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Lets face it. everyone picks the research they want to believe. It is a whole lot easier to sit on the bike, or swim, or run then to actually stress your muscular system through resistance work. You have just heard from other triathletes how much harder it is to do the P90 workouts then thier typical tri workouts. I think the HTFU phrase has to drop here on ST as it looks like people are picking the easy way out on thier training.The difference is that you have no research in which to believe.
Put any elite P90X stud in the pool with me or monty, two 50+ geezers, and they'll be crying like a baby inside of 10 minutes. If they haven't drowned by then.
That's great - I'm sure you're a fantastic swimmer. However, if you measure one's fitness by weighing strength, flexibility, and endurance equally, than that Tony Horton dude is probably in better shape than you are. I agree with you that your average triathlete is a fool if he thinks P90X will make him better at S, B, or R, but that doesn't means programs like P90X don't have a lot of value if your goal is overall fitness. I've done multiple ironmans, ultras, 5K+ open water swims et al where all I've focused on is my endurance fitness. But combining P90X with a meager 5-10 hours/week of my normal endurance workouts has made me feel better than I ever have before...it's like a light bulb has gone off in my head - wow,there really is a lot of value to strength training. I'm not delusional enough to think I could match my PR in any endurance event right now, but I could care less because I feel so damn good. Not to mention, my wife actually digs my upper body. She could give 2 rips about my mile splits or 10K pool sessions, but damn if she doesn't keep talking about my new biceps and lats. Oh yeah, and all those other activities that I love to do, surfing and skiing especially...the change in performance has been profound. So care to spend a week with me in Vail this winter or in Hatteras on the water next summer? We'll see whose crying then.
I was responding to the absurd claim that triathlete workouts are not stressful or as hard as these P90X workouts, not the definition of "fitness." Fitness is a measure of an organism's adaptation to its environment. My environment doesn't need flexibility or much strength, yet I am fit for what I do (triathlons and "life"). I'm guessing that Tony Horton (whoever that is) is not as fit as am I in my environment.
I agree with you that something like P90X is probably excellent for achieving their definition of fitness, and that most people would consider those adherents to be more "fit" than typical triathletes.
OK - then I think we basically agree. I got the sense from your posts that you were discounting the benefits of strength training in general, not just as a training mechanism for SBR. If that's not your position, I apologize. I absolutely agree that the average triathlete with 10-20 hours/week at his disposal should spend those 10-20 hours on his legs, bike, or in the pool if his goal is to go as fast as he can. No arguments there. That's simply not my goal anymore and I'm loving the results of adding strength training to my regimine.
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As for your wife: arms are for show, legs are for go. :-)Can't argue with that.
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I'd love to ski with you for a week in Vail. I prefer glades. I've skied Washington (Crystal Mtn, etc.), Utah (Park City, Alta, Snowbird), Colorado (Snowmass, Ajax, Keystone, A-Basin, Breckenridge, Copper), New Mexico (Taos), Wyoming (Jackson Hole), New England (Okemo, Jay Peak, Killington, etc.), and Austria (St. Anton, etc.). I, the wife and the two kids are free over the holidays: PM me your address in Vail and we'll join you. Hope you have room :-)My god, I wish I had an "address" in Vail...right coaster here. If I'd did, I'd happily invite you. No sir, we have a condo rented over the kid's spring break - unfortunately, there won't be any extra room! Looking forward to it, but we'll be back in Utah next winter - can't beat the Alta/Deer Valley 1-2 punch for the skiing snobs like me.