beIRONfit

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » beIRONfit Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2006-12-28 10:19 PM

User image

Regular
61
2525
Subject: beIRONfit
So, I searched the forums and found a lot of post mentioning beIRONfit by Don Fink, but could not find what I was looking for: a testimonial from someone who used one of the training plans to do an IM, with an explanation of how they think the plan worked for them. Has anyone out there actually done an IM with the IRONfit training, and want to talk about how it worked for them, how it compared to other plans they know about, etc.?


2006-12-29 8:40 AM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Extreme Veteran
471
1001001001002525
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
i used the beIRONfit plan for both my ironman races. i love the book and the plans. i also personally know 4 others who have completed an im usign the beIRONfit plans.
it's not perfect for everyone, but it's tough to beat for the money and it's a great base plan you can modify to fit your needs.

there are 3 plans in the book (just finish, intermediate, and competitive). the plan i use is a modified version of the competitive plan:
1. i move the days around a little to fit my schedule
2. i don't usually do the extra run/bike on the weekend (i only do the long run/bike).
3. when it jumps to 3 swims a week, i still only swim twice a week (worried about burning out mentally)

one thing to be careful of is that some people feel that the cutbacks aren't enough. the book has a 10% cutback every fourth week, but they prefer a 20-25% cutback on those weeks for better recovery.

i am currently in week 5 of the plan now (for IMCDA). if you have specific questions about it let me know.
2006-12-29 12:14 PM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Regular
67
2525
Denver, CO (Cheeseman Park area)
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
Wow - I was just getting ready to post the same question about IRONfit. Having done one already, I think I can get along without hiring a coach. Got a triathlon club and BT for support and questions, all I need now is the right motivation and accountability! Once I can walk down the street here in Denver without fear of falling on my , it's go time!

I think I am going to use the IRONfit plan, and spend a few hours typing it up and importing into the BT site - I love the logging, graphs, etc.

What race are you shooting for? I'm doing full Vineman in Aug. Which means my 30 weeks starts Jan 7!!!
2007-01-01 10:11 PM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Subject: RE: beIRONfit

I used the BeIronFit Competitive program for IMCDA 06.  It worked very well for me, but I definitely needed to make some alterations for it to fit my life.  It was my first IM.  Here are some of my thoughts:

- Having a long run and a long bike on weekend is tough, but is most realistic for most people.  If I could have, I would have separated them.  then again, that might have helped me prepare for the IM.

- I also dropped the third swim when it started but mostly because I was worried that I would re injure my shoulder.

- I liked the consistency in the workouts.  I had pretty much memorized the workout pattern after the first few weeks.  the BT plans are great, but they jump around so much that it is hard to plan your life around them.  then again, some people like that to keep them fresh.

- My wife started with the competitive program and then moved down to beginner after the first 10 weeks.  that's the nice thing if you start with the competitive program that if it is too much, it is an easy transition into the beginner program

- I did not try to make up missed workouts...there are simply too many workouts to try and make any up.  I regularly missed 1 or 2 workouts a week.  I didn't feel guilty because I knew there was so much volume anyways...

- I found the swims to be too long in the beginning.  I started with much shorter swims and slowly buit up my volume until I swam the IM distance about 3 weeks before the race.  In fact, I did not follow the swim workouts at all...only the schedule for the swims.  Hope this helps.  Good luck!

Ivan

 

2007-01-02 7:36 PM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Regular
61
2525
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
That does help! I was a little nervous about all the swimming, so it's good to know that you reduced both the initial yardage and the overall number of sessions, and still came out all right. Did you always keep the weekend long bike and run separate, as the book says, or ever combine them into a brick? I was surprised to see that plan does not include any bricks longer than the 1 hour sessions one day per week. I don't think that will work for me, since I love doing bricks, especially after a long ride to get used to that feeling.
2007-01-02 8:00 PM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Master
1661
10005001002525
Newbury Park, CA
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
The competitive plan does have a lot of bricks - they are pretty short until week 13 but then they kick in pretty good.

