Beginner 1/2 Ironman Plan Group (Page 104)

I wanted to do Vineman so bad this year but I waited too long to register so it was full.  Take some pictures for me!

I didn't get my 1000m TT swim in this weekend.  Between getting ready for my first newborn arriving in about a month and coming down with a bug I decided to focus my efforts on getting the nursery together and getting over my symptoms.  Hope everyone else had a great weekend!

I start on Monday.  I'm pretty excited.  I've had to swith days around to fit schedule.  I'm training for a marathon, so it's interesting to find out how I have to adjust running plan to work in with swim and bike.  I play hockey during the week, so I cannot train the following morning as I'm up way late.  I'll be glad when that's over (5 weeks). 

So I have every workout scheduled from week 20 except I've changed the speed swim day in for a 9.5 mile run, and do not have the Bike for that day scheduled just yet.  The xtra day off for hockey is a killer to the continuity of the plan, but it'll be back to 6 days a week soon.

Hoping my body adusts well to the increased bike volume and swim yardage.  I'm using TI drills in the pool instead of the standard wu, and plan to follow the main set work of the swim workouts closely. 

Well it's been a big week.  Monday Spin class 1 hour, 2.8km pool swim squad.  Tuesday 30min run (faster than usual!).  Wednesday 4.30am 1 hour on Indoor Trainer, OWS.

OWS was okay - I was very nervous this time - not sure why.  It was a little choppy - I swam with a friend/neighbour - 900m as he had to leave early.  Then I joined the squad for a round the shipwreck race.  This shipwreck really does unnerve me.  I was nearly last and then I didn't sight properly so did and extra 200m and was very much last!

The last set was to be another shipwreck race - but myself and two other ladies decided to opt for the 900m out and back set, it was choppy so we swam buoy to buoy stopping to wait for each other (for me !) and to chat before setting off again.  A great confidence booster and less scary than that stupid warship the Cerberus!

Happy to have done it - on Saturday I'm doing a 1.2km race around this darned shipwreck again!

Then Sunday is a big day - running 15km to watch friends do a triathlon.  Then in the afternoon will be doing a 2 hour indoor trainer session.

I totally agree.  I'm already over 2 months deep in the training and I don't hurt nearly as much as I did last year (my first year).  I'm enjoying it alot more this year for sure.

Welcome folks.  I'm sure you will enjoy and benefit from the plan.

I'm now 5 weeks into the plan which here in opposite world is really week 16.  I hit the prep phase pretty hard and modified this week to give me a little extra recovery and to taper just a tad for a half marathon this weekend.  I am flying down to Phoenix to visit my parents and found a half marathon to run.  I am so looking forward to running in just shorts and a shirt.  It has been averaging about 40 degrees and rainy around here.  The warm weather is going to feel great.

This time of year I envy you people that live in the warmer climates.

sweet, we got some more new guys.

I'm on day 46 (i think)  and so far so good. I've only done 1 sprint and have zero experience in s/b/r until this year.  What's that mean ?  ANYONE can make it happen.

Wife and kids bailed to go skiing so with my extra time  I ran to the gym (4.3 mi) swam 800 and ran back home (4.3) for a super endurance day.  Easier than I thought.

Breakthrough ?  Maybe, but only mentally.   

Summary:  the plan is maybe not magic, but certainly gives demonstrable proof that it works-- occasionally you get to have a really great experience; today was a *fitness realization* day for me.  

Stoked.

Congrats on your mental breakthrough, americanfatass, and popsracer, I'm wicked jealous you get to run a half in AZ this weekend as I drive 6 hours north to NY and have to train in the snow 

Welcome to the rest of you, tri newbies.  Don't get hurt and you'll love the sport!

Thanks for the welcome... funny you should mention don't get hurt.  Last year was my first doing tri's and I successfully did three sprints and an oly with no injuries (I'm 52). 

Just last week, one week before starting this plan, I was on a run when all of the sudden, out of nowhere, I had a sharp pain in my calf and had to stop - it was like I was stabbed with a knife.  I did some self-diagnosis on the web, and discovered I had a "calf heart attack".  From the stuff I've read, it sounds like I'm gonna have to recover gradually so I may need to shorten my runs for the first couple of weeks or else risk long term problems.

No kidding.  Nothing like running through the winter in the northwest.  Hope the run is goes well for you.

that's encouraging.  I've yet to start, and I have so many unnawnswered wonderings that I think will only get answered by diving in.  This will be my first s/b/r as well.  OWS and bike are big unknowns for me.

