Any good canned training plans?

Triathlon Forum
1

Looking for premade training plans for first 70.3 next year. I have Joe Friel’s Training Bible, and I’m using it to plan out an Annual Training Plan. But looking for any canned Tri plans out there similar to what Marathon books, like Pfitz, Daniels, etc. have.

I’ve done two Olympic distance Triathlons. For those I was still mostly running, and just threw in some cycling and swimming leading up to the race.

I’ll still probably modify any plan I find to suit my schedule and goals, but would like to start with something established to use as a template.

Any suggestions or comments are appreciated.

2

IMO the ultimate canned plans book

https://www.amazon.com/Triathlete-Magazines-Essential-Week-Training/dp/0446696765
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3

IMO the ultimate canned plans book

https://www.amazon.com/...aining/dp/0446696765

That book’s format sucks so badly it’s nearly useless unless you want to spend your entire life decoding the 100+ abbreviations he uses to summarize each workout. Seriously, it’s ridiculous - run like the wind.

4

IMO the ultimate canned plans book

https://www.amazon.com/...aining/dp/0446696765

That book’s format sucks so badly it’s nearly useless unless you want to spend your entire life decoding the 100+ abbreviations he uses to summarize each workout. Seriously, it’s ridiculous - run like the wind.

There’s a number of books I’ve seen that do similar things. It’s soooo annoying, since they all have their own terminology and abbreviations.

5

I’m using Matt Dixon’s plan in the back of “Fast Track Triathlete”
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6

I used one of the plans from TR, you can at least drag and drop sessions based on your schedule. $100 - I think it was worth it.

7

Are you using trainerroad? I’ve just scheduled in one of their triathlon base plans starting Jan 1 (supposedly I’m doing sweet spot base right now, if I ever get healthy)

They look pretty good, although the swim stuff wasn’t really written by a swim coach. Too light in volume, IMO.

8

Matt Fitzgerald has lots of plans of TrainingPeaks $75 for 70.3

https://www.trainingpeaks.com/coach/mattfitzgerald#trainingplans
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9

This plan isn’t bad as a starting point: https://www.triathlete.com/2010/09/training/super-simple-ironman-70-3-triathlon-training-plan_12364
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10

I’ve had really good experiences using the Training Zone plans. I’ve tried their Olympic and 70.3 plans and both seem to be really good.

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/...ur_Best_Ever_703.pdf

11

IMO the ultimate canned plans book

https://www.amazon.com/...aining/dp/0446696765

That book’s format sucks so badly it’s nearly useless unless you want to spend your entire life decoding the 100+ abbreviations he uses to summarize each workout. Seriously, it’s ridiculous - run like the wind.

Just for that you’re not allowed to use my vlookup when I get it finished :stuck_out_tongue:

Nah, just kidding :slight_smile:

12

I have a pretty good list of plans I have created over time in Training Peaks.
https://www.trainingpeaks.com/coach/setthepacetriathlondotcom#trainingplans

You can also use code STPst to get the below plan for free to check out the flavor of my workouts.
https://www.trainingpeaks.com/training-plans/triathlon/sprint/tp-161666/shawnee-mission-triathlon-short-course-16-weeks-beginner

13

Are you using trainerroad? I’ve just scheduled in one of their triathlon base plans starting Jan 1 (supposedly I’m doing sweet spot base right now, if I ever get healthy)

They look pretty good, although the swim stuff wasn’t really written by a swim coach. Too light in volume, IMO.

I’m also doing the TR plan - for me, it’s the Oly base right now, which is helpful for me to not blow myself up over the winter mentally by training too hard which I tend to do if I’m left on my own.

You def have to tailor the run/bike workouts to your ability. For me, both the bike and the swim is (a lot) less than what I’d typically do even for an Oly, but I like using as a guideline to what I should be doing at a minimum for run/swim.

But the nice part is that you can see or use ALL the plans on TR once you subscribe to their very reasonable rate per month. So you can check out anything from high volume IM plans all the way down to beginner friendly low-volume sprint plans, as well as pure cycling plans and recreational plans. I also like the general ‘base’-‘build’-‘specific’ blocks they put in, makes it much easier to plan/organize.

