So, I've subscribed to the Barry P plan now for a few years, and have seen a consistent improvement in my running year on year since I completed my first (and so far only) Iron distance race in 2013.

During my build for this race, I didn't move out of Phase 1, as although I had been competing in triathlons for a couple of years prior to that, I had no significant clue to be polite about, with regards to run training. Introduced to Barry P on here, and started to make some progress.

2014, was a mixed bag, a new born (Nov 2013), and injury, led to more or less a year off. My little boy really didn't like sleep for the first 18 months of his life. I maintained some running and regular PT from September 2014 to the present has led to consistent running. I introduced some tempo running in Feb, with one eye on a 70.3 in June, and mixed it up with some Intervals with a view to giving me a bit of specifity for the sprints I did. A 5 day MTB race was also thrown in there, but all in all, after 2014, 2015 was a year of consistent training. Run wise, depending on my next race, was either no running or lots of running. Some weeks of 0 miles a week, some weeks in the 40s. Year to date, when taking an average for the entire year, I have managed an average 28 miles per week, and a consistency I am quite happy with.

2016 is back to the long course. My boy sleeps, my other half is understanding, and with occasionally murmurings of baby number 2, I want to take advantage of the hours I have available now and get a decent time on the board for 140.6 at Challenge Roth next year.

I should probably get to the point....

I am currently building my winter running mileage. I attribute most of my decent performances (by my standards) to a decent winters running racking up the miles. I am looking to move on a level if you like, and looking to get my weekly average up to around 40 - 55 miles per week, depending on how my body responds in terms of fatigue and injury (Or should I say, pulling back before injury). I will look to mix it up next year, by implementing some Tempo / Threshold runs / Barry P Phase 2 / faster running (Depending on your terminology preference), but my question is when I should do this? Or even if I should do this?

I would describe myself as an 'average' responder to training, I get out of my racing, what I put into my training, and trying to establish whether the additional stimulation is going to bring performance benefits desired over the long course.

Thanks in advance,

*EDIT* Some other titbits of info - Run in Hokas and employ a 3 weeks build, 1 week recovery model to running. Yep, I know, a run build should mean no recovery weeks required, but as well as a bit of a rest, it helps bring a bit more train / life balance. Just started another round of 3 weeks build (40, 44, 49 Miles).