Olympic versus Sprint

St. George Triathlon 2010

Last weekend was my first olympic distance triathlon since September 2007. Wow. That is even longer than I thought. I did not race at all in 2008 because I was pregnant with Max who was born in August. I decided to take things easy in 2009 and focus on sprint distance triathlons. I was not sure how much training I would be able to get in having 2 little boys (and one ultramarathoning big boy) and how long it would take me to get back in shape.

After racing a few sprints, I realized that they are super fun! Here is what I love about them:

Being able to go all out from start to finish.
No pacing involved.
No need to worry about nutrition.
Short recovery.
None of that 2-loop-stuff.
Empty finish areas. This means lots of food and no wait for a massage. Most everyone else is still out on the course!
If you are the winner, you are actually the first one to cross the line. Olympic distance winners just get swallowed up in the sprint crowd.

This year it was time to change things up a bit. While I would love to stick with sprints, I really feel the urge to go a little longer again. The reason why I have a love/hate relationship with olympic triathlons is because they hurt. By the time you are hurting in a sprint, you are pretty much to the finish line. In an olympic tri you are almost going as hard as in a sprint, but for a lot longer. However, I am ready for the challenge! I think...

Comments

New PR at a High Cost

St. George Halfmarathon Report I have a feeling that this is going to be long . Even though I am going to tell you about the rest of the weekend in my next post. So. Sit back and enjoy, if you are interested. A few days before the race, I told Karl that I have two options : 1. Run the way I usually race. Conservative . Start out at a decent pace, log negative splits, finish feeling strong and in control. 2. Start out faster than usual, hang onto that pace for as long as possible, die a slow and painful death. Karl just laughed . He knew how unlikely it was that I would choose the second option. But, to be honest, the idea kinda grew on me. It was a running event, after all. No pressure. Simply a way of testing where my fitness is at. On my way to St. George, I called Coach M . She told me I was going to choose the second option. Oh, how I love to have coaches! No need to try to figure things out in my own little head. I just ask and do as I am told. There was ju

I am so lucky

I feel the need to write. My thoughts are all jumbled. Can I make sense of them on paper? Writin g gives me perspective and makes it easier to let go. Last weekend I was very frustrated, mad, self-centered, unhappy , wallowing in self-pity. This weekend I was more balanced, a little more patient, trying to be less selfish, happy . How did it happen? I have had to deal with myself for almost 30 years now and, luckily, have figured out a few things on the way. Like how to feel at peace with myself , my family , my life . It shouldn't be complicated to be happy in my circumstances. I realize that. But sometimes it still is. Sometimes being a mom and wife doesn't come easy to me. Sometimes I think everyone would be better off if I wasn't a mom and wife. Sometimes I wish it was easier to just take off and do nothing but swimbikeruneatsleep for a week or two. It's not helping that my German teammates are doing just that. Right now. On a beautiful island. In the warm

Racing Season '09 Second Part

Disclaimer: This post has been driving me crazy. It is too late, too long, too braggy, and boring. But it is what it is and I had to do it in order to move on. So bear with me... Before reporting about my first race of this season, I need to wrap up last season. I started this post in December and it has been waiting to be published ever since. Well, all I really did then was upload the pictures. I figure that whatever memories of each race have stuck with me this long, might be the only ones worth mentioning anyway. Really what I should have done is analyze each race in detail, look at the training, nutrition, times, etc. But how much fun would that be? I will save that for when I am a Pro. Haha. If you want to know what happened before June, go here . Provo Triathlon in June Lowlights : Swimming in Utah Lake Not being able to find the Finish Line Highlights : Beating all the guys to their bikes Biking the first loop ahead of all the men Beating all the women to the finish line Ec

Sarah Borst Jarvis

Search This Blog