Been there, done that, now what?

[teigyr]

Well...since I did the two tri's this season (sprint and one with sprint distance except for 1/4 mile swim), I am lost now that the last one is done.

I was very aimless today so it's time to plan for next season. What is the next step, Oly? The way I see it is I train for the next step and throw in a few sprint tri's for fun and to practice. I'm more of a distance person anyway.

For those that read my swim thread, this winter is all about swimming. I am going to a Total Immersion clinic in October and I plan to practice OW until it's too cold. Oddly enough, I prefer OW to pool swimming so I guess I'm blessed that way. Either that or the coach I got was awesome because he really made me see the beauty in it.

So, what would be the next progression for late spring/early summer? I don't like being stagnate, ie repeating the same distances over and over unless it is THE distance I prefer. I know my limits - in cycling I progressed to centuries and that was pretty much THE distance. No desire for a double.

I have most of the toys, now I just need to plan for the next one. What's a good distance?

And thank you all. Thanks to this thread I wanted to do a tri and thanks to this thread I did two in two weeks. (And I didn't drown!)

[Eden]

Why not aim for a faster time on the same distance course? I enjoy races that are the same from year to year so that I can see how well I've progressed (not tri's for me, but still the same idea)

[mimitabby]

what's a total immersion clinic? Are you learning fish language or what?

[Tri Girl]

I know that lost feeling... it's kinda sad to have.

I'd shoot for an oly or two next season with a couple sprints for the fun of it and training (your sprints could be one or both of the races you just did).
If you're like me (I'm definitely an endurance/distance athlete over a fast/sprinty type), then I find going long to be the most rewarding. Training long is a whole other animal, but one that I see more gains/rewards in.

Do you have any in mind????

[teigyr]

Being a fish would be a good thing It's a swimming style that apparently is not physically draining. So I hear.

The problem is I wasn't a fast cyclist and I didn't care about time as opposed to distance. I warm up slowly (it takes me approx 15 miles on the bike) so yeah I could work on that but it's more enjoyable to increase the distance I do so I don't have to do anything that is perceived as sprinting. I'm a "comfort" athlete person.

Am thinking of a few sprints then an Oly. Don't know which one yet but I have to figure out something. I don't like having nothing to look forward to!!! And for my repeat sprints, I will aim for faster time. I only compete against myself but it has to get better. My first tri which was two weeks ago could have been done in a FAR faster time had I been swimming better and doing better transitions. Trust me, this will happen next year My bike time was decent (not on the second tri but those Kirkland hills were diabolical) and my run time surprised me in a good way.

[HillSlugger]

There doesn't have to be a "next step". I think you need to look at what you like and dislike about triathlon and decide what is right for you. There's nothing wrong with doing sprint tri's if that's what you like. If you are looking for a bigger challenge, then it makes sense to look at Olympic distance.

I certainly understand the "nothing to look forward to". I had planned my season so that after the tri's were over I'd start ramping up the distance for my first metric century. In my case, my knee problem has taken the whole rest of the season away from me. Now, I'm diligently doing PT so that I can have a next season.

[HappyAnika]

It sounds like what you've said points you to an Oly. I like the idea of doing a few more sprints for practice and fun. This is loosely what I have planned for myself next year, we'll see how training goes with the wee one. I'm already anxious to get back out and do another sprint, without being pregnant, so I can give it my all.

In the meantime, you talk about currently being aimless. Can you find some other fall events to look forward to? I'm still planning to do a 5k at the end of October. I needed something to motivate me to keep running so I don't just drop it and then have to start all over next year. I'm also still trying to talk myself into going to a spin class at the gym. I'm so jealous you're going to a TI workshop, I'd love to do that. DH and I taught ourselves through the book and DVD, but a workshop would be invaluable. October is just around the corner, it'll be here before you know it, then you'll want to keep swimming all winter to perfect your technique. I think it's perfectly normal to feel a little aimless after the highlights of the season are over, but there's still plenty to do. The aimlessness shall pass.