Fred D's Ironman/Half-Ironman focused Mentor Group --CLOSED (Page 18)

I skipped this morning's trainer ride as I am already bumping up on the 2 hour a week limit      Having a difficult time getting on the trainer in the morning, not sure why.  Have a massage tonight so this a.m. was so much better than trying to squeeze in beforehand (not happening after......)

Last night had my first pain free run since Thanksgiving.  Very thankful for that (and only minor aches today)

And, I hit a number on the scale today that I have not seen since I was going the other way, past it on the way up.     I may not be as in shape for Calif. 70.3 as I have been in the past, but if I continue on this road I hope to be racing it 40 pounds lighter than the first time, and about 30 pounds lighter than last year.  With a compact crank. 

I think everyone will be different, but for me I find that if I swim 2X a week, I maintain fitness and speed.  I only get faster on 3X a week or more (rarely go over 3X)

ETA - the above is true if I stay within my comfort level.  However, if I push myself and force myself to swim in the faster lane once a week or even twice, I will see speed gains.  I posted it in the 20 rules for tri swimming thread, but (as long as your mechanics are good) nothing will help you swim faster than the simple hard work of swimming faster.

went for another run today, did 10k in 56.11 how ever my knee is really sore not sure if its just not use to running as i slacked off last year and have just picked up trainng again (no Doctors appointments for this week when i phoned today )

Anyway hope everyone else had a good day

Bricks....an interesting workout.  Personally i believe they are not really necessary once you know how you feel going from bike to run. Now, i am not saying that i find them useless, as i will do a couple a year just to refresh my memory, and remind myself what it is like to run after a hard bike. If i do one, I like to do a harder 5k after a 3-4 hour ride, because, honestly, i feel almost no difference in my legs after a sprint or Oly bike to run, which was not always the case, trust me, lol.   Now if i would have had this question 4 years ago when i first started, i woulda sworn that bricks were the best thing since sliced bread, when it was actually me biking too hard for my then general fitness.

If i do 3-4 bricks a year, that would be a lot. This is probably more of a conversation for a newer group, but we have some pretty serious athletes in here, i would like to hear your opinion on the brick.

I think this one depends on the individual. Some might need 3x, others might need 2x a week for maintenance purposes.If 2 times or 3- you have to incorporate distance, speed, and drills.

If things get really hectic at work, it will be 2x for me. If time allows- maybe 3x

Namaste,

thomas

I think that all the Tri training and amount of hours we put week in and week out,  is all about adaptation and allowing our bodies to get use to the stress training level. After reading quite a bit, looking at other top athletes training schedules, I have seen at the most! maybe they run for an hour.

I've seen guys who have qualified for the 70.3 World Championships, and on their bike/run bricks - the most was a 5 to six miles (Hard!).

I am with Rudy on this one- My first year I did one to many bricks. My week day bricks are now spaced out AM and PM. Swim am / Bike pm. When I run- only running!  On weekends when it calls for the long bike - I will run immediately after the bike and at the MOST 5 miles.

I just have to give them legs a beating once in while to remind them who is charge around here.

I feel your pain Dave- I hope is nothing major.

I will usually only do a brick as part of a race rehearsal and only for HIM distance.  This pretty much entails a 50-60 mile bike with a fat portion at race pace and a 4-6 mile run off the bike at race pace to make sure nutrition is good and my power/pace targets are realistic.  Other than that, I will do a brick when I want to get some additional run mileage in and time is of the essence!  I really do not see a big benefit to them outside that.  Just my opinion.

Interesting.  Do you typically warm up before your 5K stand alone races?  I get what your saying about needing to hold the pace back though.  I'm like you, feel nice and warmed up and ready to do something other then pedal

Yeah, I get days like that and usually the next day is back to normal.  Could be heat, tired, fueling (dehydrated especially), etc.  Like Fred said, so many things can affect it.