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Sprint, Half or AquaBike?

pgiesinpgiesin
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I am going to take the advice of the Haus and complete at least one other tri before my first IM, which is CDA on June 26. I have found what is think is a great option. On May 1st, is the Bassman Spring Tri (NJ). I plan on exiting the OS on Apr 1st, which is 12 weeks before CDA. So May 1st is close-ish to the Big Day. My question is what distance do you think is the best: Sprint, Half or Half AquaBike? I want to get some experience, but also don't want to majorily impact the CDA program.

Pete

Comments

  • deleshdelesh
    I asked RnP about doing a HIM instead of my big day and was told that it was fine if I wanted to get some more racing experience or don't care about spending the money/time. They recommend to 90% of people to do their own big day but it is fine either way.
  • mattsullmattsull

    Is this going to be your first ever triathlon? I think it makes sense to do the half in order to get some experience with long course racing under your belt before your IM.

  • tuckermtuckerm
    Pete, still haven't heard back about the international distance race on that Saturday but if that doesn't happen I'm thinking the Aquabike. Will just use it as an ABP ride after a swim. You could always run a couple miles after if you'd like. Oh, and I would still do the Saturday bike as planned.
    Also, I don't think the big day would affect the next weekend so you should be good on that front.
  • mgraffeomgraffeo
    I did an aqua bike last year about 7 weeks before IMLP. Used it as a Sunday workout with a swim beforehand. Worked well, without a high recovery cost. I have a hard time holding back in a race, so I'd pick something you can race/hammer, and still keep the week together afterwards. That's why I like the aqua bike. As Rich is fond of saying, if you're paying an entry fee, you owe it to yourself to actually race.
  • tuckermtuckerm
    @Pete, @Mike, it is a basically dead flat bike course. You can hammer it pretty good.
  • pgiesinpgiesin
    Thanks for the feedback.

    Spent some more time last night thinking about this and have come to the decision that the Half-Distance AquaBike is probably the best choice. My primary goal is to get in a decent swim in race conditions. Adding an ABP ride after would seems, like Mike and Tucker say, a low cost bonus.

    My secondary goal was to run off the new tri-bike, which I should have by then. However, I can play with this during normal plan. That is what the Big Day is for right? In addition, I have already experienced (somewhat) the long-course feeling during the AZ (87mi bike/15 mi run) last year.

    So the AquaBike it is! BTW, I just realize that even these type of races aren't cheap. So yeah, if I can going to pay the price I am going to race hard.
  • zipburnzipburn
    My first full IM is May 29th, is Bassman too close for me? I would just like to get some kind of race in before I go to Brazil. It seems early May is the time most Tri's start up here.
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    @JAson, please start your own thread for this stuff so we don't lose it! I think you could do the aquabike, but that's it!
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