Beginner Full Ironman Plan Group (Page 2)

I'm also compressing the swims into one less day per week.

So tell the truth...did you make every workout in the week 5 plan? The long run (3 hours) and long bike (6 hours) peak in the same week for a total of 18 hours! Wowsers.

On that note...a question for those who have done an IM: what is the recommended max long run and bike in terms of miles? At my pace, I'm guessing a 3 hour run would be about 20 miles, and a 6 hour bike might be about 100 miles.

18 hours is the peak but that's the final prep week before you recover/taper. For me I did about 90-95% of the workouts in year 1 and in year 2 maybe 85-90%.

My long bike was the full 112 miles (on the course and that took me about 7.5-8 hours) and my longest run was 16 miles which took about 3:10.

I'd never run a marathon pre-IM and because of past knee issues it was strongly recommended by my Sports Doc that I limit my run training and use a run/walk strategy which I did. I did awesome (for me) both marathons and was still run/walking at the end when tons of people were on the death march

Stick with 3 hours for the long run, no matter the distance (unless it gets you to the full marathon distance, then you can back off the 3 hour mark). More than that and you will take too long to recover. I think my longest run before my first IM was only 16 miles!
Longest bike is fine at 100 miles, but it's ok to bump that up to full race distance if you want. It can be a good feeling to know you have ridden the distance, and cycling isn't as difficult to recover from as running.
Jessica

Sounds like good advice Jessica...thanks!

Hi guys!

I'm on the fence about signing up for another IM in 2011. I'm 1.5 weeks out from my first IM in Wisconsin and I'm reserving judgment on signing up again until after the big day, but I think the IM bug is here to stay. I'm a slow Athena type triathlete so my finish is not guaranteed (Not that anyone's IS mind you... but you know what I mean)

I had a lot of success using BT 3x balanced Oly in the past. This year I worked with a local training group that focused on IMOO, and the workouts don't look too unlike the BT plan... So perhaps I'll be using BTs plan next year maybe mixing it in with what I did this year. I'm thinking instead of using the money on a training group I'm hoping to get my first tri-bike.

So I might be hanging around here with you guys over this next year.

What race I sign up for isn't set in stone...







Edited by IdealMuse 2010-09-02 12:53 AM

Yea! I will be there volunteering...the donkey group will be at the Kohl center water station. I am also a catcher!

Best of luck in your first IM! You better come back and tell us all about it!
Jessica

I'd like to join this support group if its still open! My name is Mark and I'm a tri-a-holic. 

A little about me: I'm registered for my first full IronMan -  IM Canada in August 2011.
I've been Tri-ing since 2007. I completed the HIM Muskoka 70.3 in 2009 and one full marathon in May 2009. This year I've only had time for some sprints and one Oly (at end of Sept.)

I'm a management consultant in my late 30's, with some young kids and a wife.

I'm looking for some IM motivation to help me stay focused during those long and cold Canadian winter months. 

Welcome to the group! Congrats on taking the IM plunge. I was at IMCanada a few years ago with some fellow BTers and it was a lot of fun!
Do you plan on using the free Beginner Ironman training plan that BT offers? That is the plan that everyone in this forum is using to prepare for their race. I bet you will learn a lot from them as you gear up to start your own training!
Jessica

Thanks Jessica.
Yes - I'm planning to use the BT IM plan. Since its a 20 week plan should I plan on starting on it 21 weeks before the race (i.e. end of March 2011)?

I was going to spend the fall / winter building a base. Not particularly structured but running around 30km/week, entering a few road races (half-marathons) and spending 4-6 hrs/week on my trainer / excercycle. 

Your race will be at the end of the 20th week, so you will start the plan 20 weeks from race day. Your winter plan sounds perfect. Hope you enjoy your trainer.
Jessica

I got a call from a friend the other day who said: "Lets do Ironman in 2011" and I agreed. Now I see I what I'm getting myself into, and how hard the training will be - but it'll be worth it when I cross the line!

Which one do you have your eye on?

Well still working on the race report but I missed the last cut-off at 10:30pm by 3 minutes. Registering for 2011 was a bit of a mess and it's hard to tell if my registration went through correctly but I'm pretty sure I'm in for IMOO 2011 to finish up business.

Oh...my...goodness! That is absolutely NUTS! I love it! What's your background? Have you done triathlons before?

Gosh, that's tough. I am sorry to hear you didn't have the race wanted. I admire your desire and determination to try again.

Sorry about not making the cut off. I was there till the end. I also registered for MOO2011! You will finish up business with a ton of donkeys on the course!

I am using the beginner full ironman training plan to train for my first full ironman (Cozumel).  I am in the 3rd week of the second base/build phase.  I am following the plan religiously.  I am starting to get worried as I hear from others training for the same Ironman (but using a different training plan) that they are doing much longer hours including longer bike rides.  Any reassurances/thoughts appreciated.

That sounds good to me. Just make sure you have some down-time after the race to allow yourself not only a physical break but a mental break from scheduled training before jumping into the IM plan.

Welcome to BT! I guarantee you that we all go through this to some extent. There are always people that are doing way more work than you are at the same point in training and it can be very intimidating. When you are preparing for your first IM, it's a million times worse because you really need to know that on race day you are prepared to finish!
There will always be people doing more than you. There will always be people doing less than you. We only pay attention to, or hear about, the people doing more because:
a. they are bragging about it
b. the people doing less don't want to admit it

Many, many people have used the IM plan you are using and have been very successful on race day. YOU WILL BE ONE OF THEM soon! Make a decision today to TRUST THE PLAN. That can make a big difference as you go forward. It's the same with having a coach. A coach or a training plan both require a commitment of belief in order to be used optimally.
You are doing GREAT with your training and I have no doubt you will have a successful race!

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BzAJbrZIFP42YjdmNjlhZWUtZDVhYS00ZTdiLWJhZDEtMDViNjhhOThmZjFi&hl=en

Here's my modified plan - I used the BT plan as a starting point, then moved lots of stuff around but the total weekly minutes didn't change. For the most part, I built it around Tuesday/Thursday swims, and rest days on Mondays. Some of these swims are pretty long - I come from a swimming background so I don't mind it but if you're not a swimmer you might stick with 3x per week.

If anyone is bored and wants to offer any criticism of the way I've arranged these workouts, have at it!

I am also doing IMWI next year. This will be my first Ironman. I too am going to use Beginner Triathete Training program.

Would be intereseted in any advise along the way.

Right now I am just logging miles and trying to figure out my 2011 race schedule and plan my early 2011 training around them.

I want to do an olympic distance early in the season and HIM around July(thinking Steelhead).

Welcome to the forums! You've got plenty of time to figure out your approach for next year. You basic plan sounds great - Oly in the early season, build to HIM, and then move on to IM.

Hi All,  I am new to this site.. I am signed up for IM Switzerland. Living in Bradenton Florida and looking for a training plan to use and possibly area atheletes to train with.. Thanks