2007-01-02 8:59 PM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Master
1661
10005001002525
Newbury Park, CA
Subject: RE: beIRONfit

I don't have the whole plan here but week 13 (still 17 weeks out from IM) has a 3 hr ride and a 30 minute run on Saturday and then a 30 minute 100+RPM on Sunday followed by a 1:15 run (although this might not be meant to be a brick).  This pattern goes on with the rides getting longer and the run staying the same until about week 19 (still 11 weeks from IM) when the ride is 4 hours followed by a 45 minute run on Saturday and Sunday looks like a 1 hr ride followed by a 1:30 run.

My spreadsheet runs out at week 19 but I'm sure it keeps adding time.  If you are doing a good ride, 3 hr +, you really only need a 30 minute or so run to get the "brick" feeling.  All you need to do is run long enough so you feel your muscles switch from biking to running and get used to that.  You don't need to do HIM bike leg and run leg every week to get brick experience.

2007-01-03 3:57 AM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Extreme Veteran
465
1001001001002525
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
Can't really add to this except that this is the program I just started using for IMWI, 07. I like how it really stresses time management for busy people, and the different programs to choose. I am doing the competitive, but can always drop down. I am also starting a month early to give myself 4 weeks of padding in case "life happens".
2007-01-03 6:43 AM
in reply to: #636255

User image

Pro
4675
20002000500100252525
Wisconsin near the Twin Cities metro
Subject: RE: beIRONfit

weds19 - 2006-12-29 8:40 AM  there are 3 plans in the book (just finish, intermediate, and competitive). 

Just curious if he defines "competitive" in his book. What approximate finish time does he consider this to be?  Thanks

2007-01-03 7:27 AM
in reply to: #640258

User image

Extreme Veteran
471
1001001001002525
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
Birkierunner - 2007-01-03 6:43 AM

Just curious if he defines "competitive" in his book. What approximate finish time does he consider this to be?  Thanks



good point. i don't remember if there were any specific times listed. i wasn't planning on being competitive, but i chose that plan so that i would have the maximum amount of padding in case things went wrong.

2007-01-03 7:33 AM
in reply to: #639998

User image

Extreme Veteran
471
1001001001002525
Northern Virginia
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
as PGoldberger notes below, the plan has 2-3 bricks a week:
1. a short one during the week that starts at :30-:15 and increases to 1:00-:30 by the end.
2. every long weekend ride ends with a brick. i don't have a problem running off the bike and found it mentally draining, so i usually skip this brick.
3. a short easy spin before the long run. i don't think this is actaully a brick, but it is another bike/run on the same day.




2007-01-03 10:43 PM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Regular
61
2525
Subject: RE: beIRONfit
After looking closer at the plan and the above posts, I think what I want to do is the "intermediate" weekly training, with the "competitive" weekend bricks. Any thoughts on whether that seems reasonable, foolish, etc? I don't want the increased overall training time of the "competitive", but would prefer two bricks rather than individual long rides and runs.
2007-01-04 5:02 AM
in reply to: #636080

User image

Subject: RE: beIRONfit
I think that plan sounds reasonable.  I stayed with Competitive mostly because I wanted the psychological freedom of dropping a workout here and there and knowing I was still doing much more than I needed (as per the Just Finish program).  Have fun!
2007-01-04 8:17 AM
in reply to: #636080

Subject: RE: beIRONfit
Hi - I happen to have the book right in front of me, so...

Competitive - Average 12 hours per week, max week is 20 hours
Intermediate - Average 10.5 hours per week, max week is 15 hours
Just Finish - Average 7 hours per week, max week is 10 hours

No mention of when you should expect to finish, looks like the program you choose is based more on the time you have available to train. All three have practice Oly and HIM races built in.
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » beIRONfit Rss Feed