Triathlon ......

[Snytjie]

Thanks, yeah was thinking that the program was a little light, had been planning on making the long rides longer, and also perhaps lengthening some of the runs, as the longest run on there is only 2 hours

 

I think these plans are suitable for a specific type of athlete: experienced, high natural ability, good base, above- average mental strength. He/she doesn't have to be a triathlete but has to have experience in endurance sport. That way the athlete will be able to cope with doing an Ironman without coming close to the volumes in 12 weeks leading up to the race.

 

Me, on the other hand, won't cope with such a plan. I need to know what 3.8km swim feels like. I need to know what 180km biking feels like. And I most definitely need to know what 42.2km of running feels like. To leave this 'experiencing' for race day is to look for trouble. I'm not highly experienced and because of that I don't have the mental strength (yet) to go out on race day and do nearly three times as much as during my biggest training session.

 

I understand the dangers of "racing during training", overtraining and inadequate recovery. Still, I'll have to do at least one 4km open water swim, one 200km bike, run one marathon and do a 6-7 hour brick in the 10 weeks before my race for me to believe that I can produce the stuff on race day...

Edited November 22, 2013 by Snytjie

[davem]

And I most definitely need to know what 42.2km of running feels like.

 

Agree with everything you said except this bit.

 

Unless you come from a running background, a marathon takes such an enormous toll on the body that your recovery will be measured in weeks not days. If you do this prior to IMSA, you will actually lose real training time.

 

I believe for the non-runner your max run should be around 28km/3 hours. This will get you to the start of the last lap. From there your mind is what gets you home. If you have done enough 2.5hr runs your body won't fall apart.

 

Besides a stand alone marathon feels nothing like the run at the end of IMSA.

 

Just my opinion.

Edited November 22, 2013 by davem

[JGR]

Agree with everything you said except this bit.

 

Unless you come from a running background, a marathon takes such an enormous toll on the body that your recovery will be measured in weeks not days. If you do this prior to IMSA, you will actually lose real training time.

 

I believe for the non-runner your max run should be around 28km/3 hours. This will get you to the start of the last lap. From there your mind is what gets you home. If you have done enough 2.5hr runs your body won't fall apart.

 

Besides a stand alone marathon feels nothing like the run at the end of IMSA.

 

Just my opinion.

This is exactly what I read in Joe Friel's books

[Snytjie]

I especially value your opinion!

 

Do you guys ever run marathons then, and if so, in which block of training?

 

I'm still battling through Friel's Triathlon Science, and will hopefully get to the Training Bible next...

[JGR]

I especially value your opinion!

 

Do you guys ever run marathons then, and if so, in which block of training?

 

I'm still battling through Friel's Triathlon Science, and will hopefully get to the Training Bible next...

Busy with it now .... very technical

[sluiper]

I especially value your opinion!

 

Do you guys ever run marathons then, and if so, in which block of training?

 

I'm still battling through Friel's Triathlon Science, and will hopefully get to the Training Bible next...

 

I never run marathons, but I do plenty half-marathons. I agree with the others: marathons are just too hard on your body and take too long to recover from to do you any good.

 

After a 200km cycle/20km run/4km swim, I can still go swimming/running/cycling the next day, but after a marathon I'd be out for a few days.

 

I've got Friel's Going Long and Triathlete's Training Bible. Both have some good stuff in, but triathlon is a very personal journey so you have to pick and choose what applies to you from his books.

[Garfield2010]

I try and run a marathon about 8 weeks before IM. 6 weeks before I try and do a 200km bike.

 

The other option is to try and run 120km in one week and bike 250km also in one week also around those time frames...

 

There is a general rule of thumb that you need to be able to do in a week what you want to do on the day... Then you should finish IM.

 

If you wanna go fast then do more....

 

Remember endurance is built up over years. Unlikely that you will rock up and do a sub 12 IM on the first attempt....

