Do I sign up for a rematch?
Whelp, cat is out of the bag that I've been silently training towards a triathlon comeback, read about it on my personal Facebook Post I had the absolutely time of my life, and race day was SO MUCH FUN, even though it was brutal at times, I was hamming it up and enjoying every single moment. I've never had that much fun in a race in my life, actually able to not injury hurt and just race day fatigue hurt, gaaahhhhh I LOVED IT!
And now I really want the teams opinion as I'm sitting here wondering what I should do about a potential rematch.
Why a rematch? I know I have a better run in me, I had planned it, trained for it, but on mile 3 I fell and, well, to say I busted my booty is an understatement. Skin was lost, blood was shed, kit was cut up.... and not to mention, it fookin hurt!
From then, I couldn't get my run back. HR shot up every time I was pushing pace and stride never felt right. My second goal, if for some reason the heat was going to get to me more than I thought and I couldn't run my perfect run, was to just run the whole dang thing. Which I did. I slowed myself down to where my HR would play nice and just didn't walk, minus aid stations and the final mile I layed down a 9:30 (which should have been my last 5k pace all together) I was just so unbelievably afraid of walking the whole thing. I wanted to execute smart.
With a 96 minute PR, I would say I did just that, and even though it wasn't my super secret top goal.... I can't be mad at 96 minutes of awesome gained... or lost I should say!
So..... My plan was going to spend the rest of this year weight training (I am still wanting to lose about another 20lbs and sculpt. Ive hired a lifting coach and am super stoked about it) and in addition I was going to keep up my run durability so I can enjoy a good OS for once in my life.
I am now faced with the dreaded little voice in my head that says "you could have done better" and I see that IM703NC is still open.......
Pros:
* Its a logistically close race
* I use to produce this race, so I know it like the back of my hand
* Ive raced it once before (and did so injured so would be a double redemption)
* Won't be the kind of Tennessee heat and its fairly flat run course unlike choo, so unless anything (KNOCK ON WOOD) happened, I could potentially have another PR
Cons:
* Wondering if I could keep up the volume needed to execute well during race season - also, I was really excited about a break from that volume, so I guess I should ask myself "when should I ramp back up again?" If I could have a couple weeks to enjoy pilates, lifting and light running - I might be ready to jump back in the saddle
* Added cost of racing
* Will be 5 days post Kona, so jetlag
* Bc of that^ I wont be able to bike for almost two weeks before the race, however, I could crush my swim and run game for sure.
* Could mean that a November OS start would be rough (and I need to do NOVOS since I will need to start focusing on Everest Training in the new year)
Ok friends, thoughts comments concerns?
Comments
@Mariah Bridges First awesome job on the race you just did! One of my favorite finish line photos ever! 96 mins PR on a 70.3 is Legit! I mean seriously, who does that...? And many congrats on the body comp gains (and future goals). I'm sure that is correlated with your recent performance and with your overall body health. and just... Wowzas!
My advice would be to not even think about making a decision on IM70.3NC for 1 month. Enjoy the glow, recover smart. Start lifting and body sculpting and keep eating healthy. And as you feel like it, do some unstructured runs and bikes (and/or swims). Just do it for fun. You won't lose fitness and will be re-invigorated.
If in a month's time, you still have the Tri bug, then adjust accordingly and start structured "training" again. You'll know. And if the race sells out before then, I'm sure you can get a hold of someone inside of IM to pull some strings for you. And I'm sure you can find a bike to borrow in Kona for a key ride or 2 while you are there if you decide to race in NC (I'll bet Ventum will have a few demo bikes there.).
However, if in a month's time you're really digging the lifting and sculpting, then stick with that. Core workouts are good for both. And you can still S/B/R for social events and or cardio workouts even if you decide not to race. My guess is you'll know which path you should follow once the dust settles. No need to rush that right this moment.
I'd say it depends on how you;d like to see yourself over the next five years? Are you a triathlete, who loves to race, or are you desirous of being a fit person, who picks and chooses how to have fun with her fitness? If it;s the former, than my belief is you should always be swimming, biking and running such that you could, if you wanted, hop into a half iron on a month's notice. If it's the latter, just do what you feel works best for you. If that;s getting the body comp more in line with your ideals, and finding out how strong you can get, well, make that your primary work. Swim and bike as much or as little as you want, but keep running durability primary. There's nothing like a combination of weight room work and daily easy running of 5k or so to keep you ready for anything.
