Muskoka and IMLP...Too close or the perfect tune up?

Triathlon Forum
1

I was looking at doing Muskoka this year and was wondering if it was too close to LP (about 5 weeks out). I think that this will be perfect. Any thoughts?

2

Muskoka is a great race. I am heading up there this year to try to get a spot in IM Canada. If I get a spot, I will be doing the Steelhead 1/2 4 weeks out as preparation, so obviously, I think 5 weeks will work for you.

3

Basically, since efernand pretty much kicks ass, whatever he says I would listen to.

4

I’ve raced in Muskoka several times and I’m going back this year to try to qualify for IMLP. From my perspective it’s a great race and will be a great tune-up and test of fitness for LP.

mp

5

In 2000 I did Muskoka and got a roll down slot to IMLP. Although I was not anticipating doing an IM so soon after, I thought that Muskoka was a great prelude to IMLP. My advise would be to go for it! My experience was a positive one. Both races are top notch!! Good Luck and Have Fun!!!

6

Personally, I do not believe that there is any correlation between a 3 hour race like Muskoka and a 10+ +hour race like LP. They use totally different energy systems. One is a drag race, the other is a survival contest for all but the top athletes. Even the 10 hour guys, who go 1/5.5/3.5 are not going particularly fast in any of the sports. They just aren’t blowing up. If you are in terrible shape at Muskoka, you are unlikely to be fast at LP, but if you are reasonably fast at Muskoka, you may be fast at LP but you can just as easily be slow. (See my result from 2003 for proof of this). So treat Muskoka as a fun event when you put all three sports together, but if it goes well, don’t fool yourself that you will fly at LP. You can fly in Muskoka on a max training durations 2 hours bike, 40 min swim and 60 min run. That won’t make you fast at Ironman. Its kind of like the difference between 10K and a marathon.

As for the duration, 5 weeks apart is a long time. The half Ironman at Tupper Lake 4 weeks out is likely a better “test” as you also get to practice nutrition. For Muskoka, two water bottles and a gel is all you need. Not quite an Ironman buffet !