 

The last 4 weeks before IM is all about intervals and speedwork. It is also the hardest but makes a massive difference.

 

The biggest difference between us weekend warrior 12 hour racers and the sub 10 guys is a few track sessions in my opinion.

[Garfield2010]

Agree with everything you said except this bit.

 

Unless you come from a running background, a marathon takes such an enormous toll on the body that your recovery will be measured in weeks not days. If you do this prior to IMSA, you will actually lose real training time.

 

 

It is however nice to run a 42km at some stage. It gives you a mental edge if nothing else....... Your body changes after 30km on the run.....

 

Most athletes quit on the second lap of the run at the university part. It is dark and lonely there and your "dark passenger" tends to visit during those 5 km's....

[kingalton]

anyone doing the GNT champs at Buffelspoort this sunday?

[SwissVan]

 

I try and run a marathon about 8 weeks before IM. 6 weeks before I try and do a 200km bike.

 

The other option is to try and run 120km in one week and bike 250km also in one week also around those time frames...

 

There is a general rule of thumb that you need to be able to do in a week what you want to do on the day... Then you should finish IM.

 

If you wanna go fast then do more....

 

 

Run 120 km per week...JOH!

Are you trying to eliminate your competitors before the race even starts....

[ewald99]

It is however nice to run a 42km at some stage. It gives you a mental edge if nothing else....... Your body changes after 30km on the run.....

 

Most athletes quit on the second lap of the run at the university part. It is dark and lonely there and your "dark passenger" tends to visit during those 5 km's....

 

YIP! 2nd lap, university!

 

if you can find some magic mantra or redbull/coke/whatever mix to teleport you through that part then ironman is "easy"!

[fishbone07]

Agree with everything you said except this bit.

 

Unless you come from a running background, a marathon takes such an enormous toll on the body that your recovery will be measured in weeks not days. If you do this prior to IMSA, you will actually lose real training time.

 

I believe for the non-runner your max run should be around 28km/3 hours. This will get you to the start of the last lap. From there your mind is what gets you home. If you have done enough 2.5hr runs your body won't fall apart.

 

Besides a stand alone marathon feels nothing like the run at the end of IMSA.

 

Just my opinion.

 

I agree, I did my first ironman this year and dont come from a backround in any of the sports, especially running! training for ironman 2013 My longest run was 29km and before that it was 21km. during ironman i did my first marathon and found it quite easy in 4 hours.. think consistancy in the run training was the key, rather than distance.. I used that free 36 week ironman training program off the net..

[SwissVan]

YIP! 2nd lap, university!

 

if you can find some magic mantra or redbull/coke/whatever mix to teleport you through that part then ironman is "easy"!

 

Maybe they should bring back the one lap run....remember in the old days when the marathon used start and finish in 2 different cities (Leppin IM - runs started in Voortrekkerhoogte PTA and finished at megawatt park JNB) and your seconds could run / ride the whole way with you....

 

LOL organizers would never ever contemplate doing that nowadays....

[ahmedbadat]

my 2 cents worth just becareful not to overtrain, rather go to IM undercooked than overcooked, also there is no need to run a marathon as everyone said, you will miss key sessions while recovering from it, the most we used to run was 21km and plenty of them, for me its all about the bike not so much being able to do the distance but being able to do the distance and still be fresh for the run, you can never bike enough for ironman. ironman is a 4/6 month journey hard work discipline commitment and focus, rocking up on race day and finishing is the easy part for me

[@ndy]

I want to start doing some x triathlons probably starting with the x tera in February. I have used fittrack before for mtb training. Has anyone used it? Their plan for the x tera is a bit light I would rather be putting more hours in than I saw on their plans. I am used to training 8 - 12 hrs a week but now i see it is a bit different with more sessions of lower hrs so i'm really unsure of how to get something structured. Any advice is most welcome as I have little idea what i'm doing.

[jonnow]

So it's great weather for training in JHB today. Hope you guys are all out getting some training done.