OK slowtwitchers, I’ve got a small problem that needs your advice. My racing season is about September to April. I will do four halfs Dec/Jan (*2), April. Smaller events (sprint/Oly) around this schedule. Heading for a date with IM in March 2006. I can train up to about 15 hrs per week. My last race this year was April 4. I am meant to be swimming four times a week, and stretching big, until the end of June, and then starting a slow buildup from there.
The problem is that now, at the end of May, I am feeling rested and ready to go, but the coach is counselling patience. Myself I can see no harm in mixing in three runs/rides a week, all low intensity Aerobic stuff, runs up to an hour, rides never more than 2.
What is the consensus of the board? Should I just keep my powder dry, kick back, knock over some beers, etc, or is it ok to start off easy?
What would Tibbs, or Slowman or Tribriguy do? How about Vitus ###, or Francois?
Goddammit, what do you think TOM would do?
Hmmm. . .That’s pretty flattering company I’ve been included with. My head just swelled two sizes.
Anyway, my first thought is that if I was paying for a coach, I’d either follow his advice, or stop paying him.
Moving on. . .Do I understand correctly that right now you’re training four days per week, and only swimming and stretching? Which means you’re going to have about 2 months to train for the bike and run before your season starts?
I dunno, but that does sound strange. What’s your background? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Any injuries? How respectable is your coach?
My coach is a guy in my swim squad - the payment is pretty minimal. He’s been in the sport for about 15 yrs, a dozen IMs under his belt, and is well qualified. Swimming is definitely my limiter, and the 4 swims per week is really working. I think my coach is trying to stop me toasting myself, because I am pretty keen to get into it again.
My bike and run are strong (ish), and my base is reasonable for a MOP age grouper. My first race wouldn’t be till late September, so I will have about 10-12 wks of base training before then, none of it indoors because the climate is good for 12 mths here.
Thing is, I wanted to know what rest periods other people have, and then compare mine.
The other key point is that I am itching to get on my new Cervelo, which I pick up in four weeks.
Dr. A Coggan seems to me to favor specificity…meaning, it’s OK to go hard when you train. But, I don’t know what he says about “off season” training. Maybe you could look that up. BTW, one of his articles is here:
Look on page 17 of this article on the training effects of exercising at different levels of intensity. By going easier, there are exercise characteristics that are being developed to a greater extent compared to those being developed when going hard. Depending upon your goals, your age, history of injury and performance, etc., going easy may be the best thing…or maybe not! I think it was Vitus that said…if you’re paying a coach, either do what he says or quit paying him…pretty funny, but good advice!
It reminds me of an old saying…If you don’t know where you’re going, you don’t need a map.
So, if you know your goals, maybe it would help you to make a map that starts now and ends at the BIG race. This map should show the training techniques to be used every week, and what characteristics of exercise each type of training technique offers to your total performance package. This would help you be confident that you are supposed to take it easy when you are assigned an easy week, and give you the fortitude to push on harder on the weeks when the workload seems a little too high. Just a way to stay on course with your training through the year…
no - did Tauranga (my first half), then about 4 sprints over the rest of the summer. Last one was 4th of April, so it clashed/
Did you do it? Worth doing if they hold it next year?
Thinking of doing Taupo/Tauranga/Auckland/Karapiro halves next season.
