Getting into shape

[TimeForGuinness]

I couldn't do the swim...swimming in open water to exhaustion would freak me out. Not a great swimmer to begin with.

I grew up in the water, been swimming in a lake every summer for 30 years...not too worried about the swim...it's only 1.2 mi.

My worry is the transition from bike to run...started a spinning class and while it was awesome for an hour, when I got off the bike for the first time, I had a huge realization that this transition is gonna be a bit harder than I thought. My legs were jello.

I have about 6 months to train and I'll be running a half marathon in St. Louis and Indy this spring. Going to start biking to/from work during the nice days.

I'm actually looking forward to it.

[Jocephus]

in gta 5 there is a triathlon and it takes about 30 mins to complete. my fingers were hurting so much i had to quit.

[cardsfansince82]

I have the Macklind Mile also on the radar this summer. Thankfully it's net downhill. Frankly, it's the race that I know will hurt the most.

What's so bad about a one mile race?

[Freed Roger]

I have the Macklind Mile also on the radar this summer. Thankfully it's net downhill. Frankly, it's the race that I know will hurt the most.

What's so bad about a one mile race?

Not really bad, but just different. It requires a measure of endurance, but also it's a sprint. And running sprints can be a real [expletive].

Longer distances, part of the overall success entails going at a pace you can handle and stay chill (or aerobic) as long as possible. Once you get used to longer distance, you spend the bulk of your time out there just going.

Short distance, you know it will entail pain and pushing it anaerobically. (albeit the pain is short-lived and easier to recover from than a longer run). If the goal is just to finish - yeah a mile is easier than a half-marathon. But if you want to push your limits, you have to bust your arse in training for a mile, just to take seconds off.

Jim, I think you chronicled PiR's quest to break the 5 minute mile (an incredible feat).
I'm sure, with that background and just a little bit of distance work PiR blows away 98% of the field at a regular half-marathon.

http://www.runnersworld.com/races/a-mile-in-your-flats

the mile is also the scariest race for many a road runner, even those who train at a high level. For starters, there's nowhere to hide in the road mile -- it's a finite measurement of ability. There's an instant judgment of whether a time is fast or slow, no calculations required. Serious runners go into it with the understanding that the kind of pain they will feel is just as easily avoided at longer distances. Take one look at the finish line photos of the 2013 USA 1 Mile Road Championships at the Drake Relays, and there's little doubt that it hurts. Grimaces all around

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I couldn't do the swim...swimming in open water to exhaustion would freak me out. Not a great swimmer to begin with.

I grew up in the water, been swimming in a lake every summer for 30 years...not too worried about the swim...it's only 1.2 mi.

My worry is the transition from bike to run...started a spinning class and while it was awesome for an hour, when I got off the bike for the first time, I had a huge realization that this transition is gonna be a bit harder than I thought. My legs were jello.

Oh my gosh. Swimming 1.2 miles is tough, even if you know how to swim and are a fish at heart. I remember one time, in college, where our civil department had a bbq and there was a lake nearby. Someone bet me $10 I couldn't swim across it, and then back and I think it was probably 200 yards there and 200 yards back (so maybe not even a quarter mile). Now, it was dark and creepy looking - and to say I was sober would be a lie - but I couldn't pass up the bet (I was afterall in the BSOML and completely comfortable in the water). About halfway to the other side, or right in the [expletive] middle of the lake, I got gassed and started cramping up and couldn't swim freestyle anymore. At first I panicked and tried to go faster...just get this over with.

But, that just made it worse. So, I just went down to see how deep the bottom was and possibly rese there for a second. And...it was deeper than I thought. So, I never reached it. I kind of panickingly reached up to the surface and caught my breath while half assedly treading water. People started freaking out on the shore, but I yelled I was okay.

Eventually, I figure out I just had to float and use my buoyancy while doggie paddling the second half of the way across the lake. Which I did, and was fine with the intermittent break to float on my back. Obviously, though, it was a struggle much greater than I anticipated. So.....what to do.

I certainly didn't want to lose the bet, but I didn't want to risk my life either. I planned on going back, but following the shore on the way back incase I really cramped up, I could just swim a couple feet and get into shallow water where I could touch. But, someone on the other side, not affiliated with our party, saw me start this trek and said he'd call the cops if I tried to swim back. I had never been to so happy to have to quit a bet for fear of being arrested.

all that to say, swimming in open water is a real [expletive]. There's no lane divider or wall to grab onto if something goes awry.

Also, I'd guess the jello legs from biking go away fairly quickly into a run....it'll just be replace dwith general tiredness though Good luck.

[TimeForGuinness]

Regards to swimming (just like running): you just have to find the right pace and rhythm...you don't have to make it a sprint.

[TimeForGuinness]

I have the Macklind Mile also on the radar this summer. Thankfully it's net downhill. Frankly, it's the race that I know will hurt the most.

What's so bad about a one mile race?

Not really bad, but just different. It requires a measure of endurance, but also it's a sprint. And running sprints can be a real [expletive].

Longer distances, part of the overall success entails going at a pace you can handle and stay chill (or aerobic) as long as possible. Once you get used to longer distance, you spend the bulk of your time out there just going.

Short distance, you know it will entail pain and pushing it anaerobically. (albeit the pain is short-lived and easier to recover from than a longer run). If the goal is just to finish - yeah a mile is easier than a half-marathon. But if you want to push your limits, you have to bust your arse in training for a mile, just to take seconds off.

Jim, I think you chronicled PiR's quest to break the 5 minute mile (an incredible feat).
I'm sure, with that background and just a little bit of distance work PiR blows away 98% of the field at a regular half-marathon.

http://www.runnersworld.com/races/a-mile-in-your-flats

the mile is also the scariest race for many a road runner, even those who train at a high level. For starters, there's nowhere to hide in the road mile -- it's a finite measurement of ability. There's an instant judgment of whether a time is fast or slow, no calculations required. Serious runners go into it with the understanding that the kind of pain they will feel is just as easily avoided at longer distances. Take one look at the finish line photos of the 2013 USA 1 Mile Road Championships at the Drake Relays, and there's little doubt that it hurts. Grimaces all around

++ I've run it a few times. It's a one mile sprint, and for long distance runners, it's just different. Running long distance, you constantly searching for a good rhythm, conserving energy for when you need it, planning water/food consumption...just a different mindset. A 1-mile sprint, to a long distance runner, is like getting liquored up, lighting your hair on fire, and screaming the whole way.

[phins]

I had to learn to run longer distances, I cut my teeth on the one mile races. Ran a 5:17 in 5th grade and knew at that point I was pretty good at it.

When I switched to long runs it was completely different and, to me, way harder.

[Freed Roger]

When training for something, do you guys strictly adhere to some sort of program, have training partner, wing it, or some combo thereof?

[StL Dan]

running sucks. just saying.