Races are good if they are the workouts that you need and if they inspire you to stick to a well-disciplined training program. They also are enjoyable and sociable outings, and experiences that you can share and savor. Some of us can stick to a multi-month IM program, while many of us need multiple races as interim inspiration. So do the marathon if it will help.
Races are good if they are the workouts that you need and if they inspire you to stick to a well-disciplined training program. They also are enjoyable and sociable outings, and experiences that you can share and savor. Some of us can stick to a multi-month IM program, while many of us need multiple races as interim inspiration. So do the marathon if it will help.
Sure…but now is the time to plan and prepare…Especially for your 1st IM…If you want a race put in place as a workout or to test fitness then do it during your plan and IMO don’t do a marathon…halfs work
I don’t understand why this is so 90’s. I thought people still follow that sequence of periodization. If this isn’t the case, please enlighten me.
Look at just the base advice that was given. Check out the September Fish and current bike training threads and you’ll see that there’s actually significant amounts of intensity happening during “base”. With respect to volume, even basic common sense would tell us not to peak it 13 weeks out from our race.
The **Base **Phase can last anywhere from twelve to twenty four weeks. The longer this phase lasts usually means the more aerobically fit you are entering your key sessions for the season. The Base Phase runs in three to four week ‘blocks’, and can have up to six blocks within this phase. These would be called Base Phase Two, Three, etc. The amount of blocks you have in this phase is dependent on your training experience. If you are in your first few years of training, the more blocks you do in the base phases, the better off you will be in the long run. This phase continues to focus on increasing your aerobic capacity while improving your efficiency with drills and skill workouts. The intensity in this cycle remains low or non-existent, while the frequency may drop, and the duration of your longer workouts keeps extending itself. The volume in this cycle starts out low, but will eventually be your greatest of the year as you get closer toward the end of your base phase. After the Base Phase has been completed and you get closer to your key races, the next step is the Build Phase.
I wrote this in a different thread:
I’ll finish up by trying to un-Friel you a bit.
When planning your season your training should go from general to specific and you should be doing the appropriate workouts at the appropriate times of the year. Rather than look at “base” as types of workouts (ie: I need to build my base so I need to do long slow distance workouts) start looking at it as just a period of time and maybe call this period in time your “general” period. During your general period you want your workouts to be appropriate for the time period. This doesn’t mean you’ll just be doing lsd and in fact, on the bike and swim you will have significant amounts of intensity because they are the appropriate workouts for this time period.
One last thing about “base” as in, “I need to do a bunch of lsd to build my base”. LSD workouts aren’t stored in a separate container in your body and this container doesn’t drain itself empty at the end of every September and then needs to be refilled again starting in October. Instead, imagine that you have a “fitness” container in your body and that all of your workouts regardless of duration and intensity are all stored in this one container. What you want to do is at the appropriate times of the year is fill it with the appropriate amounts and combinations of “fluids”. If you do this on a consistent basis, the fitness container won’t drain and if you keep slowly and carefully pouring in fluid, the container will magically increase in size so it can hold even more fitness.
I’m guessing that you’re newer to the sport and quite logically bought the TTB because well, it’s the bible. I think you’re already figuring out that it’s kinda complicated and confusing and as you gain knowledge, you’ll also start to question Friel’s level of knowledge.
Slowtwitch has some very knowledgeable posters. Type you key words into the search bar and to name a few; read what posters like Desert Dude, Francois, Paulo Sousa, Philbert, Gerry Rodrigues, Andrew Coggan and BarryP have to say.
Edit - An older but good thread on periodization: http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=1608381;page=1;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25;