[RunningForT3]

Already doubting myself...<br>
Just signed up for my first HIM, on June 1st.<br>
That was my main goal for 2008, but.......<br><br>
Swimming - something I still can't do. In the pool, can't go more than 200-300 yards. At my first Oly, I swam for an hour. Maybe it's not even the right word.. I actually survived for an hour, or made it out to the shore in one hour.<br><br>
Biking - oh well... it has 5030 feet of climb. Now since only half of the miles will go up, that's almost 200 ft of climbing on each up mile... I'm scared already.. Should I have picked something flat??<br><br>
As for the running... I could run the HM anytime, but I wonder how it will be after 4-5 hours of effort. And after all those killer hills...<br><br>
Well, look like I gotta get working on swimming and hill biking. I leave at the shore, so most of the hills are actually bridges. And a few very short climbs. I have only 5 months for that!!! Wish me luck....

 

[LeftRightRepeat]

I think someone ought to document the stages of signing up for a big race. Maybe something like...
<ul><li>Denial - As in "I could never do that!"</li>
<li>Wonder - As in "I wonder if I could do that?"</li>
<li>Commitment - As in "I'm gonna do this!!" (Here's where you sign up.)</li>
<li>Doubt - As in "I can't <i>really</i> do this!"</li>
<li>Resolve - As in "I sure as heck am going to do this!" (This is about where you put the formal training plan in place.)</li>
<li>Fear - As in "I can't <i>really</i> do this!" (This one is later, usually during the taper.)</li>
<li>Anxiety - As in "Here we go!"</li>
<li>Joy - As in "I did it!!"</li>
<li>Declaration - As in "I'm never doing THAT again!"</li>
<li>Repeat from step "Wonder".</li>
</ul>
You'll be fine.

 

[jjketark]

It'll be great! the fact that you're scared will motivate you to be really well prepared. Congrats on taking the risk! you won't be sorry.

 

[jkaiser20]

June 1 is quite a long time from now. Step one, relax.<br><br>
Swim? In my first (actually only) Oly I swam for 48 minutes. A month later I did my first HIM. Swam that in 50 minutes. No problem. If I can choke through one, so can you. Plan to get a couple open water swims in come spring. Keep swimming those 200-300 yards. Soon they will turn into 400's, and so on.<br><br>
Since the bike goes up, I would make sure you plan some hills later on. But right now I suggest you build some leg strength.<br><br>
Run, sound like you can run. So, build you schedule around you weaknesses.<br><br>
We will be here to help.<br><br>
Quit thinking about if you can do it, think about how much you will have doing it, and how awesome it will feel to get that medal.

 

[BethR]

NO, you haven't made a mistake. But, you do have some work to do, so stop wondering and start training!! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
If you are consistent all winter and spring, you'll be fine. Work on your swim technique - ask a good swimmer or lifegaurd to watch you and give you pointers. And, get in the water - 2-3x/week.<br><br>
Hills - are you at the Jersey shore? Do you have a trainer? You can do hill workouts on your trainer. Or, cross the river into PA and you'll find some hills. Or, use those bridges for hill repeats.<br><br>
Which race are you doing? I'm doing the Black Bear half IM in the Poconos June 1st. I have to focus on hills too, but luckily we have them around here.<br><br>
Good luck!!

 

[bcc594]

I agree. You have your work cut out for you, but it's doable. I need to remind myself all the time that my running doesn't need the same kind or amount of work that my swimming does. Focus on your weaknesses, and don't lose perspective!<br><br>
Bradley

 

[RunningForT3]

LRR, that's awesome, you should market that as the 10-Step Plan to Racing Success! I did the "Resolve" item already, I have the plan.<br><br>
The problem with hills, and bike in general, training, is that it's cold, windy and snowy/rainy here until around the end of March. That leaves me with about 2 months of real bike training. I don't have a trainer and don't think I could use one. I think it would be like the treadmill: I can run 4 hours outside, but no more than 30 minutes on the TM...<br><br>
Beth, that exactly the race I'm doing!!! Cool, so I'm gonna meet a KR'er!!! Have you done any HIM before? I'm planning to get to the area at least once or twice, and ride the race course. And I started taking some swimming lessons, they helped a lot, so far, with my stroke, but I still don't have the endurance.

 

[NBjunkie]

RFT3--first--congrats!!!! how exciting!!!!!! second, you will be fine, as long as you dont set yourself up to be disappointed.....if your goal is to finish--you will be a-ok, and feel no pressure to push yourself past something that could cause you injury or to have a bad experience. So, the swim--just keep at it and dont worry if it takes you 2 hours to swim, at least you did it, didnt drown, and can say after, that you completed a HIM--which is a HUGE accomplishment!!!! ---above all---HAVE FUN!

 

[Tri-Tammy]

As someone whose struggling with this same issue, thanks for posting this. I know that you are going to do awesome Chris. You surpassed your own expectations last year, didn't you?

