consolidate workouts or spread out?

I go with choice "D" and I'd add to that choice "listen to my head as well." If I feel both physically and mentally like doing more than a plan calls for, then I see it as a sign that I'm enthusiastic about training and advancing my conditioning. No 2 people are alike, so what works for one may be inappropriate for someone else. That's why I'm less likely to follow structured training programs and more or less take each day as it comes. Often times I base my workouts on how I feel at the moment. I may head out the door for a 20 mile weekend bike ride and turn it into 60 miles. That won't change my workouts during the next several days. Don't think of it as trying to meet individual quotas all the time. Spontaneity is a great thing, and if you feel you're prepared to do more, I'd say go for it! You can't go wrong listening to what your entire body is telling you.

Max

Edited by max 2004-03-31 8:31 AM

Training plans are typically devised to build to a longer distance by building a base first.
They are broken down in order to complete the workouts comfortably to start, focus on a specific task (e.g. cadence) and to make sure athletes don't do too much too soon. It is also important to be sure that you are not too tired or worn out to do the next days work outs, like swim or run.

Not sure what your biking background is, but be careful of doing too much too soon.
I think for experienced athletes, like max, the "going with how you feel" works, however, for newbies, I would have to disagree. By the last 1/3 of the training plan you don't want to be wishing you had some of those shorter workouts back.

Just my $.02.....

Yes, that makes a lot of sense too. I did not consider that, I guess because I look at my own situation. Good points, I'm glad you chimed in. I tend to get a bit enthusiastic, forgetting that not everyone has been bike riding seriously for 30 years! LOL

thanks. it was just such a beautiful day - and you can't beat a burley ride to get my girls to sleep. i'm not worried about the 'quota' idea as much as i am with overdoing it and injuring myself (something my half-marathoning brother telling me will happen if i over do it). the only training i've ever done before this was for ONE kind of event (mtn biking, swim team, 5k)...so i'm nervous about overdoing one activity i enjoy (like cycling) and then compromising the training that isn't as easy for me (like running) with sore or overworked muscles.

Edited by autumn 2004-03-31 9:28 AM

well, i normally bike a lot. i don't drive, so when i was working, i biked at least 100 miles a week (commuting, then some fun mtb rides on the weekend). still, i haven't been doing that for the last few years, biking more like 10 miles a week on average. i'm also biking while pulling a burley now, so i have to factor in 100 lbs of drag into the equation.

i also tend to overanalyze things. i want to train in a healthy, safe way and enjoy it, so i have lots of questions. :-)

you answered your own question!

You know you like to ride and on a beautiful day nothing can stop you! On the other hand you know you havent been riding 100/week in a while. You also know now from experience that if you over do it on one workout you can be sacrificing other workouts because you are too sore/tired/exhausted.

Maybe you just need to keep that in mind next time You could always ride you 30 minutes and then go hiking instead.....

well, the good new is i'm not sore today (well, my legs aren't sore...my butt is still getting used to longer rides). i'm running this afternoon, so we'll see how i feel then.

and you're right, i know some of this stuff...in theory anyway. training for a triathlon is a totally new experience, so in practice i need help knowing how hard to train in order to be ready. all the thoughts above are very insightful and helpful. thank you!