Always Be Brickin'

One bike to run about every other week.  Even then, It's a long quality bike followed by a max of a 30 min run.  It's really just to remember what it feels like, so I don't forget what to expect.  

In the past I've had to go do stuff back to back, but I tried to avoid it as much as possible. 

As an athlete, do whatever works. As a coach, I don't really favor them. You'll get both sides of the fence, some people say that bricks get you used to what it's like in a tri, and others say all it does is diminish the effectiveness of the second workout. 

As an athlete, I've found that at least some "dry runs" to get me familiar with a feeling/event are absolutely a necessity. So, I do bricks on occasion, every once in a while I'll do my own sprint tri (500 swim, 12 mi bike, 3 mile run).

As a coach, I want the people I'm working with to be able to give 100% in each workout, and a brick workout compromises the effectiveness of the 2nd workout. But, I still occasionally would prescribe a brick or mini tri.

Never do anything on race day you haven't done in practice. :D

John 

The plan I am using for IMLP has a grand total of one brick in it.... one, count 'em, one... it is the Intermediate BT plan.

That said, I will be doing two triathlons before LP, and am planning one other brick on a training trip up to LP.

But overall, I won't be doing very many bricks, at all.   I guess it is 4 in 20 weeks, if you count races.

OP - Ideally I prefer my athletes doing separate sessions because the quality of each session will be better. Think about it; if you do a swim in the AM then you refuel and allow some time for you body to revover and then do your run later that day, you will achieve better quality on both sessions. If you do those back to back while the swim might be good the run might be not as good as it could be if you were rested.

Of course AGers have busy schedules with work and family and they have to get the job done whenever is possible. If that is the case then do it that way but try to separate sessions when possible. As to specific transition sessions to get you ready for a race? yes you need to do some of those during the specific phase as you get close to the race but it doesn't mean you have to do those all the time.  Good luck!

6 days a week.  I rarely do bike-run though.  At the times I have to workout I don't like doing bike first (in the dark).

2 days - swim / run

3 days - run / bike

1 day - swim / run / bike

(give or take - some weeks I'll exchange a run workout for a bike workout.)

Agree, i do a couple, but mostly early season (prior to first race) just to make sure i can still do it, or to test nutrition.  That being said, i think i will need to do a couple before i do a Half this summer (50 bike to 6-8 run), but that will mostly be for confidence.  

due to time, I do run/bike bricks on saturday and sunday.  probably not the best, I just cant fit it in during the week.

Ideally, I would bo a run/bike session on Wednesday, one in the morning one at night and again on saturday in morning and night....just can't squeeze it in.

I think I am going to adjust this and just figure out how to do it....I cannot keep doing run/bike sat and run/bike sunday.....not very smart, IMO.

I really try to split them up.  But life gets in the way, so about once a week I have to double up just to get them in.  Mostly when one workout is too long for my lunch break, so I do two after work.

OR, sometimes the plan calls for something like a 30min recovery bike and a long run.  I don't feel the need to get all sweaty again later in the day for 30min recovery.  So I will just do them both.

I agree with the folks saying that you will get a better quality workout if you focus on one and spread them apart.  But hey, I work, have a family, and a pretty busy life in general.  I do 2-3 bricks a week.   I have to if I want to run, bike and swim!  A lot of time gets wasted just prepping and cooling down for a workout.  If I swam in the morning and ran after work that would take at least an additional 30-minutes out of my day.  I figure I am getting a decent enough workout doing a brick and leaving the rest of the day to do other things. 

Tri's will never pay the bills for me or give me the pleasure I receive from spending time with my family!

I do them only when I am in a training cycle for a race.

tue - swim, run

wed - bike, run

thur - swim, bike

fri - swim, bike. Swim is only if I am in the build or peak phase training.

Sat - long bike. 30-60 minute run off the bike if I am in the build or peak phase.

Sun - long run. 30-90 minute bike prior to run if in the build or peak phase.