MzMillie

Hey All,

So, I'm a first time Tri-er .. and also an "Athena" ... not that it really pertains to this question but I guess for full disclosure ;-)

I have three full weeks of training left before the event (June 13th- and I guess a few days of the final week before Im supposed to rest)


My question:

When training for the bike run, are you typically supposed to train over the mileage, at the mileage or under the mileage of the race?

Is it like running a marathon (not that Ive ever run one, but Ive heard) where you aren't supposed to train the full mileage and allow the adrenaline or whatnot carry you through the last bunch of miles.. or should I be doing OVER what is expected of me on race day?

Ive launched into super-sonic freakout mode because my "long" ride on Saturday only resulted in about 10 miles... and the tri is a 22k (so I think thats roughly fourteen?)

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Barchettaman

Millie, you need to get some miles in on the bike. Not stupid amounts, but some miles nonetheless.
Find a route you like - even a loop thatīs a couple of miles long - and put some time in on the bike.
Try and build up to, say, and hour at about 60-70 % of max effort, over the next two weeks.
If you get bored, throw in some intervals where you go full out for a minute or too, then recover and pedal easy for 5 minutes.
And have fun!

Triguy

Hey Millie, in general you're supposed to get in your race mileage before the race. The only reason people don't before a marathon is because 26 miles is pretty hard on the body.

I would try and go for a ride longer than your race before race day. You've got some time, so you may want to try doing one time out longer than race distance easy, and then one day out with some little pick ups. I think you'll have a lot more fun on race day if you know that you've gone the distance before.

MzMillie

It's still do-able though, right? Gaining at least four miles (hopefully more than four) in three weeks?

Triguy

Heck yes it's still do able. And I tell you what, even if you don't get in the 14 before race day, just go out and have fun.

sirious94

here is my general rule:
Swimming-more Biking-more running-10k or less more otherwise less.

Also for biking, you could do 20 tomorrow and be fine (well a flat 20 at least)

MzMillie

thanks everyone. I had a GREAT ride tonight I felt really good about it. It was 12 miles before the storm came in... but I felt pretty good going through it ... so it has alleviated *some* of the fear and panic

StanSeven

Hi Millie,

You'll be fine. Try and get a few longer but comfortable rides in before the last week.

I used to live in Joliet so I wasn't that far from you.

Enjoy yourself.

Stan

MzMillie

Yay. I actually grew up in the N. Burbs.. moved out here when I got married. Joliet isn't far.. I'm on that last little piece of aurora right where Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora and Oswego converge

cjbruin

Good advice above. The only think I would add is that this weekend you should do a 20+ mile ride. You will be surprised how easy it is for you and it will give you a huge amount of confidence going into your event.

StanSeven

I miss hearing about those towns. It's been years since I was there.

How are you longer rides coming now? Is your tri in a week or so?

MzMillie

Yep June 13th, just at the 2 week mark I guess *eep*

Longer rides are going well.. Ive done as much as 15 (ish)... Im going to try for a 20 tonight. Everyone tells me the Naperville Tri bike route is fairly flat, so my confidence is slowly and steadyily increasing a bit... because I can pedal for miles and miles when it's flat.. its those dag gone hills that kill me
After the third pass around (I ride a 5.5 mile circular course) my legs don't want to pedal UP the hill anymore. so I have to cut across and double back on the flat route.

MzMillie

PS if its been a long time since you've been here oh boy would you be in for a shock. Aurora has almost 200k people in it, Naperville is at about 151,000 they are HUGE suburbs now. And the cities are trying to keep up with the sprawl and demand for wider roads etc. I live in Aurora and work in Naperville (8 mile difference between the 2) and it takes me FORTY FIVE minutes to get to work.

If there were sidewalks, I would totally ride my bike. But people around here drive like maniacs, and I am petrified to try riding in the street w/cars