Hi I am just wanting some feedback in regards to training volume for an IM. I have just been told I am a goer for IM Australia next April 2008. I are able to comfortably train and complete a Half IM in about 5 hours, so my base is quiare good.
The question is how much of an increase would I need to complete the IM training? with work and family commitments.
Personal Opinion: If you're able to do a 5 hour HIM, then you already have a great base and discipline for training. You'll just have to increase your long day for IM training (7+ hr bike/run) and get long OWS (open water swims) in.
If you're a BT member, browse the IM training plans. I followed the beginner to IM plan and it worked fine for me. My longest week was around 20 hours.
With a 5hr HIM, you should be sitting pretty. For IMAZ, my standard weeks now are about 15, peak will probably touch 20. I don't think I could rock a 5hr 70.3, though, so I may need a bit more time per week.
My plan has me doing 12-13hrs/wk for most of it (roughly the next 4 months), with about 5 weeks in the 14-17 range for the final build before tapering. I did a 5hr 70.3 last year and am hoping to turn in something near 11hrs for IM.