I'm training for my first IM (CDA) and being quite analytical about my workout schedule am curious to hear how experienced IM athletes schedule thier workouts for maximum recovery. I'm primarily thinking about where to insert weight workouts to get max beneift and avoid injury. Let me preface my detailed question with the fact that my opinions might be warped by the fact that although I do have a degree in Exercise & Sport Science, most of my practical experience has been with strenth tranining athletes (Bodybuilders & powerlifters) as opposed to endurance athletes, thus I might be stuck in the wrong world with some of my opinions. I've also been out of the fitness game (at least professionally), for several years and would love some fresh info.

A lot of the Ironman type sample workouts that I've read, have full body weight training sessions 2-3 times/week. Many include a session on Monday and another on Wednesday. I'm somewhat troubled by this as I don't believe most people can be completely recovered from a weight workout in 48hours, in fact, peak soreness for most people occurs 48hours after a lifting session, this is why strength training athletes tend to break their body parts up into different days. It just seems to me that the second weight training workout in this type of schedule has the potential to cause more harm than good, especially since there are three other forms of exercise going on that target the same groups. Of course, on the other hand, an Ironman distance event is an exercise in lunacy itself and maybe stacking weight workouts this close together is helpful to get the body used to the type of abuse that it will take.

Any thoughts or advice from you IM vetrans as to how you work everything into a week for most benefit. After always seeing athletes do too much and at the wrong times, I am always extra cautious regarding overtraining and overuse injury.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Barry