*** Elements of a peak for an IM ***
It seems authors, the web, coaches, and hearsay do not agree. Can we hash some of this out here on ST?
- Intensity levels?
- Durations?
- Number of weeks?
You don’t “PEAK” for an Ironman. You just train more specifically… usually for the last 8-10 weeks.
I think there is a wide divergence on how to get to the best level of fitness because the distance introduces many outside factors that skew performances. It is very hard to determine if athlete X raced to their potential (not lifetime potential, but to their current level of fitness potential).
*** Elements of a peak for an IM ***
It seems authors, the web, coaches, and hearsay do not agree. Can we hash some of this out here on ST?
- Intensity levels?
- Durations?
- Number of weeks?
You are asking ST to find a consensus? You think that you will find agreements here? The only agreement here is that there are no agreements … and people will disagree with that 
You’re right zoom. I thought that if someone was willing to put their thoughts into words on ST then their opinion was at least worth consideration.
Sounds like we have a vote for the Gordo approach which seems to be reverse periodization with four to six race simulations in the last two weeks.
What about intensities? I read again and again that we should be doing increased or same intensities relative to the build cycles but doing so on reduced durations. How is this supposed to mesh with race simulations?