Anyone used the BT free IM training program...

I'm about 8 weeks from IM Cozumel and have been using the beginner BT plan pretty faithfully.  It has worked well for me because it has been challenging but attainable. I have also noticed significant improvements in all areas.  The one area of concern I have is the amount of long rides. I think the program has one 6 hour ride and a few in the 5hrs+.  I am guessing that my actual bike time will be closer to 7 hrs--so my plan is to add in a few long rides so I am confident I can go the distance- maybe one 7hr and two over 6.  

Another great piece of advice I got was to treat my IM year as two separate seasons.  I trained with a BT HIM plan for my HIM in June, then took a month 'break' with little in the way of structured training. Mid-July I started my IM plan and have been going ever since for IM Coz in November. 

Good luck!

 

And stop and chat with me around mile...??? What mile was that?

I just did Redman last week and used the free plan.  I did all the workouts for the week (except 1 short run after a long bike- too tired that day).  I did a couple oly tris during the 20 weeks and just used them as parts of the workouts for the week.  I basically did swims as posted.  Runs- made myself run 8 miles per 60 min. of time (up to 20 miles) and 20 miles on the bike per 60 min. (did 118 for my longest ride).  Finished 12:08:01 and did great in my 2 oly races along the way

I used the free plan for IM WI this year and I had similar goals. I did increase the hours for the long rides and ended up doing three 100+ mile rides at around 7 hours each. Just make sure you're including hills in your training!

I have used it twice.  First time not to religiously - I probably did about 1/2 the training recommened (finish time 16h39).  Second time I followed it pretty much to the letter, except I did not do the longer brick sessions but  I added in an Oly 4 weeks before the race.  My time was 13h32 and I was very happy.  I found it easy to follow and I was able to play with it and move stuff around so it fitted in with my schedule.

If I was to do it again I would add a few more longer cycles.  It gets tricky if the weather is bad on a weekend and you miss one as there are not many on the program to begin with.

Enjoy.