Subject: RE: Ultra run training effect on Ironman I've never run an ultra, but I can add this to the discussion. Last summer I ran a lot -- peaking at 100mpw for a few weeks. This was prior to Long Course Worlds (not in preparation, just prior -- I was running a lot just because I wanted to). It had two related effects on my performance (such as it was) at worlds. First, my bike ride there was awful. I just couldn't ride enough to prepare, given all the running. I knew this going in and so I'm fine with it. Second, the awful bike led to what probably, without the running, would have been a DNF on the run, but the big run volume (big for me, relative to anything I had done before) got me through the run, and in fact I actually placed higher in the run relative to the field than I did in the bike, though still underperformed relative to my ability (because I was wiped out from the bike). I think that if you have enough time to regain bike fitness after the higher mileage running, then the overall effect of a block of high-volume running would be beneficial. (There might be better ways to improve triathlon performance, but the overall effect would not be negative, IMO, if you leave yourself enough time to build the necessary bike fitness. I didn't.) |