How Far is Too Far ? Training Goals That Keep Things Interesting, While Remaining Injury-Free
Training for the Hintonburg 5k Centennial is going very well, and I’m sticking to the plan and pushing myself out the door even when the mood does NOT strike me. (like yesterday’s 5.75k. I had just returned from a trip to Toronto, and the LAST thing I wanted to do was go for a run. I basically just put on my running shoes and walked out of the apartment and told myself I could go as slow as I wanted – and I ended up running 5.75k in 32 min!)
Additionally, I’m already signed up for my favourite annual race, the Fall Colours 10k (I ran the race in 2009 and in 2008, where I set a PR for 10k at 51:57). This Race takes place on (Canadian) Thanksgiving in Cumberland Village. It’s really pretty and the leaves are usually changing colours, and both years it’s been sunny and cool – perfect for a good race! My goal for this race is to finally break 50min. It’s going to take some training, so I’ve extended my training plan, as you can see:
Now, at first I was content with just these two races this season. But my eyes have been wandering, and my fingers have been surfing, and it turns out there is a sprint triathlon scheduled for September 19 that has totally caught my eye.
The Sprint would consist of a 200m swim / 13km bike / 5k run.
Should I do it? Would a sprint triathlon push me over the training edge? Is it a recipe for further injury? Or am I hiding behind last year’s injury because I’m scared of pushing myself too hard? Is this the perfect opportunity to put to practice the swimming lessons I took last winter? Would a little swimming and bike training actually be GOOD for my knees?
I have received opposite responses from my two main sources of athletic inspiration: My beloved fiancé and gym-partner thinks that I should hold off on triathlons until I’ve had a full season of running under my belt; whereas my brother and running-guru thinks I should give it a shot, but with a goal to finish, not to compete for time.
I tend to agree with both. With either. With whoever I spoke to last… And so now I call upon you, my faithful blog friends. You have stayed in the shadows for too long… Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Should I sign up for a sprint triathlon, or should I focus on my two races and leave it at that (that is – until next year!).
I am always up for pushing yourself beyond. If the injury is at risk of severely impairing your mobility in the future, I would think hard, and probably do it anyways with a serious attempt at a pr. If you are still flip flopping try flipping a coin. If the coin reveals that you should do the race, but you want to flip again, you probably don’t want to do it deep down. And I you really want to do, I can always sign up with you and you would be then guaranteed to kick one person’s ass.
Hey Marlene!
Wow, love your blog! You are a great writer.
I think you can do it easily, if you already run, bike and swim. Swimming and biking aren’t going to harm your knee, at least i don’t think. You just have to show up at the race.
It’s my goal to do a triathlon one day. I’m super jealous of all your training. I have to start all over again, it should be interesting.