OK, my racing plans got pretty well sidetracked this year. Still training, but not racing seriously until next year, when I’m planning on stepping up to half IM.
I’m finding myself tempted to forget all about periodization for awhile, and just put in frequent, long, slowish miles for the forseeable future. Is this wise, or should I stick to periodization?
Disclaimer: I am not, nor have I ever intimated otherwise, a coach, psychologist, etc.
I guess it depends on the kind of sidetracking that happened; something that kept you sedentary for an extended period…Or something that merely cut into your mileage goals? Are you sure you don’t have any serious goals this year? Apart from asking all of us here with too much time on their hands, have you talked to a coach?
Specific answer to your question? My ‘season’ got ‘sidetracked’ last year, the reduced mileage/intensity type. I just did whatever made things fun and motivated me to work out. Doing distance workouts through the summer seemed like a miserable way to live, so I adopted the “Col. Kurtz” method of training. There are so many ways of improving besides just “going the distance”.
LOL, the Col Kurtz method, I love that! 
I too find it impossible to slog along for months w/o some mental relief whether it be one or more smaller races and/or periodization. Going long for a long time will drive you insane.
OK, my racing plans got pretty well sidetracked this year. Still training, but not racing seriously until next year, when I’m planning on stepping up to half IM.
I’m finding myself tempted to forget all about periodization for awhile, and just put in frequent, long, slowish miles for the forseeable future. Is this wise, or should I stick to periodization?
How long? One day. What little training I managed this winter was aimed at building speed in the water, on the run, and on the bike. I’m now building on that “speed” by doing longer runs and bikes, which I can do at a pretty good clip (76mi with a partner on Sunday at 20.5mph in nasty wind), for me at least. Come June, I won’t be burned out on months of long, tedious workouts.
Or so I hope.
What? Drop the bomb? Kill them all?
or
Show up on race day 100 lbs. overweight without having read the script?
Col. Kurtz = Coppola years.
Hey Vitus - ditto MET.
Whatever is fun!
I would think that you would occassionaly want some intensity though in each of the sports.