"This is about limits. Reaching them, exploring them, exceeding what you thought yours were. Then coming to the conclusion that there aren't any limits."
HITS Triathlon Series is the new kid on the block. Could it unseat Ironman as THE triathlon? How does it compare with the juggernaut of the WTC and does it have a future?
On November 10, 2012 I participated in my third “Half” or “Half-Iron” (1.2mi Swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1 Mile run) Triathlon and my first with the HITS Series. With the first-ever triathlon to take place in Lake Havasu, Arizona, would there be victory or tragedy? Or maybe a bit of both? Would the HITS formula be a hit… or a miss?
Finishing was in serious doubt. I was anything but ready, and the Fates had determined that I was going to be anything but at my peak. The challenges of the Napa Valley Vintage Triathlon (½ Iron-Length) stacked up against me:
The Stanford Treeathlon and I haven’t had much luck. Some day, I will start the race. But, it wasn’t today. Not the fault in any way of the Stanford Treeathlon, but my luck at this race continues to be unsuccessful.
Unfortunately for me, I’m having lower back pain – sometimes it’s hard to even walk, and it’s even more painful to sit or even sneeze – and the better part of valor suggested a pass at this race. To make it even more difficult, the weather was perfect, and the Stanford Triathlon team, the folks behind the treeathlon, are always friendly and the race continues to look like a way fun way to start the season. I wish I could give you a race report: But, sadly, the race report is about knowing your limits, and your ultimate goals.
A 200 yard swim. A 10,000 meter bike. A 1.5 mile run. A triathlon sprint. That’s Threshold Racing’s Pre-Burn Series.
Even if you’re a long-distance triathlete, more and more coaches are recommending athletes spend more time in shorter races. With that in mind, Threshold Racing put on a series of events they call the “Pre-Burn”. These 200 yard swims, 10km bikes, and 1.5mile runs are held in a pool, on a “Watt-Bike”, and over a 2-loop parking lot run. A “fast” sprint, this triathlon puts your heart rate into Zone 4 (better known by me as the “ouch” zone) and keeps it there for the entire race. At the same time, you still have to pace yourself all the way to the finish.
How much longer??
Four minutes. That’s all that separated me from moving up from the middle-of-the-pack finish at the Santa Cruz Duathlon on August 13, 2011. Arguably, the best place to make up that time would be in my transitions. My T1 and T2 times were long compared to my fellow duathletes, and I believe I only have myself to blame. Although I felt quick, I obviously wasn’t. I need to cut almost 1 minute off my transition times, although I’m not sure how – my little skinny narrow girl feet don’t allow me to use the faster zoot shoes (which only come in D-Width). In either case, the “fourth sport” of triathlon/duathlon is still hurting my times.
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