Dream Chaser's 'Set a Goal and Capture it!' Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 47)

Take a look at the Beginner HIM plan here on BT.  It doesn't require anywhere near 15 hours...I think it maxes out at ten or so.  It's a "get to the finish line" plan; guys that are going sub-4:30 are probably throwing down 25 hour training weeks, but it should get you there.  I start it in January, and I'll probably add in my typical strength training which will probably add another 1 hour/week.

Here is Jorges Plan from last year.

Jorge's plan is legendary on this site.  It's basically a combination of off-season base building and LT work all in one.  I have not heard one person who has done this program not say, "dang, I'm a better cyclist" when they hit the road in the spring.  You'll need a trainer for your bike, or at least a gym bike that you trust and gives enough resistance to do the work.

Thanks, Rene.  Anyone have this thing digitized in BT-plan-importable-format?

Race report is posted.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=268543

"There is no plan which is one size fits all so you will have to customize it on a daily or weekly basis depending on how fast you recover and how you are feeling. I like the idea of using Jorges cycling plan, running 5 days a week (easy), and swimming 2-3 times a week."  - Rene

"CLEARLY I'm no pro but I did Jorge's cycling plan last winter and feel it helped make me a stronger faster cyclist.  I'd recommend it."  - Marcia

"I'm the LAST person in this group to give training advice so I'll just steal from Rene and Marcia.  "   - Ted

 As for the comments above, the reasons you state are PRECISELY why I want your feedback.  This group (one of only about 7-8 that have continued to be active throughout the entire year, by the way...) comes from a wide background of fitness, family/work obligations, injury and recovery history, and racing experience.  I like hearing everyone's feedback on questions that are posed.  Like Bobby often says, we are all an experiment of 1, but I think having a diverse group to get support/advice from is really, really important.

Being able to "race vicariously" through you all has made this injury setback much easier to deal with, and I can't wait to virtually train together again.

I took a look back at my schedule to see what I was doing because like you - finding the time was a challenge and I was always conscious of not putting too much of the parenting load on hubby or not spending enough time with my child.  I was exactly in the same mindset you were in last year and so I held off. 

Initially I wasn't planning on doing an HIM this year and was following an oly plan.  I think I jumped on to the 20 week HIM plan in June.  There are two plans on this site (and I find these plans always get you to the finish line).  I opted to use the one that had the longer maximum bike times.  My reason was that I'm slower and would likely spend longer in the saddle or on the road running.  The maximum volume was 14 hours with the average being 11-12 and the easiest being 9.  I also know myself and that I wouldn't get all the training in so if it's 3 per sport per week.  Well there was probably a good chance I'd miss one or two workouts.  You can go to my profile and run a graph actual vs. planned for the 3 month period and see that while I followed the trend - I was always less than what was planned.  For the most part I seemed to average around 8 hours of training per week with some peek weeks and a few recovery weeks. 

I did my mid-week training early morning so that limited each session to about an hour.  It was a LOT of work to wake early and get anything of a longer duration in.  For me that meant waking at 4:45 and being in bed by 10pm to feel rested.  Having young children - this might actually work in your favour.  The only excuses to not work out at 5am in the morning are the ones you create!!  I think early am workouts position you better for success at completing your planned training.  You can just go to bed at the same time you put them to bed LOL

I discussed with partner and child before even starting.  I wanted their buy in so that they knew exactly what this would entail - especially weekends.  The hardest part was the long bike rides. For me - to get a good ride in - it meant leaving the city and when the long rides were in the 4+ hour range this meant with the drive I might be out of the house for 5-6 hours.  I'd prep the night before, wake REALLY early and get it done so that I was home by noon.  Then I'd give hubby time to himself and make them lunch... and try not to babble too much about how my training went.

So the challenges - my housekeeping fell apart.  Laundry piled up.  We started eating breaky for dinner more (eggs).  Getting a puppy made things a bit more hectic.  Some days child didn't even get homework done (because I was too busy to check up on it!!).  To overcompensate for this - instead of doing the work - I spend what free time I had as quality time with the family - going for long walks/hikes, picnics (also you don't have to look at the state of your house if you aren't in it!).

Towards the end I started to resent the training a bit - that life was so hectic etc.  I felt my quality time with child was impacted but a lot of this also had to do with my crazy puppy that took my attention away from her.  So I think if you go in with your family's consent and support, the knowledge that it's really only really bad a month at most and  that things aren't going to go as smoothly as they were - you're good to go.  The other thing is - if you are in better shape than me you probably won't need the same volume for training.  Not sure if this helps in your decision making process.  In the end there will always be a HIM out there but the kids only stay young for a wee bit of time. 

