It’s the new year, and I’m trying to figure out what I’d like to do this summer. I’d really like to do a 70.3 as a step up from the Olympics I’ve been doing. I’m a Middle of (Colorado) Pack, so I’m not worried about placing or Kona qualifying, or anything like that. My question is: can I extend the distances on a 2x s/b/r week schedule and do OK, or does the third day really make that much of a difference? Most of the 70.3 plans show 3x s/b/r every week, and I’m not sure what the Mrs. would say about that much time. Finding time for ~7 hours per week seems a little more achievable than 10+, and includes a little more “fudge factor” to make up the inevitable rainouts and such.
Any thoughts? Is it really better on the body to do 3x per week? For point of reference, I’m comparing beginnertriathlete.com’s Beginner 1/2 Ironman plan to their Olympic 20 Week 2x plan.
do you want to just finish the 1/2 with lots of pain or little. i am sure you can do it on 2 days but you will just have to go at an easier pace than if you trained more. but you can still do it
You’re saying 2x/week in each discipline right? So 6 workouts per week total? Of course you can do a 70.3 off of that. Depends on your background and talent how fast you’ll finish, but you’ll finish no prob. IMO not much difference between minimal Oly and 70.3 training, except for longer weekly long bike and run.
I finished the swim 8 mins off my PB, the bike 35 min off my PB and then attempted to run… Got to mile 8 and didn’t have another running step in my legs…
If I were attempt to fake another half, i would have run trained a little more… However, it was because of a foot injury I attemtped the “fake”
The run is what will get you in trouble, IMO. I would worry about injury since you will only be running twice per week, one being your long run. That’s a lot of pounding without prep that you are asking your body to absorb. I think with bike and swim you’ll be fine.
It’s completely dependent on your personal athletic abilities and history. People above me are saying it will hurt like hell and you’ll go slow. Well, obviously you’ll be slower than if you train more, but it won’t necessarily hurt all that much.
I trained on that and less and went under 5 hours in my first half very comfortably. My body would have gone quite a bit faster, it was my mind waiting for the “inevitable” break and pain that held me back.
Train as consistently as your life permits and ‘race’ accordingly.