Subject: RE: Train through HIM, or taper and rest? Experior - 2009-04-17 9:07 AM I have a HIM in early May, and an IM in late August. My intention all along has been to do a short taper for the HIM, take a week off after it, then jump into an IM plan (missing the first few weeks of base building). I am 'following' a HIM plan right now (scare-quotes to indicate that life frequently gets in the way).
I've started to have doubts about this idea, because I see people saying things like "I can't believe that my IM is only 20 weeks away" and the like, and it makes me wonder whether I shouldn't already be on the IM plan, and just train through the HIM, treating it as a long training day. On the other hand, I don't really have doubts about being able to pick up the IM plan a few weeks in -- the volume at that point is somewhat less than what I'm doing now.
What say you, BT? I am no expert. Answer depends on few things. How iportant is HIM race to you. How well do you want to perform. Keep in mind that if you do a short taper (ie. 5 days ), race, 5-7 day recovery and I emphasize recovery here, you are looking at another gain in fitness just from the race. But you have to allow your body to recover and compensate after the race. Impatience with recovery here will lead to digging a deeper whole than you want. You are looking at HIM also as an endurance and mascular endurance training toward your IM. You are also looking to test pacing, hydration, equipment and fine tune for your IM. A lot to gain from a short taper, race and recovery. The only thing you stand to loose is a little volume that is being offset by higher intensity. I have gathered from literature that volume (as long as you are within ball park ) is secondary to quality workouts. I belive that a well raced race represents that. Now go out there, taper let 'er rip, recovery and move on. |