Oh ya - and I had no social life!  Let your friends know that you won't see them til after the race!  I would go to parties and be the first to arrive because I'd planned to sneak out at 9pm so I could be home in bed at 10.  And I wouldn't drink because I am now a cheap drunk and one light beer leaves me tipsy (which now has it's benefits that I'm back to socializing!!).  I haven't seen a movie in months - once we went to a drive in and I passed out and snored through the whole thing!!  Even dinner parties tended to start too late and had me yawning through the whole thing.  Sad but again - it's only a limited time and you adjust - and you might even prefer it - definitely feel healthier as a result of the changes.

Having said that I'm now in the mood to cut loose.  I wanna go dancing, am hosting a dinner party tonight and had the biggest pint of wheat beer hours after I finished the race!!  I just have to watch what I eat as I'm not burning it as quickly.

Good luck with your decision Jeff!

Dream Chaser - 2011-09-15 2:36 PM
 
Years from now it's not going to be dinner parties that you remember, it's going to be those determined pictures of you in the Race; the range of emotions you felt on race day; the life-changing journey of training; the friends you've met along the way.  Talk at dinner parties is cheap and fleeting.  Race Results are FOREVER!!!  

Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever.

no social life, I already have no social life with three little ones.

you do know a puppy is like having a baby (and more) that's why I told our kids, sorry, daddy can't handle a puppy/dog, we'll just give you a baby brother instead. ha! ha!

thanks for sharing your experience, especially reading about your struggle between training and family and what you have given up.  there's always a cost to something.

I have to think about what are my goals for HIM and have a discussion w/ me wife about this.  She's very supportive of my endeavor however I know it's tough for her at time given she's a stay at home so that means she's almost on 24/7 if I decide to move my training up, even a tiny notch.

ha ha I read this like "I am now an Ironman" so I can do anything > I do not need to train high volumes like you because I am now an Ironman!

I can justify wearing "Magic Pants" because I am now an Ironman

that's great advise, 6-8 hours that's totally doable, almost what I've been doing these last couple of weeks.

do you have a sample of your training schedule for when you did HIM?  I would like to see your training schedule and modify it for me.

the bummer is that nights are getting shorter and the sun rises later.  I was hoping to work in rides in the morning but I don't want to ride when it's dark around cars.

thanks for the words of wisdom!!

For my first HIM I peaked out at about 10 hours a week, but most weeks were in the 8 hour range.  Keep in mind that how you train for those 8 hours is what matters most.  I have seen some who do very low intensity for extremely high volume get less out of it than some who do greatly reduced volume but at a much higher intensity.  I try to keep a balance of the two.  Big picture 12-15 hours a week is what a lot of people will use to train for a IM. 

Take a look at some HIM plans, their volume and intensity and see what works best for you and your lifestyle.

Dream Chaser - 2011-09-15 2:36 PM

kimmax - 2011-09-15 11:47 AM

Oh ya - and I had no social life!  Let your friends know that you won't see them til after the race!  I would go to parties and be the first to arrive because I'd planned to sneak out at 9pm so I could be home in bed at 10.  And I wouldn't drink because I am now a cheap drunk and one light beer leaves me tipsy (which now has it's benefits that I'm back to socializing!!).  I haven't seen a movie in months - once we went to a drive in and I passed out and snored through the whole thing!!  Even dinner parties tended to start too late and had me yawning through the whole thing.  Sad but again - it's only a limited time and you adjust - and you might even prefer it - definitely feel healthier as a result of the changes.

Having said that I'm now in the mood to cut loose.  I wanna go dancing, am hosting a dinner party tonight and had the biggest pint of wheat beer hours after I finished the race!!  I just have to watch what I eat as I'm not burning it as quickly.

Good luck with your decision Jeff!

WASN'T IT WORTH IT?  SKIPPING DRUNKEN LATE NIGHTS WITH BABBLING ADULTS TO HALF IRONMAN TRAIN!!!  Frivolous banter versus building character through pain and suffering.  Is there really a contest?!?
 
Years from now it's not going to be dinner parties that you remember, it's going to be those determined pictures of you in the Race; the range of emotions you felt on race day; the life-changing journey of training; the friends you've met along the way.  Talk at dinner parties is cheap and fleeting.  Race Results are FOREVER!!!  

Your not that far off.  I equate getting in to triathlon much like being the first of your group to have a child.  No one else has one and so no one else is interested (my friends thought my 'big race' was a marathon!).  And because it takes up so much of your life - it's hard to have anything of interest to say to anyone that isn't sport related.  It was good catching up, having a good meal but after one beer - I was ready for bed - it was only 9pm!!! 

I am doing a half mary on Sunday.  Hoping to PR.  :-)

Good luck DC and Ted!