The Real Animal wrote:
I've found this advice the best. 10% fits best for triathletes. Don't kid yourselves that triathletes have "significantly" more muscle mass the runners of the same height. A few kilograms at best. So I've found 10% below Stillman's height/weight ideal for most triathletes. Not the 20% that Co was - sheesh! http://www.serpentine.org.uk/.../advice_frank01.html
http://www.serpentine.org.uk/.../advice_frank02.html
Just a note, some of the figures in one of the articles is a little incorrect. (I think from memory the 56.2kg should be 50.2kg.)
I don't have much trouble staying well below the formula noted. Getting 10% below is tough. I did it for about half of last season, this year I am about 4 to 5 pounds over the formula*.9.
I am a short guy (5'7") but have a generally larger frame (wide hips and shoulders). Anecdotally, I think that I am even leaner right now at 139 - 140 than I was last season at 134 - 137. This is just based on how some clothes fit and where I am starting to see odd looking veins popping out (higher and higher up the abdomen).
With regard to results, I have PRd some this year with the extra weight (faster at 1 mile on track, faster 5k on road, slightly more power at 40k TT), but I haven't had as easy a time running in the extreme heat for sure (especially in training).
That is all anecdotal and may all be in my head, but it sure looks like I will do this year's A-race Ironman a few pounds heavier than last year's. We will just have to see where the chips fall.
Getting down to 134 requires that I am a super asshole to people that I love; I just don't want to be that guy on the CHANCE that I might be a little faster. Last time I got that low, it was facilitated by an injury that put me out for a while and allowed so major dieting while not training.
Ironman Certified Coach
Currently accepting limited number of new athletes