Is this true he had nutritional issues during the bike ride? I have not read of any other reason why he had such a “tough” day.
Is this true he had nutritional issues during the bike ride? I have not read of any other reason why he had such a “tough” day.
Nutrition issues in most cases is just an euphemism for “I over biked”
It’s interesting as he mentioned before the race that going to Mark Allen has been tough on the bike in terms of riding at his MAF number I suspect where he said he was having to hold like 300 watts. I don’t doubt he overbiked. I was really hoping for better things from him on this race.
It’s interesting as he mentioned before the race that going to Mark Allen has been tough on the bike in terms of riding at his MAF number I suspect where he said he was having to hold like 300 watts. I don’t doubt he overbiked. I was really hoping for better things from him on this race.
I went to Kona to spectate and learn something from the race. It seems like there were a few athletes who made major coaching changes last year, hardly ever raced all year, and all significantly underperformed. Although I believe showing up at Kona fresh is a good thing, I also think you have to race and especially so when you have a coaching change. I think Tim’s race at Racine 70.3 was the first crack that I saw.
It’s interesting as he mentioned before the race that going to Mark Allen has been tough on the bike in terms of riding at his MAF number I suspect where he said he was having to hold like 300 watts. I don’t doubt he overbiked. I was really hoping for better things from him on this race.
I went to Kona to spectate and learn something from the race. It seems like there were a few athletes who made major coaching changes last year, hardly ever raced all year, and all significantly underperformed. Although I believe showing up at Kona fresh is a good thing, I also think you have to race and especially so when you have a coaching change. I think Tim’s race at Racine 70.3 was the first crack that I saw.
What I don’t get in Tim’s case is why he left his previous coach (Cliff English??). Last year he went 5th, had a great race after a great year (8:02 at IM Brazil on a long run course). Above everything else I am just curious as to why he left his previous coach, and how long he was working with him.
I as well expected big things from him (top-3) and was disappointed to see him have such a tough day.
First crack at Racine 70.3 race when he came in 6th with a time of 3:54? I’m not sure the average Jane and Joe triathlete understands what this means?
… he came in 6th …
I think that pretty much sums it up.
First crack at Racine 70.3 race when he came in 6th with a time of 3:54? I’m not sure the average Jane and Joe triathlete understands what this means?
Coming in after Sanders and Starky is no biggie but he should’ve been in the top three. His 1:18 run was very subpar for him as well.
Mark Allen is a terrible coach. There, I said it.
Is this true he had nutritional issues during the bike ride? I have not read of any other reason why he had such a “tough” day.
Nutrition issues in most cases is just an euphemism for “I over biked”
Glad you said it.
First crack at Racine 70.3 race when he came in 6th with a time of 3:54? I’m not sure the average Jane and Joe triathlete understands what this means?
By crack, I meant as in the saying, “crack in the armor”. Go back and look at his previous 70.3 history. Look at the way the race unfolded - he was basically was the last man in that swim pack/bike pack to finish. That means even at that race he either overbiked, was not rested, or just simply not fast enough running. Previous races would suggest he is capable of running with all those guys, and seeing as he had not raced a whole bunch I would assume he came in rested and was taking it seriously. Which means he was not fit enough to bike the way he did. That should have been an early indication that something was off. The rule of life is any time you change something you have to be prepared to test it and work out the kinks. I think Tim could have benefitted by racing a few more times.
First crack at Racine 70.3 race when he came in 6th with a time of 3:54? I’m not sure the average Jane and Joe triathlete understands what this means?
By crack, I meant as in the saying, “crack in the armor”. Go back and look at his previous 70.3 history. Look at the way the race unfolded - he was basically was the last man in that swim pack/bike pack to finish. That means even at that race he either overbiked, was not rested, or just simply not fast enough running. Previous races would suggest he is capable of running with all those guys, and seeing as he had not raced a whole bunch I would assume he came in rested and was taking it seriously. Which means he was not fit enough to bike the way he did. That should have been an early indication that something was off. The rule of life is any time you change something you have to be prepared to test it and work out the kinks. I think Tim could have benefitted by racing a few more times.
