beginner HIM plan not for beginners?

Do the yards.  Time is a guide.

I don't know specifically about the BT plan but most plans are general and it is hard to consider the specifics needs, strenghts, etc of a lot of athletes who might use your plan. My guess is that the time is just a suggestion; instead *I* would focus on the distance regardless of the time.

Thats what I do also.

Ok so distance not time.

So then tonight it just said 30 minute run 1 hour bike. not distance listed so only do the time.

yesterday I only did the time and was short on the yards (did 2000) because that's all I had time for, had to get to work.
So from now on I'll figure out how long it will really take me so I can budget more time.
Thanks all

I just did my first HIM following BT's silver beginner plan. I'm a slow swimmer, so I focused on yardage, not time. I also did the swim focused plan first, just to get ready for the  HIM plan. I didn't finsh fast (56 minutes & change) for the swim, but I reached my goal, which was to swim 2000 yards in open water comfortably. So if you do the yardage instead of the time, you'll finish the swim comfortably and have plenty left over for the bike & run. Good luck.

I am getting ready to start the IM plan.  I am planning to do the distances listed and not worry about the times for the swims.  The run and bike workouts should be easier to follow by using the times.  Keep in mind the RPE for each workout.  I like the idea of not just running 8 miles at whatever pace.  Some are hard/fast days, others are easier paced runs/bikes.

the swim has become my favorite part of the race. I'm not that fast but I can go forever. At a pace of 2:00/100 I can go for hours and only need to stop because I'm bored not tired.

I did not swim at all in March (vowed not to) because I did the February swim challenge. So I had to swim for 28 days in a row. After that I needed a break.
Now I'm back in it and wanting to work.

for swimming go by distance, for run/bike go by time.

My friends who are using the BT HIM plans for their first most have commented to me the beginner plan the long bikes and runs at their pace are short of the actual distance of a HIM if you are a slower person and the intermediate plan has a lot of long swims..first week 3000 yds and maxs at 4600 yards.

It's a generic plan so feel free to adjust it to fit you.  Many of my friends are doing the bikes/runs from the intermediate plan but using swims from beginner plan.

Same for me here.  I started the beginner 1/2IM training program last week.  I'm doing the swim's by distance and the bike and run by time.

Good Luck!

Doing a BT HIM plan myself.  Very good to know.  Thank you!

I never seen the 1000 option

nm

The funny thing is when I wrote down the workout for that day I never seen that. lol

For those doing the beginner HIM plan, I'd suggest adding in at least one over-distance(aka more than 56 miles) ride a month in the last couple of months. I used this plan last year and I felt like that portion was a bit lacking. Otherwise it's a good guide for getting to the finish line, but that was the one piece that I found wanting.

I'm doing the Silver Beginner HIM plan, too, and just wanted to add that even though it's for "beginners" ... it is not Easy at all!!   

I would agree with this. I am in week 11 of the beginner plan and feel very confident with my swim and run following the plan but the bike not so. There are a fair number of higher intensity bike sessions and a few rides in the 2 1/2 hour range coming up but still just not sure its enough. I'll probably stretch one of the longer rides out to at least race distance.

Thanks for that!  That's actually my plan for the bike.  I'm using the Beginner HIM plan and am feeling the run / bike overall is a little lean but have been reassured over and over again it'll get me to the finish line (the goal).  I have a couple 10 mile runs under my belt so feel good there, but need to get a couple serious bikes in in these last 9 weeks.

I swim the yardage regardless of time it takes.  In the beginning would go over but now am pretty close to finishing in required time.

I just finished the beginner 20 wk HIM plan and race over the weekend. I would concur to use distance on the swim workouts and take whatever time you need. There are several nearly identical distance workouts that have a large difference in listed times so obviously some of them are wrong. After a few weeks you'll have a good idea of how long each is going to take you and can plan your availability accordingly. Also, I found that there were some -long- swims in this program for only trying to accomplish a HIM race.  The longest swim session I did during the 20 week session was 3500m, although there were at least a couple listed over 4000. If time constraints were an issue I'd take shorter swims and more biking.

But, overall, an excellent program. Stick with it and you should have a great race!

My best half marry was done with a long run no longer the 8 miles. Come race day it's different then training runs.
On the other hand I did a full marry with only a long run of 14 miles. that was not my best marry.

Thanks for the info thoguh. I'll be putting in more time on the bike then the plan says to. Also I'll be training a lot of my long ride/runs in a VERY hilly area and my HIM is a flat course.