Triathlon - Undertrained and race is in a week.

I have a race on sunday and I have been seriously undertraining. I've still been riding a lot, swimming a fair amount, but not as much as I should have been, and definitely NOT running close to enough.

race day is in 7 days and I know that I should be ramping down this week. BUT I'm not sure if I would be better off if I hit the pavement a little more than normal this week or if that would just beat me up and make the run worse.

I'm not super competitive, but I'd rather not bonk during the run. advice?

http://www.gwhunt23.com/jef_mallet_race_frazz.JPG

Just remember- running is the easiest part. One foot in front of the other.

Best of luck to you!

Everyone is trained just right for their own personal pace. :)

How long is your tri? Sprint, Olympic, Half, or Iroman?

Overcompensating on race week will only have a negative effect for the race. Better to do shorter,sessions with brief efforts at race pace with perhaps a Ride /Run brick (or two - but will minimal run mileage for these. Just enough till over the initial heavy legs sensation goes) as per a normal taper.

Always better go go in underdone then overtrained.

Enjoy the race, just realise you current fitness level and adjust your pace accordingly.

It's an olympic. I usually do sprints, I have done a couple olympics before. thanks for the advice, I'm about as far from competitive as you can get, but I still like to feel like I'm having a good race rather than feeling like I'm going to die.

thanks!

You can't change your fitness in 7 days, but you can wear yourself out in that time. As others have advised, better to undertrain than over.

COOL IT!!!

Tyson

It's an olympic. I usually do sprints, I have done a couple olympics before. thanks for the advice, I'm about as far from competitive as you can get, but I still like to feel like I'm having a good race rather than feeling like I'm going to die.

thanks!

I did a half ironman the same way. i walked at all the aid station and did the whole thing in under 6 hours. Talk a bunch of walking breaks!

Dude I am right there with you. I have a 1/3 IM distance (weird isn't it) on Saturday. Swimming is great. Biking is great. This morning is the first that I've run since June 15th. I had developed some hip pain so stopped running. I have been doing nordictrack and stairmaster in hopes that will compensate for my complete lack of running. We'll see.

I hear that it is better to be overtained that undertrained.

Taper is the most important and critical part of your training take it seriously...

Drink Heavily

The urge to cram a month's worth of training into the final week can be overwhelming. I know from experience.... And it doesn't help.

I like the idea above of a "mini-brick." Just enough riding to get your legs heavy and then a short run to experience that unique T2 feeling.

And enjoy your day! You'll do better than you think.

Drink Heavily

Good idea. And just cram a bunch of training in the last few days before your race. It always worked when I studied for finals.

Cheers.

Drink Heavily


Pffttt... I drink while racing.

I would take it easy on the bike to save your legs for the run.

for the record.

PR on the swim, it was clockwise and I pull to the right so I pulled my fastest swim time ever.

did pretty well on the bike in spite of the fact that I ride a steel surly crosscheck with anti-aero cyclocross bars.

run was pretty bad, but not my worst!

Hi
if the training hasn't gone to plan then use your HRM to limit your effort on the bike and the first 5k of the run. Then see what you have left.
The other way of looking at it is: Well recovered!
Just go out and enjoy it with out the expectations of doing well you might just do better than you think.

for the record.

PR on the swim, it was clockwise and I pull to the right so I pulled my fastest swim time ever.

did pretty well on the bike in spite of the fact that I ride a steel surly crosscheck with anti-aero cyclocross bars.

run was pretty bad, but not my worst!

Nice job! See? It wasn't so bad after all.

You finished and unless you are elite I wouldn't worry about being on the podium just worry about finishing....