Can I put the hammer down on an Oly?

[alpinerabbit]

Hey Expert Girls,

I'm signed up for an Oly. No question that I can make it, but if I'm really good on the day, I can be under 3h - 33min swim, 1:27 bike, 55min run plus transitions makes 2:59(:59....).

To make those 1:27, I'll have to really put the hammer down on 2 climbs between km 10 and 20, after which there's a descent and a flat few kms towards the end of the course.
I test rode the two hills saturday. I had the necessary average but had some lactate build up in my legs, and HR spiked. Then again, I had a similarly high average HR on my last tri with a 40K bike leg and I could still run.

Am I risking blowing up? (then again there's nothing I can do but tri, eh try... - If I blow up, it'll be 3:10ish and I still won't be last)

[rocknrollgirl]

when is the race?

[Bron]

Not an expert here, but you do have plenty of time to spin your legs out between the end of the hill and the end of the bike leg, so I think it would be worth going for.
Good luck.

[alpinerabbit]

5 weeks from yesterday, one of which (week #3) I am in the mountains on vacation with the bike, planning 2-3 hard tours - maybe make that 2 tours and one day of short but hard hills?

I plan for 3 2K swims per week ('ve been doing that for the past 3 weeks or so), 3 runs (max 10K)/wk, one hilly; I'm still only cautiously approaching the distance. I ran ~5:20 over the 5K at my last sprint. 5:30 at the first one that had a 40K flat bike leg I did in 1:09.

bike rides on weekends, another ride during the week (2-3 hills of the kind at the race) if I can fit it in and if that helps.
I can do it in 1:27 now, I just don't want to crash&burn at the race...

[KSH]

Well, if you put down the hammer... what will happen if you crash and burn? You just walk the run?

Maybe it's time to test your limits? See what you can do? Might I even suggest that you ditch the HR monitor and just do what feels like a challenge but not completely out of your range?

If you go for it... what's the worst that will happen? And do you mind if the worst happens? Is the pay off of pushing yourself on the bike worth it?

[alpinerabbit]

I probably won't have to walk the run but I will run like 6min/km or slower; or I'll burn out after 5K.

I think I need the HRM so I can push myself to the limit (esp. on the run - except if I get side stitches again, then that's the limit)

The worst that will happen is as said above, I'll finish in maybe 3:10, 3:15 but I still won't be last. I can live with that.

The only pay off would be a sub 3h finish, no one except myself would get excited about that

did I mention I'll really have to swim if I want to break 33 minutes ...

[rocknrollgirl]

I agree with K-what is the worst that will happen? You know you will finish. Go for it. When you get off the bike and start to run, just be conservative and step on the gas slowly. Take it easy for the first mile or two, and then start to let it out.

You can do it.