DBF wrote:
PSA
I have some ideas about the basic greens fees for finishing at the pointy end of your AG, but none that I care to defend, debate, or deliberate. They are only ideas, and only what works for me.
The following are facts, not the alternative kind. These are things a person 100% does
not have to do and can still win their AG, because my lame-ass just did it for the second time in 2 years. Hope it helps:
1. Take any supplements or recovery powder.*
2. Average more than 16 hours a week in the 16 weeks leading up to the race.
3. Be a doper.
4. Train much on a tt bike on the road as long as you can get a few hours a week in the bars on the trainer.
5. Train the Run very much, if any, above Z2 on fresh legs.
6. Be at your lightest weight ever.
7. Have a power meter on race day as long as you truly know your Z2 HR and know that steady pressure on the pedals is more efficient than surging.
8. Worry an iota about or even find out who is registered in your AG.
9. Practice race-day nutrition in training very often once you learn what works for you at different ambient temperatures.
10. Spend time or energy trying to be “sponsored” by anything.
11. Have superfreak genes.**
Funny I have a friend with multiple AG wins in Kona. Before he retired, he took supplements. He trained more than 16 hours a week. He did all his training on tri bike. He trained a moderate amount on the run. He knew who was showing up every time he raced. He spent a lot of time getting product sponsors. He also keeps incredibly detailed training logs. I am pretty sure he could tell you what he had for lunch 3 weeks out from the race for every IM.
I think it is more about finding out what works for you. And what your genes can do for you with what type of training.
Point on genes and type of training. I used to ride with a lower lever pro triathlete/duathlete. He had more pure speed than any triathlete I ever knew. He was also very fragile, and constantly was injured. I think he had a mental issue with not training big days and efforts. He always thought that is what he needed. (He also tended to wreck his bike a good bit. )
Congrats. I am more like you. I under train, take no supplements, have never owned a power meter, and was never a doper. (Was never a doper while an athlete. I won't mention those old days when I was tended bar for a living and smoked 2 packs of cigarettes a day. But, I never stole no horses!) I used to podium, but never at an IM. I am glad to see this formula still works for somebody!
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