I have an irondistance race (my first) in seven weeks.Due to a sinus/chest infection I lost all of last week and will lose about half of this week as I get back up to speed.I’m a bit concerned that with a two week taper this leaves me only 5 weeks to peak. Any suggestions on how to maximize my time? I was thinking that I should concentrate on some 5 and 6 hour bikes and some 2-3 hour runs but I need to build back up to those after my illness and may only get two or three of each in before I need to taper. Anyone with experience in ironman racing have any insights on if this would work or am I going to have to flush my year of trainng down the toilet and try again next year?
I doubt that the time off will have a noticeable impact on your training at all. No reason that you couldn’t just pick up where you left off. Flushing your training year down the toilet is a major over reaction. I was down with mono for 3 weeks and came back feeling pretty good. Also lost 3 weeks of training due to a minor surgery (then had 3 weeks to go for a 1/2 IM) and had my best race ever. Probably just got there well rested. 1.5 weeks off is nothing.
Mike
My last half was a bit of a controlled disaster. I went into it with a bit of a chest cold hence my full blown infection as a result of battling my aready weakened immune system.I’m just worried that it is 1.5 big weeks I have missed-weeks when I am really supposed to be ramping up the volume. There is a lot of talk about getting multiple 6-hour rides in prior to an ironman and I am still at 4.5 hours max when I left off (did a mini-taper for the half then got sick).It will take me a few weeks to build to 6 hours and by then I will only get one or two of those in before I have to taper again.I hope all the downtime has me rested.
If you’re self-coached,probably getting sick was the best thing that happened to you 
5 weeks of specific IM training is plenty of time to get ready.
I’m no coach, but I am working through something similar - had to take 2 weeks off with no training. Work + home remodel issues will likely continue to do damage to my training schedule. My first few days back were very tough. Don’t kill yourself trying to get back on plan in the first week. Do the ramp as best you can. If you don’t get all of your 6 hour rides in, that is OK. You might not have the perfect race you want, but you should still be able to do fine with 2-3 6 hour rides.
It wasn’t pleasant, but I managed to suffer through my 2nd IM with only a few 4- 4.5 hour rides under my belt. If you can get only 1-2 of the 6 hour rides in, you should be just fine.
Far better for you to get healthy and ramp slowly than to do too much right away and get sick again.
1.5 weeks, as others have stated is probably no big deal. Last year I had a couple of “Hiccups” and was quit surprised at how easily I entered right back into the previous plan with little or no adjustments. Main thing I’d say is to make sure you’re 100% before hitting it hard again. Coming back to soon and to hard will likely take longer to get back to 100% then simply doing little or nothing.
My plan this year is to put in some real heavy volume the day before the race and see how that works for me. I figure it works for tests it should work for training too. Maybe do the whole course a couple of days before?
I’ve lost ALOT more that 1 1/2 weeks this year and still hope to survive. I hope to get a few “key” workouts in, a couple of 5-6 bikes with short runs after. A couple longer runs 2.5-2.75 hrs and swims.
Since I’ve been so “inconsistant” with my training I’m fully expecting my race results to reflect that, which is OK.
~Matt
3 years ago I went 3 FULL weeks with no training - at all - weeks 11-8 leading up to IM Florida. I got back on my training schedule - DID NOT TRY TO “MAKE” UP FOR TIME LOST, and promptly PRed by 32 minutes and went under 10 hours for the first time.
Don’t sweat it buddy, and don’t try to “catch up” by training extra. Have some faith in your base. As others have said, it could be the best thing that happened to you (unless you overdo it…)
I did the Desert Princess Du when it was Long Course Worlds ONE MONTH after being hospitalized with viral menengitis…spinal tap and everything. Simply pick up where you left off, but be aware of your intensity levels. You can probably do the distances your training calls for but pace yourself and listen to your body. It’s ok to go a little slower…
I work offshore and due to my work schedule I miss 2 weeks out of every 5. I spend 2 weeks offshore then 3 weeks off…during my time off I train 1 week moderate, 1 week hard, 1 week harder then my 2 offshore acts as recovery weeks. I do some running, some light strength work, and try not to eat everything I see! Other than the long days (12/16 hours per day for 14 days straight) it fits pretty weel into my overall schedule. When I get off I pick up right where I left off, I’m a but tired but try to get at least 10 hours of sleep for the first week or so just to get back into the swing of things.
No worries. I come down with some form of nasty bug at least once in the middle of Ironman training every year. Almost always results in 1-2 weeks off. As others have pointed out, it could be the best thing to happen to you. Forces you to REALLY let your body rest in the midst of all the hard work. Just pick up where you left off, but watch your intensity for the first few days. You’ll be fine.