Garfield2010 Posted December 5, 2013 Ok so my question is simple. I wanna do the Buffelspoort 70.3 on 9 March. This is exactly 4 weeks before IM race day. Good idea or bad idea? A 70.3 might set me back training wise for the crucial 4 to 2 weeks before IM period when I mainly would have done speed work and interval training.... On the other hand it will get me "race sharp"..........
JGR Posted December 5, 2013 Ok so my question is simple. I wanna do the Buffelspoort 70.3 on 9 March. This is exactly 4 weeks before IM race day. Good idea or bad idea? A 70.3 might set me back training wise for the crucial 4 to 2 weeks before IM period when I mainly would have done speed work and interval training.... On the other hand it will get me "race sharp"..........I was discussing this in the tri thread ... also other races like Argus ect. Is it worth it? Im thinking of doing this or Midlands - will be a good measure of what you need to focus on the last 2-3 weeks .... I think
tankisbyon Posted December 5, 2013 I have also been wondering about this and asked about it in the Triathlon thread. I think I will still do it, but will take it easy and stay in Zone 2 most of the time. I figure that at that point I should be riding much greater distances and running about that anyway, so as long as I dont go hard it shouldn't mess me up too much - at least that's my thinking... I also want to do it because I have put so much effort into IM, that if something were to happen around the time of IM (i.e. getting ill or a family emergency or something) and I can't go, then at least I will have Buffels 70.3 to show for my 5 months of effort
Ilana Posted December 5, 2013 Many factors. Is this your first IM? Are you doing 70.3 in East London? Are you going to do Buffelspoort purely for race experience or are you going for time? You also run the risk of getting injured or sick. A 70.3 distance shouldn't take too much out of you, but you do loose a week or so from training for recovery. I always feel the less you can do leading up to a big event the better. Taper time is about rest and fuelling up for the big day. (well that is my body at least) you know your body and what works best for it. learn to listen to it. If you are doing 70.3 in Jan see how you feel after and how long it takes you to get back into the swing of training again. That should give you a good indication of what you'll be like after Buffelspoort. @JGR Argus is risky with going down and getting hurt. I wouldn't easily risk that in an IM year. Also not much you can do in the last 3 weeks leading up to an event.
Ilana Posted December 5, 2013 On the flip side I have mates that carry on with races leading up to IM and continue with events after. However they are seasoned IM athletes and have been at it for 20 years. I haven't done an IM yet (goal for 2015) but train with and spend a lot of time IM athletes. They all advise to ease into your first year. Better to be safe than sorry. Over loading your body with training and races can run the body down and you could end up at standing on the side lines rather than the start line.
JGR Posted December 5, 2013 Many factors. Is this your first IM? Are you doing 70.3 in East London? Are you going to do Buffelspoort purely for race experience or are you going for time? You also run the risk of getting injured or sick. A 70.3 distance shouldn't take too much out of you, but you do loose a week or so from training for recovery. I always feel the less you can do leading up to a big event the better. Taper time is about rest and fuelling up for the big day. (well that is my body at least) you know your body and what works best for it. learn to listen to it. If you are doing 70.3 in Jan see how you feel after and how long it takes you to get back into the swing of training again. That should give you a good indication of what you'll be like after Buffelspoort. @JGR Argus is risky with going down and getting hurt. I wouldn't easily risk that in an IM year. Also not much you can do in the last 3 weeks leading up to an event.Im not overly concerned about going down (I broke my ribs weeks before IM last year and surely it wont be two in row.) Also given the number of crashes and accidents I try not have that mindset. My question is taking the week to taper before another event and loosing out on training in lieu of resting to get a good time for another event. Case in point - last week I didn't train hard as I was riding Die Berger and wanted a good time for an Argus seeding.
Ilana Posted December 5, 2013 My question is taking the week to taper before another event and loosing out on training in lieu of resting to get a good time for another event. Case in point - last week I didn't train hard as I was riding Die Berger and wanted a good time for an Argus seeding. You could always use the races like Burger or Argus as part of your training. Use the race as your long ride on weekend and substitute rides in the week with a run or swim session. Also you can throw in a brick after the Argus. Still think it comes down to personal preference. If you want to go for a good time for Argus you would need to factor that into your training plan now. Ensure that your planning allows for both and if you feel that the one is taking away from the other then re-evaluate and adjust your program or goals.
JGR Posted December 5, 2013 You could always use the races like Burger or Argus as part of your training. Use the race as your long ride on weekend and substitute rides in the week with a run or swim session. Also you can throw in a brick after the Argus. Still think it comes down to personal preference. If you want to go for a good time for Argus you would need to factor that into your training plan now. Ensure that your planning allows for both and if you feel that the one is taking away from the other then re-evaluate and adjust your program or goals.Therein lies the issues - mid week runs often leave my legs heavy for riding so I tend to keep the runs shorter. But I guess that the challenge and the beauty of trying to balance all of this
SwissVan Posted December 5, 2013 Ok so my question is simple. I wanna do the Buffelspoort 70.3 on 9 March. This is exactly 4 weeks before IM race day. Good idea or bad idea? A 70.3 might set me back training wise for the crucial 4 to 2 weeks before IM period when I mainly would have done speed work and interval training.... On the other hand it will get me "race sharp".......... Skip the speed work and Intervals leading up to IM, rather do the 70.3 and include some +/- 20 minute race pace endurance intervals (at a slightly harder than IM race pace) with a equal recover time between during the ride / run. Nothing to high intensity that could strain a poepstring
Garfield2010 Posted December 5, 2013 Thx guys. Interesting answers. Will read up as well and come back here
Metzet Posted December 6, 2013 go race buffels or midlands at full tilt.. that's the advice I got from a seasoned IM athlete ( 9h30 age grouper) I did this in 2012. In 2013 my daughter was born a couple days before my 2c
Thug Posted December 6, 2013 I equate a 70.3 4 weeks before IM with doing a marathon 4 weeks before Comrades but as its only a 21k on the legs, I'd tend to agree with Metzet and go and race it.
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