desert dude wrote:

If you really want a challenge, I have one for you. One that will make you a better triathlete runner. One that will increase your runnning fitness and cause you to strike fear into the hearts of your fellow competitors. Starting NOW, I challenge you to really make a difference in your ability to race a triathlon.

My challenge is for you to run 200 miles per month, every month for the next four months. You must run at least 200 per month and you must get your long run up to 2hrs by the end of month 2 and 2:30 by the end of month 4. You must run at least one other run every week at least 60min in length and your average duration can not be below 25min run. You must swim and ride a total of 4X per week and the length of these is not really important. (in other words don't be a dummy and go ride 2x100mile per week or swim 2x9000 (tigerchik this is really for you ;-)) shelling yourself for your running.) The goal is to raise your running to a new fitness level.

If you want a challenge that will make you faster and fitter and carry over into your triathlon season making you a better racer this is it. If you want to challenge yourself in a half ass way that will not then this is not for you.


For those of you who will take the half assed challenges, may this thread run through your head as you read and watch the calfs of your fellow AG competitors run away from you. For those of you who will take the Full Ass Challenge, you better learn to count b/c you are going to run out of fingers counting the people you run past.

It's the concept behind that thread not the absolute numbers. For short course guys the number may actually be 60mpw.

There are 2 ways to run faster off the bike.

1. drive up your overall run fitness. The person with a 36 min open 10k will never have to worry about the person who can only run 39 in a triathlon unless they screw the pooch. The 36 guy may run 38, the 39 guy isn't going to run 1 minute faster than his current fitness level.

2. ride a lot more. You won't go from a 39 10k open to a 39 10k off the bike. Going to high bike volume route insures you won't slow down as much over the back end of the triathlon. You'll still slow and you still won't run faster than the dude who is in 36min open 10k shape but you'll be faster than you would have been if that's the route you choose to take