether or not I'm really equipped for a 70.3 swim in 8 weeks. I was REALLY ready to get out of the water today. Anyone have any further insight on that?
Congratulations on your "unplanned" race and on crushing the run. From what I've read, a wetsuit can shave ~5+ sec/100 yds off of your pool time. However, going from a 25 yd pool to open water can decrease your pace because you're not benefiting from 4 wall push offs. Bottom line, being able to match your pool swims is awesome!
Always try to get in a swim warm up 20-15 mins before the race. This will get your HR elevated, muscles warmed, comfortable with the water conditions and most importantly you'll get over that initial shock of the cold water. Then, when you enter the water for the race start, you won't get that cold water shock again and will be more comfortable. For some reason that initial shock only happens once. My swims go soooo much better when I get to do a warm up.
Eight weeks is plenty of time to be ready for your 70.3. Swim at least 3x a week and do as many OWS as possible.
Bottom line, getting a chance to confront race jitters will be a bonus down the line. And 3/20 in the run in your AG is a real confidence booster, I bet!
I'm wondering about your wetsuit. I have De Soto T1, and also Speed tube, so I'm familiar with them. The combo of a speed vest (no arms?) and speed tube (3/4 length on legs, no lower torso coverage or shoulder straps) is really a "wet suit" only for very warm conditions, meaning 76-78 deg F. Do you know what the water temp was? And it is also slower than a standard sleeved wetsuit (like the T1 top and "farmer john" bottom.) Is that really what you are swimming in? If so, a different, fuller suit would be both warmer and faster.
I agree with @Al Truscott above get the chance to race and confront the jitters is so key. The more you do it the more comfortable you will be. How you'll probably never get over the jitters, I still get them before the gun goes off.
Great race, Nikki!
I wore my Roka Maverick at my pool for the first time prior to my “decrease the jitters” Olympic distance race. During a typical test set that I am very familiar with, the pace clock showed a consistent 10% increase in speed which was confirmed on race day. @Derrek Sanks is correct. The reason the swim went so well was that I WARMED UP for 10 min. I was also able to get out on my bike a bit before they closed transition, and had my fastest bike split in a couple of years! My “learning point” was that it took too long for me to get the wetsuit off over my chip. Agree with @Al Truscott. Having a full wetsuit takes some getting used to, but pays big dividends, particularly in cold water.
I ALWAYS USED TO warm-up significntly prior to races. Thirty-five years ago, I learned that a good warm-up made a big difference in my swim comfort, time, and ability to get up-to-race speed quickly on the bike. My experience in the pool over the past few years, indicates that the “warm-up benefit” INCREASES with age. I suspect that it may even “save a few matches” in a longer race... and could improve the back half of a run ;-)
@Al Truscott - Thanks for your thoughts on the DeSoto. The race director said the water was 73 degrees though many racers said it felt much colder. After the initial shock of getting in the water, I mostly noticed the cold on my face, which seemed to make it difficult to get into a comfortable breathing groove. I live and race in central/southern Illinois, so a typical race season is hot and humid. Lakes tend to warm up quickly and a few local events are declared not wetsuit legal. I would say the majority of racers in my area wear sleeveless wetsuits. I was on a budget purchasing my first wetsuit, and after what felt like a lot of research, went with the speedtube and speedvest. I bought the speedtube used, but with very minimal wear for a good price. Everyone raved about how easy it was to get on and off and that was a priority for me. I bought the speedvest new during a massive Memorial Day closeout sale and was fortunate enough they still had my size. I am open to adding other combinations to the wetsuit rotation. My purchase of my current combo was somewhat circumstantial, somewhat financial. I do tend to think that the bigger problem was my lack of warm up time and lack of OWS practice in general.
@Derrek Sanks @John Culberson Thanks for the confirmation that i really do need to do a warm up swim no matter how many other people are standing around on the bank thinking it is optional. Lol. Even though i was able to wade in the water before my swim wave, splash my face a bit, etc, it still wasn't enough not to be a bit shocked once the gun went off.
@Patrick Large- my pre race attitude is strange. I'm usually a bit nervous the night before and don't sleep great. I show up at the venue and feel surprisingly calm while everyone around me seems jittery. I didn't feel particularly nervous about the swim, which is why i was so caught off guard that it went so poorly. Overall, i think it was just a good learning experience and has motivated me to try to do whatever i can to find some OWS practice before my next race.
Thanks to everyone for your responses!