I have been training for an Olympic triathlon. A friend ask if I would run a sprint with her the which is exactly one week before the Olympic. Should I not run the Sprint, or can I use it as a final "brick" training?

Mike from New York

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Hi John,
Thank you for contacting TriathaNewbie.com!

This is a great question.

Can you compete in a Sprint Triathlon a week before an Olympic Triathlon?
Yes, you can.

You want consider a few things before you do it though. Normally, the week or so before your race, you want to start tapering; so going full-force on a sprint/mini-triathlon will affect your taper. If the taper is affected, it could affect your race. If you don't care about peaking at Olympic Distance race time, then go for it!

If you are aiming to peak for your Olympic Distance race, you can do one of two things:

• Not participate in the Sprint/mini-triathlon and be a sideline supporter
• Participate in the Sprint/mini-triathlon but be sure NOT to give it all you've got. That may sound easy in theory, but when you get out there it might be hard to resist opening your throttle. Sometimes competitive drive takes over leaving the brain in the backseat and the taper totally screwed.

Here are a couple of additional resources on recovery and planning a triathlon event season.

• Recovery & Sprint Triathlon For Beginner Triathletes - There have been several of you that have had questions on recovery following a sprint distance triathlon. To be honest, recovery is not an exact science and there is not one means of recovery that will suit every person
• Triathlon Race Recovery Time - Hi, I just finished my first triathlon at age 51. I competed in the sprint distance. How long of a recovery should someone take after a race. Where I live the season is now over because of the weather. I have taken a few days to rest and stretch but am wondering is there a general rule about how long after a race you should wait before you get into regular workouts again? Thank you
• Recovery is Key, A Detailed Strategy for the Beginner Triathlete - Have you ever wondered why you are so tired all the time and are unable get motivated to train day after day? Are you cranky often? Are family members complaining about your lethargic presence? Are you extremely sore from workout to workout?

Be well.
~Jack
TriathaNewbie.com staff

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