I guess I'm saying, a multi-year focus on what makes Mariah happiest is the place to start from. You're young enough, that PR quest will still be open to you for a decade or more...
Nothing more I add to the sound advice above I'm afraid, but just wanted to say congrats on a HUGE Pr, nice.
A 96 minute PR and the mojo that comes from training and racing that well is hard to come by. Whatever you decide, Ride the crest and absorb the energy that surely is created by it. I know I for one I would be hard pressed to not look for another race and prove to myself that this is the new me! But everybody has different situations and different goals and things that make them happy. Watching your day unfold and reading your recap of the journey gave me energy and makes me excited to race, so I can imagine the power in you from that experience. Enjoy the glow and carry this victory forward to whatever you decide to do next. Nice race.
@Mariah Bridges I've read your message a few times and the one thing that stands out is that you are now embracing a multi-sport lifestyle. Mixing it up is what will keep you in the game for a long time, if that's something you see yourself doing.
Having a race on the calendar certainly helps with motivation but feeling healthy is really what keeps us going. That little voice 'you could have done better' is the lure that brings us back to racing. Each race has it's own PR and victories.
The first thing we see at the end of a race is the clock. It is so easy to focus on the success of the day based on that clock. Instead, look at how your day unfolded based on your peers. You had some victories to be proud of. To my point, I looked at your race results. You consistently moved up in your division all day. Swim-126, bike-111, run- 107. Isn't that the EN way? 😎 And ... the clock doesn't tell the story of you falling down, got back up and kept going.
Give yourself time before committing to another big training block. Jump into some local Sprints and Olympic Tri's, and keep up the GYM work.
There is no doubt you can do 70.3 NC. Set yourself up for victories and don't think about PR's. Every race will have it's share of inaccuracies on distances, long transition areas, etc,. I say it takes about 10 days to honestly assess a race performance.
Everest is a serious commitment!
@Mariah Bridges
Busting your ass at mile 3 and still a 96 minute PR: I'd say you "slayed that dragon"
Like what @Al Truscott said longer term... what will make Mariah happier. And yes you have lots of time. I have friends who are still setting PR's in their 50's. If you stay fit, have fun, and get into the pool, on the bike, and on the road everyone once in a while, you'll have plenty of fitness to jump into 8 week IM or HIM plan and crush it.
Enjoy being young. Enjoy being healthy. Enjoy being badass.
Whelp.... I signed up for NC70.3 in October.
This one will hold challenges all its own as I now have work travel to compete with, but Im ready for the challenge!
@Al Truscott as always you make great points. I re-listened to a podcast I just did with Patrick where he mentioned one of the things he likes about my fitness outlook is how I don't put limits on it. I don't want to self indentify as anything other than someone who likes to push herself and try new things. I do have Everest Base Camp next year and triathlon just helps with that overall fitness - plus, there is no greater high than race day for me right now, Im still beaming from it!
@John Withrow I did exactly what you said - took 5 weeks away from structured training - kept up lifting and just did some runs here and there. It hit me sunday that I was ready for structured training again. So..... I did it.... loaded up a plan and made a decision.
@Sheila Leard I LOVE your perspective and YOU thank you for your insight on the big picture
@Mariah Bridges, congratulations on a massive 96 minutes PR! I'm also doing NC 70.3 this year so i'm looking forward to meeting you and hopefully witnessing another PR.
For sure the weather won't be as hot as in Chattanooga and i think the course is flatter. That will be my second race with EN (i joined a month ago).
@Mariah Bridges , always good to have something you;re shooting at every 4-6 months or so. Have at it, have fun, and see what the summer gets you comeFall fitness-wise
@Vincent Sivirine THAT IS SO EXCITING!!! Lets make sure we meet up before for sure! Will you be racing in an EN kit?
@Mariah Bridges, yes of course. I ordered the EN Castelli kit earlier this month.
congrats on all the forward movements.
glad you are having fun.
looking forward to following things with you.