 

[Tri_coach06]

Has someone finished the course before? Yes, I'm sure they have.<br><br>
If they have done it, you can do it.<br><br>
CS

 

[mmoonptdeux]

Chris - wanted to echo the others here.<br><br>
Half the battle is realizing the scope of the task in front of you, which you have done. Now it's a matter of putting in the work to make that scope doable. From what I remember last year, you accomplished quite a lot - I can't see why you can't add your first HIM to that list come June

 

[runninirish]

I signed up for my first HIM with the same trepidation...most of us probably did! My swim was still pretty week by the time the race rolled around...the rough waters that day didn't do much good to calm my fears...I headed out with my wave into Lake Michigan, swam for 2 minutes and turned around to head back in...I was in a panic to say the least...but I calmed myself down at the bouy and talked myself into going on...I have never looked back since then and have since become a "swimmer"...so NO! You have not made a big mistake...in fact, it was a great thing to do...put your goals out there and go for it! Good for you!

 

[LookiLoo]

Noooo! I'm signed up for my first HIM in August, and am a little stressed out at the moment as well - mostly with the bike - it's not my strongest. I'm trying not to think about it - just follow my training plan, and trust it, that's all I can do!<br><br>
//hijack// runnerirish - which HIM did you do? I'm doing steelhead and the swim is in Lake Michigan. Growing up around there I know how rough it can be, so the swim distance does not scare me, but the wave action does...ugh //end hijack//

 

[BethR]

Yay! I look forward to meeting you. My training group is planning a trip to ride the bike course in the spring - weather permitting. I'll let you know and maybe we can meet up then.<br><br>
You'll be awesome. Don't worry. You have plenty of time to work on your swim, bike and your run. I don't have a trainer either, but I wish I did because I know I would be a much stronger cyclist if I were able to spin more inside during the winter. I go to spinning classes at the Y, and my instructor is also my training partner who's also doing Black Bear - so the class will have lots of hill workouts this winter and spring!<br><br>
This will be my 2nd half IM. I did Eagleman in Cambridge, MD a few years ago. It was flat as a pancake, but windy. Maybe you'll find the Pocono hills a nice change from the winds at the shore! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[RunningForT3]

Thanks everyone for the support!<br><br>
Beth, I did Black Bear (sprint) as my first ever Tri last year. My legs are aching just by thinking about the bike course. But I only had a hybrid at that time. Also, no the nicest memories about that lake. It was my first open water swim, and I kinda panicked, started hyperventilating (which made it quite hard to swim), so I was hugging (no kissing) each buoy on the way. But having no winds was so cool. I guess it was one of my first rides of the year with no wind.<br><br>
Sheldon, yes people finished it, but people also finished Ironmans (or is it Ironmen?). I even know a guy who finished the Mont Blanc 100mi ultra. See, still no reference to me <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
Chris

 

[Tri_coach06]

Not so. Your looking to finish the race. You train and you trust in your training. All along knowig that you aren't doing something that has never been done. Others have done it, and if they can, you can.<br><br>
You'll be fine. One word of advice. Depending on how many times/wk you swim. Start the session with your longest distance. So if you have swum 300, then you should hit the water on your next session and swim 300, then do the rest of your workout. The next time add 25 yds and so on. Do your longest swim when your body is strong and fresh.<br><br>
CS

 

[hobey]

Woohoo! Train well and trust your training. I watched you last season. You'll be fine

 

[niemsco]

I was very similar to you last year. I had a Half IM coming in July, the Spirit of Racine Race, and this time last year I didn't even swim. I couldn't go 50 yards without being out of breath.<br><br>
My saviour was to take some lessons and be in the pool 4-5 days a week. I might have even been in their six days a week initially, drilling my butt off, but 30-45 minutes in any one session. Eventually I got into the longer swims. I did have some fears waiting for my wave to go but I just calmly sat in the water and just viewed the surroundings until I felt comfortable. Then I knew I could do it. Just trust your training, relax, and get some shorter races in if you can.<br><br>
Seems like you have a great support network here so shouldn't be a problem. Good Luck!

 

[kylemcm]

Chris,<br><br>
You can do this.<br><br>
I was a Tri newbie in April 07 and did my first HIM in Oct 07. It was a hilly bike course that really pushed my limits. Where I live and train there are no hills, I mean none.<br>
I survived it, I made it, I finished it.<br>
You can too!!<br>
If you think you need training help, get with Sheldon. He will lead you in the right direction.<br><br>
Ok, no more doubting, get to work!

 

[runninirish]

2004 Spirit of Racine was ROUGH in the lake...wow...I did Steelhead in 2006..very nice swim that year...I'm signed up for Steelhead again this summer again...great race....love the bike course! Don't sweat it...lots of time until then...just put your time in on the bike and trust in your training program...see you there!