It is quickly becoming that time of year where more so than usual my training gets very boring for the average person. Hell, even for most triathletes my training would make for boring blog post.
I guess the most exciting part of this time of year for triathletes is scheduling the 2014 season. Everybody starts looking for their "A","B" and "C" races. Right now, some might be wondering what do all these letters mean?!?!? I think instead of a rule this week, I will do my best to explain the difference between the three. Here goes.......
"A" Race - This is the race that will define your season. It is the end all of all end all races. It is the race that you are willing to break the bank in order to do. Some will even plan vacations around this race and drag family and friends along. For many, it is either a Ironman or Ironman 70.3 race, which could cost you $300-$600 or more in entry fees. After you add travel, food and hotel you have quite a bill that you fear having a bad result. You will do a full taper for this race so you have no excuse for a bad result. Quite often, a bad result in this race, no matter how well all other races of the year go, means that your year was a disaster.
"B" Race - This is a race that is somewhat important but you are not willing to break the bank to do. It can be a lead up to the "A" race or a race that finishes off a year. It is one that you can drive to the morning of a race to save some money. You may also pick this race because you have friends or family in the area and you can mooch a free room and food off them for a few days. Entry fees are nowhere near as bad as "A" races but still will probably cost you close to $100 or so. You will "train through" this race with just a slight taper so if you don't have a great result, you have the "training through excuse" and it was not your "A" race.
"C" Race - Basically these races mean nothing other than fitness test at certain parts of the season. You will not taper for these races so you fully have an excuse to do bad. A triathlete will spend enough on "A" and "B" races that you will cut every corner for these races to keep the cost to a minimum. Quite often these races end up being the small local races that are not sanctioned but have the best post-race spreads!
I guess a small rule is coming.... What I have explained above rings true for most triathletes, I have found, with some triathletes though, that at any point of the season any race can become a "C" race even if originally designated as "A" or "B", depending on the result. For some triathletes, a bad result equals "C" race and they can claim to anyone who will listen that they were "training through" and it was a "C" race.
You know me, nothing says "C" race like doing a 70.3 race and spending $700 to do it!
New Training Totals
Week
Bike - 6 rides/ 177 miles/ 8.20 hours/ 21.5 mph
Run - 3 runs/ 15 miles/ 1.89 hours/ 7:33 per miles
Swim - 3 swims/ 3 miles/ 1.38 hours
Total - 12 workouts/ 195 miles/ 11.47 hours
2013
Bike - 223 rides/ 7213 miles/ 336.22 hours/ 21.5 mph
Run - 155 runs/ 1004.25 miles/ 123.42 hours/ 7:22 per mile
Swim - 129 swims/ 121.25 miles/ 58.58 hours
Total - 497 workouts/ 8338.5 miles/ 518.22 hours
Goals This Week
Bike - 5 rides/ 155-75 miles
Run - 3-4 runs/ 18-20 miles
Swim - 3 swims/ 2.75-3.0 miles
People will often ask what am I on to complete my training?
What am I will I be on?
I
will be on my bike 7-10 hours a week, in the pool 1.5-3 hours a
week and on the roads running 2-3 hours a week in 2014......and of
course caffeine,moose tracks and beer for recovery!
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