Race Report: Strawberry Fields Duathlon

[Wahine]

I wish my next race was six weeks away, instead of four. I almost want to skip it (the following race is in June) but the fees are paid and I am the acting den mother regarding the hotel/road trip with my friends. I want to go, as much for the cameraderie and support as anything, but I'm wondering if it would be detrimental for my long-term plans (and short-term sanity).

One option is to focus on the swimming (while maintaining run/bike) and come April race day just walk the running leg, if I have to. I could postpone my run training/focus until after the race, to prepare for my summer/fall races. I figure I won't be as disappointed in my upcoming race if I don't set my goals very high.

Blue, why don't you use this as a strictly training race. Choose the sport you want to work on and push for only that one discipline, then cruise through the rest. I mean cruise - wear a HR monitor and don't go above Z3. I do this with a lot of my races. Helps to give me focus but keep from burning out or over-doing it. Even give yourself permission to DNF if things are feeling too tough. You can justify it by the fact that if you push through a bad day it will take you too long to recover and will affect your training for your June race.

You definitely need to set out some rules before this race to keep your competitive nature in check. Do not self distruct.

[spokewench]

You did a great job and if you need to because of injury limitations etc., just use your next race for training.

I've lived with back trouble all my life it seems like. Broke my back in my early to mid 20's when I fell off my own horse!

It can be really hard to take, but just take every day at a time. I have found that yoga and stretching really help me. It doesn't get rid of the pain, but it helps immensely, allows me to do more and not have to just cry uncle!

For many years, and especially when I was first starting to race road and mountain bikes, I just used my early season races for training, and then would try to focus on getting better at the end of the year. It works!

Hope you start feeling better soon.