Specificity

What specifically do you mean by specificity?

All my training is specific, if I want to improve my running, I run.

Do you consider 'specificity' to be workouts at race distance and race effort?  If that is the case, I use a periodization plan that builds up to a week of shorter race-effort workouts prior to an actual race.

Mark

I didn't think I would have to define the term, so I apologize if it is confusing.  Specificity is the fact that the body responds specifically to specific training.  For example, if you train for 5k, you will eventually be very good at running a 5k, but it may not help you as much at a 10k.  In strength/bodybuilding, it is the concept that certain exercises against a muscle group improve those exercises, but not necessarily other exercises that use the same muscle group.  In Triathlons, specificity is usually with respect to the distances (Sprint, Olympic, Half, Full).  

So to comment on your answer, simply running does not improve a particular running distance.  That is not specificity.  Doing specific types of runs to improve a specific profile of your run would be.

(Edit) Want to add that contemporary literature suggests that we need to get specific as we get closer t the target race.  My question was what was that period for the various distances (End Edit)

For a HIM or IM, I switch from General training (which focuses on one discipline at a time) to Specific 6-8 weeks out from the A race.

That's when they get things like 2.4 mile swims, 100-110 mile rides, etc.  So things get focused.  And where race rehearsals happen.

ETA:  For most, Sprint and Olympic distance does not require specificity for most of us.  Unless you are a short course specialist it's just part of getting ready for a longer race.

Now that's an awesome example of an answer to the question I actually asked!  Thanks!

Still a lot of variables in what you're asking.

I think it might help if you look at some representative training plans, including the ones on BT.  Obviously, if you're training for a longer race like an IM, you'll be training for longer distances in order to build endurance.

As I'm sure you know if you read Friel of any of the other periodization gurus, periodization plans trade off volume for intensity while maintaining frequency as you approach a race, the idea being that you end up approximating some close to a race effort.

While most folks can train for a sprint tri doing the actual distances (if not more) right up until race day, there's no way you can do that for longer races like an IM and give yourself sufficient recovery time. 

Mark

I am not in the specific portion of my training and I am already swimming 3800, it all depends in your needs and what you want to do, for me being a horrible swimmer the yards will help.

Regarding the main topic I will be working in race pace, long sessions, more nutrition work etc not until 14 weeks before the main event that is Rev3 Full.

Specificity is the principle of training that states that sports training should be relevant and appropriate to the sport for which the individual is training in order to produce a training effect.

No offense, but your original question is not nearly specific enough to easily answer (and Bear's reply was as accurate as any).  The answer to your edited question is "it varies".  Obviously you want to get "more specific" to your goal event the closer you get to it.  But even "more specific" can mean different things to different athletes, depending upon goals, ability, etc.

dude, just take a look at any training plan.  I think the "specificity" that you are looking for takes place in what is referred to as the "peak" block of training.

But then I am not sure I understand what you are talking about.  Because proper training for a 5k would make you a pretty hot pepper at a 10k, and the other way around.  But you never run a 5k or 10k at your race pace in training for a 5k or 10k.

I look forward to the links that you will provide.

Was thinking this exact same thing. It sounds like everyone else is being given the glorious opportunity to be wrong about what specificity is, even though there are several different applications :P

Sorry, man, but what folks are trying to convey, as politely as possible, is that your interpretation of specificity is misleading. Specificity is a gradient notion, which basically refers to the degree of overlap between the physiological demands of the target event and the physiological demands of the training. Of course, there are varying degrees of overlap, and full overlap with the demands of the target event might not be such a good idea. For example, running a marathon at marathon pace is about as specific as you can get, but it's not recommended, because it's so hard to recover from. So partial overlap with the demands of the target event is generally advisable. In running, for example, you could achieve that by running a shorter distance at race pace, or by running the race distance at a slower pace, or many other variants. All qualify as relatively specific training.

Good luck with your training.

Specifically?

Ok, so because I’m actually interested in getting useful answers rather than a discussion on the theory or discussing the discussion, I’m going to concede that the OP was way too broad, and it does require some 'specificity' hehehe.  As to the tone, I'm sorry but I don't have all day to stroke egos, even if those egos have some very useful things to say.  

So I brought this confusion on by being to general;  is this specific enough?:

How many weeks ahead of your event (please state event distance or more than one with more than one answer) does your training become focused on the event itself, when your training becomes more specific to the power outputs required over the prescribed distances.

For example, I am training for an HIM, and am about 9 weeks out.   Total training time was compressed due to injury, but say about 16 weeks.  I am planning to get race specific 8 weeks out.  For me this means working in the power zones that are sub lactate threshold and fatigue related, reducing the high aerobic parts of the plan to very little if at all.

If I were focusing on an Olympic, I probably would become race specific 4 to 6 weeks out from taper with a mix of LT training and high end aerobic, keeping endurance training to maintenance.  Training would be at race distances.

If I were focusing on a Sprint, I would become race specific around 3 weeks, focusing on high end aerobic and above LT training, and at race distances.   Endurance training is almost completely sacrificed for high end power output.

Useful answers so far have been:

1.  No need to do specificity for Sprint/Oly (I assume the athlete is versatile and operates at the Iron distances).  (I've seen Iron distance athletes easily win Sprints with no specific training.  Would that be there best performance if it was an A race...not sure)

2.  8-12 weeks for shorter distances, 12 weeks plus for longer distances (I'm clearly outside of this.  Jarring my thoughts on whether I have it right)

3. HIM 6-8 weeks out for an A race

4. 14 weeks out for a Rev3 Full.   

5. 6-12 weeks generally

Some of the useful caveats pointing out in the replies.

1.  Be aware of periodization in the longer race training

2.  Go read training plans (...but then why have forums for all this fun talk)

3.  One poster suggested (at least for the swim) that specificity is not necessarily equal to race distance.  This is an answer that I've seen repeated in different forms (for all three disciplines) in various forum talk, meaning do you have to become specific at the race distances to do well at the race.  My naive thesis is "yes" for sub iron distances, "maybe" for HIM, and "no" for Iron, but I'm not sure at all.

So I was reminded that I promised some links.  My current reading is "The Triathlete's Guide to Training With Power - Evidence Based Training Techniques and Concepts." (Skiba)  I owe being pointed out to this book by another BT poster, and the author also has another book (that I've not read yet) called Scientific Training for Triathletes.

Of course, you can also just google "specificity of training to event".

Here's the issue - The answer to almost all of these questions is "it depends".  It depends on the race distance as you've mentioned, but it also depends on other factors, including the athlete's experience level, their age, current fitness level, injury status, race goals, other life stressors, etc.

This is why you're getting a discussion about the principles and general guidelines rather than specific prescriptions.

Think of it this way:  Periodization isn't a model.  It's a concept.  This means that you need to learn the concepts, gain some experience, then apply a little artistry in developing the final training plan, which will then usually need adjustment week-to-week based on the actual training completed and recovery levels.

I hope this helps.