Most of my tri buddies brick once a week. In trying to put my schedule together, I could brick as many as three times per week. Is there anything especially physically traumatic/taxing about bricking? Or is it mostly psychological, and just like any other training, dependent on intensity?
Never do bricks.
Are you an experienced racer? Meaning have you done more than 3 or 4 tris in the last year or two?
If so, none.
Are you new to the sport? If so, do a few just to learn what it feels like to run off the bike and to practice transitions. And the run portion of that should not be more than a mile or two.
The only other reason to do them is if you are so limited by time that you can only squeeze two workouts in if you combine them into one. There is no other benefit. There is not one single phsyiological adaptation that you can do that will make you transition from one part of the sport to the other better with training. If you want to run better off the bike, increase your run and bike fitness. And make those separate workouts so that they are actually quality.
I never do bricks. I’ve been racing for about 7 years now and for the first 3-4 years I did 1-2 bricks per week. I finally realized that when I did brick workouts my ride suffered because I was “saving my legs for the run” and my runs weren’t quality either. So I decided to stop doing bricks and train my bike like a cyclist and run like a runner. I’ve made huge gains in my racing. I’d ditch the bricks.
I do one per week, usually after a long/difficult ride. The benefit is mostly physiological for me. I have back and hip issues, so it’s important for me to know and be constantly reminded that I am going to be capable of running off the bike when it’s business time.
I run after just about every ride I do. There has to be a priority on your training though.
If the plan is to do intervals on the bike then all of your effort goes to that workout then the run is just extra miles. If the plan is to ride at a certain effort and see how you run afterwards then stick with the plan.
If you are planning to run intervals or tempo I wouldn’t ride beforehand.
IMO, bricks won’t make you a better runner or cyclist but they will make you a better triathlete. That is due to the extra training time and experience with effort levels comming off the bike transitioning to the run. That again is my opinion.
jaretj
If you want to run better off the bike, increase your run and bike fitness.
I would add “and pace yourself correctly on the bike”.
Before I big race I usually do a race rehearsal type workout to test my setup, pacing, and fueling. So I guess that means I do 1-2 bricks per year.
My coach generally has me doing a short run off my longer Saturday rides. The only other reason for a brick would be time restrictions. If I’m pressed for time, it’s quicker to do back-to-back workouts.
I usually do a 10-15 minute run off a long 3+ hour bike ride. I do it so I can force myself to run slow. At first I would start off way to fast and fade. This helps me for long races.
A quote from Rappstar (you know who he is, right?) in a previous thread about bricks:
"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.”
I hope this link works:
http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...t_reply;so=ASC;mh=25;
ETA: I hope the post by nickwhite was supposed to be pink. Since the website in his signature line hasn’t been updated since 2011, I wonder if he even still races…
Good question, Im enjoying the responses.
I generally don’t have them scheduled anymore, but I do them frequently. Mostly because, some days, I’m too lazy to get up in the morning. The bed is nice and warm. Sleep just sounds better. Therefore, I move the planned workout to the end of the workday and it turns into a brick. I know that a lot of people have this rubbery, funky leg feel in the first few minutes after T2. I haven’t experienced that in years.
The link didn’t work, and i do not know who Rappstar is, but if you think he is important, that is good enough for me 
The quote certainly makes sense, anyway.
Enjoying the feedback, gang. Thanks for your input, really.
One other thing, and a minor hijack of my own thread: most of the guys I train with NEVER do a swim-bike “brick” (is that even still called a brick?). I wonder why they don’t do that?
Mostly psychological for me. I also do it when I’m time-crunched or when it just seems like I haven’t run in a few days.
For instance, I have a 70.3 in three weeks. I did a brick last night and found out that, no, I probably shouldn’t push a 6:00/mile pace right out of transition. I haven’t done anything longer than a sprint since last July though, so I don’t really remember what it’s like to not run balls-to-the-wall.
It was a worthwhile reality check, even if I only ran 17 minutes and felt like vomiting.
Sorry about the link. You can use the search on this forum and use the words “article against bricks”. You should find a thread that was about 10 pages long with plenty of responses/information and even a little drama…
Rappstar, aka Jordan Rapp is a professional triathlete (multiple Ironman winner) and is the computer/IT guru for Slowtwitch (my own description, may not be exactly right).
IMHO, swim/bike bricks can be useful, too, but are a little more hassle logistically. 99.99% of people can walk out their front door and do a bike/run but that is not the case with swim/bike.
The link didn’t work, and i do not know who Rappstar is, but if you think he is important, that is good enough for me
The quote certainly makes sense, anyway.
Enjoying the feedback, gang. Thanks for your input, really.
One other thing, and a minor hijack of my own thread: most of the guys I train with NEVER do a swim-bike “brick” (is that even still called a brick?). I wonder why they don’t do that?
Brick… bike then run. Running legs feel heavy like bricks. Swim then bike? I wouldn’t. Unless I was riding a hand cycle.
I’ve become a big fan of swim/run bricks. They’re much easier to execute, you get similar benefits of the swim/bike brick in terms of getting the blood flowing from the swim muscles to the lower body muscles, and the run workout is a higher quality run workout as opposed to bike/run runs.
My $.02.
Just a Race Rehearsal for longer course every once in a while to make sure I have the power numbers right on the bike. Still doesn’t mean I don’t screw it up on race day but that’s a me problem
Kinda funny. I did a brick yesterday. 1.5hr ride followed by a 20min run. Getting off the bike and starting the run I was thinking, this is really easy compared to what it was like when I started training in 2009, why the heck do I still do these? Now I read this thread and I guess I really don’t need to do them anymore. Good question.