My local cycling club has a weekly TT, Monday nights. These range from 10, 12, and 20 milers. I would like to continue doing these as part of my training plan for IMUK in august. These TT’s are done at approx 90-92% MHR. My weekly schedule is like this…
Monday: swim 1hr(am) - TT (pm)
Tue: run AeT 1hr (pm)
Wed: swim 1hr (am) - bike AeT 2hr (pm)
Thu: Long Run up to 2hr 20min (pm)
Fri: Long swim 1hr 20min (am) - bike AeT 2hr (pm)
Sat: Long bike up to 6hr and Trans run 30min (am)
Sun: Rest
Would this be seriously detrimental to my IM training or would it help it. I’m not looking for any particular time, but just want to have fun and finish in not too much pain!!!
A previous RAAM winner, when talking about his training strategies, said he added a weekly TEAM time trial…and the result was his fastest RAAM race. THe quote he gave was something like, “If intervals help someone racing RAAM distances, they’re appropriate for everybody”
Many of us time-challenged athletes subscribe to the weekly “quality” sessions…some folks call them “breakthrough” sessions…
I think when you don’t have the time to dedicate 20+ hours per week (as a steady diet…not the occasional 20+ hour week)…like Gordo Byrn and his crew or the legends that he takes his cues from…then the weekly TT is a good session…even better if you have a powermeter and can track the effort more closely.
The limiter for these sessions should be that they don’t interfere with recovery to the point where they intrude on your longer training. As long as your recovery is ok…TT away…
Oh…and ALWAYS remember your purpose for doing these…it is all too easy to get caught up in racing these things…especially as our fitness improves…next thing you know you’re dreaming of how you’re going to beat the strong guy by the end of the season…REMEMBER YOUR PURPOSE!