Tracking training by time or distance?

Umm, mine is both. 
For the swim it is typically by distance, cause that's how the set is put together. Occassionaly I have a straight swim, but that's still for distance, and the time is whenever I finish.  For the run I typically have a distance I'm covering, but not always. Occassionally when I'm doing fartleks, it's a mix of "1 mile warm up, fartleks, 1 mile cool down."  But, on the run it's mainly a distance at a certain RPE/HR range.  For the bike it's also both.  During the week it is typically by time, but my long ride is typically by distance.  Basically I just do what I'm told and so far it's going well.  

Because we as athletes aren't cookie cutter, I think it's tough to cookie cutter what fits to you.  What I think is important is that you are
a.) consistent with the training
b.) paying attention to your body and exerting when you're supposed to do so and taking it a little easier when you're supposed to do so
c.) you are comfortable with what your plan/coach is putting you through.  Sure, IM training will stretch you, but it shouldn't destroy you and it also shouldn't be so easy that it feels, well, easy all the time. 

I'm an IM newbie too, so not sure if it offers much.  I do know that a.) consistency is HUGELY important---I have learned that from several folks here!

I use both, but distance is my primary measure. The only workouts I have based on time are easy/recovery bikes and the occasional swim, but I still log the distance. If I trained for minutes only, I fear I wouldn't push as hard and would just get the time in. By training for distance, I have a clearer, more achievable goal. It's the only way I've ever done it so it works for me, but we're all different.

Our bodies know time not distance. But in an IM you need to cover the distance within the given time.

This year I do all workouts given to me by my coach by distance.

In the past my old coach did mostly distance but sometimes would be 40 mile bike/15' run so a bit mixed.

Yep if it is a time based plan a fast guy is going to cover more miles/yards than me.

Thanks everyone! Don Fink's plans are by time and I am very comfortable with the plan and his logic (it is achievable but not easy, it pushes me when it should, each workout has a purpose, etc).  I have been consistent and I am getting faster, which makes me happy. 

I just have to remind myself that everyone trains differently and not to freak out and start questioning my plan when I read that someone is training differently than I am!

I'm starting to freak out - so I understand how you're feeling.

I train by distance for both swimming and biking.  For running I train by time except the track workouts which are distance.

I'm doubting a little - now that I'm just under 2 weeks out ...

I've repeated this little 'factoid' in the past, but when you think about it, does your body really know time?  I don't think so.

Our bodies know work.  Either time or distance is missing an important parameter in tracking your training.  Which is (as an aside) partly why all the threads asking what was your longest ride/run/swim, what was your average weekly volume, etc. are generally useless in figuring out what a specific individual should be doing in their training.

I agree that our bodies know work.  Also, logging time for me does not mean that I am taking it easy just to log the hour(s).  I do what my plan calls for (Z2, intervals, faster pace, etc) and I make it a challenge to see how far I have come over time.

There is 100% merit in logging distance (my plan just happens to be in hours) ... in fact, I know people that log time that will also be sure that they have covered the appropriate distances in training prior to an endurance event,even multiple time (e.g. swim 2.4 miles or bike 112 or do a marathon just to mentally know they can).

Consistency is key and I would imagine that other folks training for IMFL have resulting numbers generally close to mine (removing the outliers, of course!) right now.

eta: Thanks for all of the feedback. I learn so much from this site and I really appreciate the time people take to share their personal experiences.  Sometimes, "talking" through something really helps me, and it has in this case! 

Edited by irondreams 2009-07-21 12:04 PM