Can't be bothered running - Triathlon Week

02-07-2005, 12:28 AM

I recently did my first Olympic Distance tri and have two sprint tri's
planned over the next 2 months. But since the Olympic Dist event my
motivation for running has severely dropped (hence sitting in front of
the computer when I should be running). Swimming and cycling are fine
because I do them with groups and that keeps up the motivation, but
running I do on my own because I usually enjoy it more that way and it
lets me fit it in around work and family. Given that I've got a pretty
good base established and still doing long rides, what do people think
is the minimum amount of runnign I should try and keep up to get me to
the end of the southern hemisphere season. I was thinking of 2 interval
sessions a week and dropping the long run (which is what I'm struggling
most with for motivation) along with the three rides and 2-3 swim sessions.

DaveB

02-07-2005, 03:20 AM

In article <420726ac$0$2201$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].au>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...
> I recently did my first Olympic Distance tri and have two sprint tri's
> planned over the next 2 months. But since the Olympic Dist event my
> motivation for running has severely dropped (hence sitting in front of
> the computer when I should be running). Swimming and cycling are fine
> because I do them with groups and that keeps up the motivation, but
> running I do on my own because I usually enjoy it more that way and it
> lets me fit it in around work and family. Given that I've got a pretty
> good base established and still doing long rides, what do people think
> is the minimum amount of runnign I should try and keep up to get me to
> the end of the southern hemisphere season. I was thinking of 2 interval
> sessions a week and dropping the long run (which is what I'm struggling
> most with for motivation) along with the three rides and 2-3 swim sessions.
>
> DaveB
>
Hi Dave,
congrats on your first tri. I am yet to be there.

You are not mentioning about interval works for bike and swim parts. If
you are doing intervals for them too, I think that 2 interval-runs are
too much. 1 interval with 2 easy/moderate runs should be enough.

I think you can do your long run once in 2-3 weeks, required that you do
one long ride. It is not the same of course, but it will do if you lack
motivation.

--
Burak
please remove Dot NOREPLY Dot to reply

02-08-2005, 12:31 AM

DaveB wrote:
> what do people think
> is the minimum amount of runnign I should try and keep up to get me
to
> the end of the southern hemisphere season.

Dave, what you don't say is what running you've been doing, what your
times are for 5k 10k and what your ambitions are for these sprint
events, so its hard to give any meaningful advise.

However, there are plenty of us who manage just fine on one or two run
sessions per week. I don't expect to be last in my age group, I also
don't expect to be in the top-5, but as it happens I can quite often
manage top-10 and have won from time to time.

Of course the answer to these motivational issues is either solved in
one of two ways depending on what you are like as a person. 1). Join a
running club if you have one locally. The club here does three sessions
a week including Tuesday drills and structured sessions, Thursday runs,
w/e longer sessions or intervals. 2). get your self a coach who will
set you a training program and if you are paying them thats motivation
enough to get out and do the distance.

Good luck
++Mark.

ZackJones · 02-08-2005, 03:14 PM

Mark,

If you only do one or two run workouts per week what type do you do? I would assume you'd want one of the runs to be a long run?

02-09-2005, 12:49 AM

ZackJones wrote:
> If you only do one or two run workouts per week what type do you do?
I
> would assume you'd want one of the runs to be a long run?

Yes indeed. usually Sunday pm or Monday am I get out and do 8-10 miles,
and then when I'm home I have the St Albans Triathlon 5k run course
literally outside my door and I go do that flat out later in the week
use my HRM and keep my times.

One of the reasons I don't run more often is I travel a huge amount and
what with the jet lag, new places, lost time etc. I just can't fit it
in. For example I'm out of here Saturday and not back until March 7th.

Now, another way I make up a run session is to run to/from my swim
sessions, even when I'm travelling. It doesn't much upset my swim
session and here outside London, its not Boston/Chicago/NY where its
really cold, but my Monday swim session finishes at 9pm, by the time
I'm changed and ready to go its 9.20pm and it can be cold, but a jog
home gets an extra session in.

You might not want to run both ways to a swim session, maybe you can
get a ride there and run back? or run there and get dropped off at home
or somewhere nearbye on the way back. From time to time four or five of
us run back from the Monday session, splitting off on the way back.

++Mark.
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