Really good stuff and worth checking out - the plans seem legit at all distances even if you have to modify the run/bikes a little (or a lot if you’re a stud swimmer like Jason!)

14

Are you using trainerroad? I’ve just scheduled in one of their triathlon base plans starting Jan 1 (supposedly I’m doing sweet spot base right now, if I ever get healthy)

They look pretty good, although the swim stuff wasn’t really written by a swim coach. Too light in volume, IMO.

I’m also doing the TR plan - for me, it’s the Oly base right now, which is helpful for me to not blow myself up over the winter mentally by training too hard which I tend to do if I’m left on my own.

You def have to tailor the run/bike workouts to your ability. For me, both the bike and the swim is (a lot) less than what I’d typically do even for an Oly, but I like using as a guideline to what I should be doing at a minimum for run/swim.

But the nice part is that you can see or use ALL the plans on TR once you subscribe to their very reasonable rate per month. So you can check out anything from high volume IM plans all the way down to beginner friendly low-volume sprint plans, as well as pure cycling plans and recreational plans. I also like the general ‘base’-‘build’-‘specific’ blocks they put in, makes it much easier to plan/organize.

Really good stuff and worth checking out - the plans seem legit at all distances even if you have to modify the run/bikes a little (or a lot if you’re a stud swimmer like Jason!)

I’m not a very good swimmer these days. I haven’t been in since September.

Which version of the Oly Base are you doing? For myself, I’m doing a low volume sweet spot base (plus a couple of runs and strength work thrown in there). The intent is those are supposed to be my “key session” training per week, and then I have the option of putting in some low intensity rides or runs on top of that. (of course, that got derailed by sickness, but that’s life with toddlers). In January, I’ll switch to the low-volume HIM base plan, and pretty much stick with the low volume base, build and specialty plans as my basis going forward, tacking on outdoor rides as I’m able to and weather permits.

Given that my A race will be an Xterra, I’m leaning towards the HIM plans and adding in / substituting some workouts from one of the MTB plans when the time comes for the specialty phase in the last 8 weeks or so before the race.

15

I’m going to use the Be Iron Fit book by Don fink. many people recommend

16

I’m on mid-vol Oly base right now, but if I were doing HIM, I would do the low-volume one, as the volume is pretty similar between those two due to the different race distances.

I did the sweet spot base at the end of last season and despite my lack of race-specific bike training, it worked totally fine for me; rode my target Oly at near-best times.

I’ve actually trained a lot harder and more volume on the bike in the past, but I think I overtrained before and as well most of that training wasn’t super structured ,and I think it ended up translating well to HIM bike splits but didn’t improve my Oly bike split as much owing to not as much top end VO2. Hoping that this time around with race-specific that I’ll see a good bump in Oly bike splits for myself.

On a related note, all the local Y pools in my area closed for the whole month of Dec, so I’m on my vasa for all the swim workouts. Right now I’m doing the TR swim workouts as written, which is less than I normally do but there’s enough quality in there so I feel it’s still doing me good. It’s also inline with me not burning out my swim training prior to race season. I actually improve a little more when I’m doing more Vasa than pool, mainly since my pool swimming can suck so badly due to shared lane crowding.

17

Here’s an option that is part personalized workouts and part canned workouts. Created from individual triathlete’s times incorporated into pre-planned workouts to train towards achieving specific race goals based on potential capabilities and targeted race distances.
https://www.palmtreesahead.com/coconut-workout-guide
Developed during years of triathlon training and racing experience from beginners to intermediate to multiple AG US & World podium winners.

18

I’ve heard Matt Dixon is going to release an “new” highly affordable option in January, which I think will be something like canned training plans with a few options tailored to race distance and available training time. I’d keep and eye out. I’ve had great success with his methodology.

19

Are you trying to just finish? Then loads of free training plans on the web that will get you to the finish line.

If you’re competing for worlds or AG podium, I can’t help you with a plan since I don’t know which is best.

I myself do the bike plans on the TR and follow BarryP run and try to get 10-12k quality swim in.

20

That’s like asking what’s your favorite frozen dinner? Just kidding

Huddle and Roch Frey had some fun but effective programs based on time you had per week