Ah, Endurance Nation. Never be afraid to give bad advice based on poor anecdotal evidence. First, they advise no swimming in the offseason. Now, no bricks.

If you want to read a REALLY interesting article on the PRECISE value of brick workouts - and why they are REALLY important - read the AIS study on lower-leg muscle activation during "normal" running vs. running off the bike. Then read the section of the conclusion where they explicitly state that running off the bike in training reduces the time it takes for your body to start firing your lower leg muscles "as normal" (typically, there is some residual carryover where your body is "confused" and still fires the muscles as if you were cycling).

But don't let actual, practical evidence get in the way of what a couple of hack "coaches" (using the term loosely) think.

Of course, rather than reading ANY study at all, you can think about one simple concept - specificity. Running off the bike is specific training for triathlon. Therefore, it is going to make you a better triathlete. But of course, that doesn't get anyone talking about your "articles."

You have a swimming background don't you?
Did you leave out 2009 on purpose?

BTW, I used to help with some medical advice a few years ago on ST to help people out....I got crucified by those who disagreed with me. I was just giving free advice FWIW!! Obviously I stopped that!!!

1. do you think the OP who is primarily on here to advertise a modified bento box expected this?

What is really compelling about this thread, like so many others, is the psychology involved. To see otherwise very intelligent people reduced to clutching at straws to maintain their perceived dominance in an artificial world its very entertaining.

Hey Mike
I didn't mean to call anyone an idiot, especially a triathlete that does bricks because they have a full time job, family and everything. I actually think thats amazing that you always do brick workouts. I think what I meant was that if someone has time, they would probably not JUST do brick workouts if they want to go faster. You obviosuly are getting faster and are fast, but maybe you would be even faster if you had the time to do isolated workouts sometimes. So I take the idiot stuff back.

i remember the first time i did a brick, it was off the bike in my first tri, an OLY distance. my legs were felt weird for about 2 mins and things turned normal.

for triathletes, bricks are like speed work outs, likely only useful for the very elite of the field in shorter distances.

You just had to open this can of worms again, didn't you!!??

Just out of curiosity...

Both Patrick and Rich are on Slowtwitch...why haven't they responded to any of the questions about the article? I am not talking about the "elite v hack" debate...more just the science and background of their article.

anyone?

perhaps you need to work on Hing TFU in open running races??