Three weeks to the race, and the Gomers are just the right mix of excited and terrified. And they’ve got a lot to say about it, which made it necessary to split the Episode into two parts! This is Part 2.
Steven is in the midst of a “long prep,” including waking up at 5 am, wearing contacts, and cramming himself inside tight clothing. Anthony spends time swimming with someone half the Gomers’ age, and twice their talent. The Nation gives great swimming advice. And the guys remember a show they were (sort of) (ok, VERY sort of) a part of.
Monday Survey this week: If you could give ONE TIP to a new runner, what would it be? JUST ONE! Happy running!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Podcast (podcastseason3): Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Don’t worry about the numbers so much at the beginning, enjoy your runs and set duration/distance goals instead. If you are happy to practice, then you will actually practice and the numbers will follow naturally.
Just a note to help you understand the “bike race” scene as it is quite different from running races. As you know, in running, you have races going on all the time where you have a bib number and perhaps even a timing chip of some sort.
On the other hand, bike races with actual timing systems are not as common. It is more common to find bike “tours” or supported rides where a few different distance options exist (from 10 to 100 miles) and there are aid stations are on the route. Most riders will participate for fun and to enjoy a workout with a group. Some riders will join these tours and perhaps get into a group that is pushing the pace or trying to go faster. But there are no medals or winners at the finish. The “race” that Anthony found that required a fund-raising minimum was most likely a tour. Fund-raising is common, but not always required.
There are several types of actual races: criteriums or crits (many laps on an approximately 1 mile course), cyclocross (short laps on grass or dirt, with obstacles), mountain bike (off road trails), etc. Unlike running races, these races usually divide the participants up by experience so they can race separately. In running, it is an inconvenience when a slower runner starts ahead of you in the corral and you have to run around them, but in cycling it becomes a big safety issue, thus the divisions.
Most of the triathletes I know don’t really do any bike racing outside of the triathlon itself. The different types of bike races I mentioned above usually require a different type of training and focus than the bike leg of a triathlon. Running, however, is the same everywhere and thus many triathletes will participate in 5Ks, 10Ks, halves, etc.
I have thoroughly enjoyed the triathlon season. Keep up the good work!