A question for the training experts: I started with triathlons this year, although I am still focusing on MTB more this year. Next year I want to do 2-3 70.3s.
This my calendar included three MTB marathons (longest one coming up this Saturday, with 115km and almost 5000m climbing), two tris (sprint, OD), a 24h MTB race (team), and a half marathon in which I want to drop my PB under 1:30 coming up in late Oct (22nd).
I will very likely have the chance to spend 3 months in South Africa this winter, and to compete in the South Africa 70.3, which takes place 19 Jan.
My concern: if I go for the 70.3 and train throughout my time down south, I won’t have any offseason between the seasons. Will this be a problem with fatigue? Or should I just be happy that I will have time and nice weather for training and stop worrying?
We pretty much train year round. We do 1 or 2 IM’s, 2 1/2 IM’s, a couple of sprints, a couple of olympics and a marathon, plus the odd century ride or three. - We usually take about 4 weeks to build back up after a IM and use the winter to train for an early spring marathon. We start the Tri season after the marathon. My wife and I have been doing this years now with no major problems. I highly recommend year round training.
We pretty much train year round. We do 1 or 2 IM’s, 2 1/2 IM’s, a couple of sprints, a couple of olympics and a marathon, plus the odd century ride or three. - We usually take about 4 weeks to build back up after a IM and use the winter to train for an early spring marathon. We start the Tri season after the marathon. My wife and I have been doing this years now with no major problems. I highly recommend year round training.
Wow. So when I get off the half marathon in Oct, should I go into a phase of doing ground work again for a while, before upping the intensity and building speed? Sorry if this is a basic question, but I am pretty new to training phasing.
I would say yes! For me recovery is the key. After longer races, 1/2’s, IM. marathons I rest a few days to a week (no training) then do a reverse taper back up to normal volume. Then start the base-build cycle for the next goal race. This works well for me.
the offseason is for people who are at peace with their current level of suckiness
In that case I won’t ever have to train again
I’m working on my 4th week of injury offseason. Injured or not, my mediocrity is guaranteed for 2010.
the offseason is for people who are at peace with their current level of suckiness
In that case I won’t ever have to train again
I’m working on my 4th week of injury offseason. Injured or not, my mediocrity is guaranteed for 2010.
My motto for 2010: mediocrity - I’m really good at it!
Where I live, the offseason is pretty well enforced by Ma Nature… yeah, I got a rain bike w/ fenders and lights, and good tights & rain gear, and mix that up with the trainer indoors, but still it just ain’t the same no matter how much you think each winter THIS will be the winter you maintain your August form all the way through to next spring. Never happens. That’s not to say I spend it all on the couch eating doritos, but there’s definitely not enough burn to keep from losing fitness. Mentally, I’m OK with that; gives a chance to focus on some other things that got put on the back burner all summer.
If you live someplace like SoCal or FL, though, or in this case have the opportunity to trade hemispheres to flip the seasons, then I’d be all over it. Just the allure of having new places to explore would be enough to suck me into all kind of ‘free’ mileage; that’s one of the reasons I dig touring so much… you can combine training/fitness with adventure, eating lots of different food, etc, and not have it feel so much like (ugh) training.
Where I live, the offseason is pretty well enforced by Ma Nature… yeah, I got a rain bike w/ fenders and lights, and good tights & rain gear, and mix that up with the trainer indoors, but still it just ain’t the same no matter how much you think each winter THIS will be the winter you maintain your August form all the way through to next spring. Never happens. That’s not to say I spend it all on the couch eating doritos, but there’s definitely not enough burn to keep from losing fitness. Mentally, I’m OK with that; gives a chance to focus on some other things that got put on the back burner all summer.
If you live someplace like SoCal or FL, though, or in this case have the opportunity to trade hemispheres to flip the seasons, then I’d be all over it. Just the allure of having new places to explore would be enough to suck me into all kind of ‘free’ mileage; that’s one of the reasons I dig touring so much… you can combine training/fitness with adventure, eating lots of different food, etc, and not have it feel so much like (ugh) training.
I’m super excited about escaping our dreary winter (even though we have nice skiing in Switzerland). And since I will have more time than usual, I will hopefully get lots of quality sports time in. Can’t wait to improve my swimming, but also my biking and running…
Don’t take a sit on your ass, ride the couch, and eat donuts type of break. Just back off the tri-specific stuff and do something else for a bit. Lift some weights. Hike. Play racquetball. You say you’re into MTB- find a full-face helmet on closeout and get a beater dirtjump bike and get fearless.
Don’t take a sit on your ass, ride the couch, and eat donuts type of break. Just back off the tri-specific stuff and do something else for a bit. Lift some weights. Hike. Play racquetball. You say you’re into MTB- find a full-face helmet on closeout and get a beater dirtjump bike and get fearless.
DH biking is fun, but dangerous. Screwed up my ankle doing it last year. A bit more cautious around it now…
In South Africa my cross training will be kite surfing - good for core stability exercises ;-).
After IMC I am going to jump on the P90X bandwagon, maybe throw in a little biking and running. This will lead me nicely into the 100/100 starting mid December.
I have gotten through a very busy (too busy, note to self: less races next year) season injury free and am looking forward to getting away from tri-specific training for a little while.
I always have 2-4 months out of the year that is what I would consider my off-season. Basically unstructured “working out”. Some riding. Some swimming. Some time in the gym. Maybe the MTB. Jump in a short race (5k or something) if I feel like it. Do some yoga. Do some rock climbing or hike.
Sometimes during the season, each workout can start to feel like an obligation to the training schedule in the quest for performance improvement. Which is fine.
But I try to get away from that for a while each year so I can just enjoy being athletic and active.
