Long run training question

Triathlon Forum
1

I posted this on TNO but didn’t get much a of a response, waaaaaahn:) Maybe I’ll fair better here.

Hello,
I have a question about the long run, obviously My last race of the season will be in mid august. I’d like to be completely tapered for this race. (olympic distance) my long run distance peaks in the first week of July at 15 miles, immediately after which I have a B race. Should I continue to maintain that distance leading up to my A race during my higher intensity phase or should I cut it back? Increase it?

Thanks for the help,
Sean

2

Not THE answer, but assuming you got a good base then; recover completely following B race. Lower duration and increase intensity leading to A race.

3

Some programs I’ve seen maintain the long run or bike every other week, with a shorter but more intense bick workout on the alternating week.

Or I suppose you could maintin your 15 miles once a week with a shorter run every 4th week for recovery.

4

15 is a whole big heapin hunk of miles for a Oly. Good base builder, but not needed for specific preparation. Kill it off 3 weeks before the A race.

In the final 3-week window for an Oly, I would do 8-9 mile runs twice a week rather than the one biggie. Include some intense miles near the end of each one.

The final 10 days, you can roll back the volume and, as others have said, keep to harder, shorter efforts. Say, a one-hour run with a few 5-minute hard bits.

5

Ok, thanks all for the advice. I think I may cut back the miles a little earlier if 15 is thought to be a little long for OD training. Wasn’t really looking forward to it anyways:)

Thanks,
Sean

6

For racing OD you don’t need any runs of 15 miles during the season. I would recommend no mare than 10 miles for your long runs but do them after a ride of 1 hour and do some mini-surges during race season.