My Next Race

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Olympic or Not?

Ok, so as you can tell by the little countdown thing I have on my blog, I have my first Olympic distance triathlon on August 20, 2011. I've already registered for the race, but I am have serious doubts as to whether I should do the Olympic distance or not. I can pay a small fee and down grade to the Sprint distance, I just need other's opinions.

I know I can do the distances, I just don't know if I'm ready to do the distances. My goal for every race I do is to finish the race AND not come in last. I'm afraid if I do the Olympic distance I will come in last.

So far in my 3 years of doing triathlons, I've only "placed" in one of my races and that was this year. Granted, I've made pretty big strides, at least I think, from my races last year to my races this year. BUT...do I need to wait until I start placing in more sprint distance races before I move on to Olympic distance races?

I think the one part of the race I'm most concerned about is the swim. I don't know why, but open water scares the bejesus out of me. It always has. Ever since I was a little girl. Plus, I haven't been able to attend any open water clinics to get familiar with swimming in open water.

Plus, the whole timing issue makes me nervous. It currently takes me about 1 hour to swim 1 mile. :( That's not very fast. Now...granted, I have been slacking off a little bit with my workouts. I haven't been doing weights as much as I should and I know if I do weights on a more regular basis that will help me with my swim time.

The bike portion I'm not too concerned about and I'm not too concerned about the running either. By the time I do this race, I will already have a 1/2 marathon under my belt for this season, so 6 miles of running shouldn't be too bad.

So...do I just knuckle down and make no excuses and go hardcore with my workouts (I'm gonna do this any way) and still do the Olympic distance, or do I downgrade to the Sprint distance?

I would really appreciate your opinion regarding this.

4 comments:

Jena said...

I think you should do it! I know you can do it, you are amazing! Try to get over your open water fear and I think you will surprise yourself :)

Even if things don't work out how you want, you just need tell yourself that you are amazing, you tried your hardest and I think finishing is way more important than the worry of coming in last, but I understand! <3

Stefanie said...

My opinion? You do it anyways! It's sounds like you're letting your fears stand in your way, and the best way to conquer fears??? Push through them. I get that your goal is to finish and not finish last BUT even if somehow you finished last on this one, at least you can say you did it! If you don't do it you may always look back and wish you had but if you do it I don't think you'll ever look back and wish you hadnt.
If open water scares you (I know the feeling) go To a lake and start training yourself in open waters... Start out with a life jacket if you need to...
You've got this girl!! I've got all confidence in you!! I absolutely think you're amazing!! I'm serious.

Myriam said...

Ara...You have to do it! You set your goal and you know you can reach it. Go swim in a lake and do some more weight. You have a plan. Follow it and everything will be fine. I have faith in you. You are so amazing! Keep us posted. :)

Tawni Williams said...

I say do it... Think about it - even if you DID finish dead last (which I completely doubt) - you WILL beat all those people that did NOT make it to the finish line - there are always those people.