Glad you had the fitness epiphany.  Look forward to a few myself.

Awesome weekend.

2 hours Friday night in the LBS for a professional fit and finally clipless pedals and new shoes - haven't got out on the road yet but the guy said I seemed to be coping well with clipping in and out so shouldn't be a drama (YIKES!!!)

Saturday - OWS Meet.  98F - windy as all hell.  Would have been better on a surf board!  Anyway phobia and fear aside I did the 1.2km race - it's so confronting seeing that distance marked out with buoys in the open water - scary and sooooo far - like you can't see that last turnaround buoy from shore!

It was a wave start - I didn't go off too fast or furious, very conscious of not getting beaten up in the process and also of the panic and heart racing feeling.  I found a group of 4 to join early on in the race and I just sat with them.  One girl was going just the right pace for me so I drafted off her for 1km!  200m from the end I overtook her and the rest of the group - whilst they were all swimmers they obviously had no idea about drafting strategies - they kept trying to avoid each other rather than staying on toes!

The girls actually complained to me after about someone tapping her toes - I came clean and she looked at me and said - good job I would have done the same!

So whilst I wasn't fast 30mins - I wasn't last and the drafting and race day conditions are such a confidence booster - get yourself into an OWS meet if you can.

30/33 for Age group

98/123 for Gender

289/347 Overall.

This time last year I would have been dead last.

Ran 15km on Sunday morning in over 90F.  Bike ride didn't happen just exhuasted and dehydrated!

I'd love to join this group, as I started the program yesterday, my race is in July.  Has anyone used the program in the past?  I will need to mix up the days within each week to fit my family's schedule.  I did get my long run in yesterday, cold (30degrees) and windy, but felt good to be moving on ground vs the treadmill.  I had a plan for my training today, but I'll have to modified that because of a sick child at home today.  Oh well, we'll keep it interesting right from the very beginning.

Jess

Hi folks

I'm a couple of weeks into this training plan getting ready for zurich 70.3 on 3rd june.. great to see that so many people have/are enjoying it as beginners as well!!

h

I used this program last year and 3 weeks from my first race i got deployed to Japan for a few months after their earthquake so I missed all my scheduled triathlons.  I'm using the program again this year to train because I like it's flexibility and structure.  I also found this year that I'm not hurting so much after the workouts since it seems I was able to keep my base fitness from last year but I am getting faster.  Makes it fun to compare my logs from last year

Day 1 week 20.  I did the 1500 yd swim.  I did TI drills instead of the wu drills on the plan.  Felt good.  Got done in 1hr.

Followed with 5.5 mile run.  It's 16 degrees F here.  cold.

Looking forward to getting out on the bike.  Tomorrow is a 1hr spin bike workout followed by sprint 8 training on treadmill.

That is a pretty ambitious start !  I do not recall a 5.5 mile run on day 1, but I remember being shocked at the swim pace expectation (40 mins listed, but 1+ worth of drills to get done-- WTF ?!?)

Good for you, must have a pretty  high base fitness before starting.  That will make  your program look a lot easier !

You will be on the same schedule as me - my race in Cairns is the same date!  Mine is a long course 2.80.20 so slightly different from HIM but same training for me!  I have to mix up the days but I figure so long as every session is done who cares about the order!  I just have to make sure I get one rest day and I'm happy.

Thanks man.  I have been on the journey since october training through the sprint, then oly plan on this site.  The Oly plan is great for base fitness to get ready for this.  I'm also running for a marathon in May. 

 felt pretty good for day 1.  Tomorrow is day 3.  More swim, followed by sprint training.

Great job Kevin - today is day 4 for me.  Looks like I will be riding on the trainer for quite some time - on my side of the stateline, we have about two feet of snow... with more on the way.

Hi - Grace here - I am in Week 16, Day 5. I am subbing in 90 minutes of Yoga for one of the swims. It balances me out a lot and I'm a good swimmer. The biking scares me. I'm only up to 60 min spinning or on my trainer and 40 min outside. My sprint pace has been around 16.5. I need to call the local bike shop and getting out to rides!

The running is going well - though I planned for 60 minutes today, a blizzard came and I did a tempo run instead. My fastest 4 miles EVER!

I'm getting lonely, though - even though I have one spin and two runs with pals. Today it was tough to get motivated. It sure did pay off when I was though

Glad to be here and read your experiences.  I keep an active log/blog if anyone wants to comment. ::hint:: ::hint::