I just don’t see how this is possible him not being fit enough. I mean he did all this SBR at a low HR to build a huge base he had obviously been lacking.
I just don’t see how this is possible him not being fit enough. I mean he did all this SBR at a low HR to build a huge base he had obviously been lacking.
I assume you meant that to be in pink? Base on other responses in this thread, I am never sure what people understand, and can’t tell if your are being blatantly sarcastic or not. Regardless I will say what works for one athlete does not necessarily work for another athlete.
Yes pink.
ETA - just saw you’re gonna stay with LA in Austin. That’s so awesome. Enjoy. That’s not pink
Mark Allen is a terrible coach. There, I said it.
+1.
Going from Cliff English to Mark Allen for a coach. = FAIL.
Mark Allen is a terrible coach. There, I said it.
The skills of an athlete are not transferrable to a great coach.
First crack at Racine 70.3 race when he came in 6th with a time of 3:54? I’m not sure the average Jane and Joe triathlete understands what this means?
By crack, I meant as in the saying, “crack in the armor”. Go back and look at his previous 70.3 history. Look at the way the race unfolded - he was basically was the last man in that swim pack/bike pack to finish. That means even at that race he either overbiked, was not rested, or just simply not fast enough running. Previous races would suggest he is capable of running with all those guys, and seeing as he had not raced a whole bunch I would assume he came in rested and was taking it seriously. Which means he was not fit enough to bike the way he did. That should have been an early indication that something was off. The rule of life is any time you change something you have to be prepared to test it and work out the kinks. I think Tim could have benefitted by racing a few more times.
I just don’t see how this is possible him not being fit enough. I mean he did all this SBR at a low HR to build a huge base he had obviously been lacking.
LOL…OK put that pink.
One thing from Mark’s racing days in Kona. He would ride at a really low heart rate that would allow him to take in his concoction of 600 calories per hour. Of course, we can all take in more when we ride at a low heart rate, but everyone is individual.
Does anyone know how many calories Tim took in on the bike this year vs last year. Stomach problems are not just “I over biked”. It can also be biking easy/steady but too many calories too concentrated. Mark was able to do the buffet thing, and I know a lot of QT2 guys are able to also. I would be curious to know how many calories per hour Mark had Tim doing. It’s one thing doing it in solo training workouts but even doing it 10 bpm higher and reacting to surges might be a bit too much especially with Kona heat.
If we can get an answer to Tim’s calories per hour this year vs. last, we might learn more. I seriously doubt that the actual aerobic conditioning under Cliff or Mark ends up being that much different at that level.
There is a front page article on Tim’s wife and in the article she basically mentions “he came off the bike in good shape but during the run his stomach locked down”. Too bad for him and at this time we don’t know why. I don’t think any personal (Tim) data (race HR and power meter values) have been posted. Did Tim just have a bad day or was he just not quite prepared for this event?
As for Mark Allen having a low race HR numbers, I ask how low were they and more importantly what is the source for this?
I had digestive issues at Kona this year.
Last year at IMAZ my heart rate was higher, my bike and run were much stronger (even adjusting for course) and my digestive system worked much better.
This leads me to ask:
- Does the kona course require a much more conservative approach to the bike than other courses?
- Grinding vs climbing: I am not sure why but riding into the wind or pushing hard down hill “feels” harder (even if ones heart rate is lower).
Would the nutritional requirements be different? - Too many liquid calories: because of the heat at kona, maybe one is inclined to take too many calories from liquids.
Maybe this increases the risk of digestive issues?
“Digestive issues” are definitely more common at Kona both for pros and AG racers.
TO has been mentioned his gut issues over the years and (I believe) has found some success dairy and gluten free(?) as a lifestyle. If God gave you a fussy gut it can act up for a variety of factors: pace, stress, pre-race meals, salt intake (under or over), heat, bike position, etc. We all tend to look for single factors to blame (like pacing) but in truth I think it can be (and often is) a variety of small things that collectively add up to pissed off plumbing.
You can shove all you want into your stomach, if it doesn’t go anywhere you are screwed.