To follow up on Tom D.'s very interesting comment below re training volumes, please pull out your training diaries and let us know what your “LONGEST DAY” was.
What did you do, where did you do it, when did you do it, and WHY did you do it?
Here’s my LONGEST DAY:
July of 2001, 7.5 hours biking the Great Floridian IM course in 100 degree weather followed by a 7 mile run around Lake Mineola that took me 1:50. Total equal to about 9:20. I did this before my first IM on returning to training after a long layoff. My purpose was to build endurance for the race and see IF I was going to last. After that effort I felt I could do the race, but knew that my pace was going to have to be carefully managed given my age and condition. (old and poor)
My longest training week in terms of hours has been one 16+ hour week also in 2001. I have not gone over 14 hours since. My average week is about 9 hours.
-Robert