Many, many questions...
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2005-02-14 1:16 PM |
Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: Many, many questions... How much time should I give myself to train for an Ironman? I'm planning on doing Lanzerote next year (May 2006) and I'm curious as to when I should start IM specific training. My last race this year is Los Angeles Triathlon which is 9/11/2005. I'm thinking a month of active rest followed by seven months of coached training. 1. Is that okay to do, because if I need to cut this season short by a month or two, I'd be willing to do that? 2. What type of coaching should I be looking for? I see some coaches simply put out plans, others have coached workouts, some have group workouts, and even fewer offer all three. I'd like a blend of all the services, I'm curious as to what you guys use. 3. How does your swim coach and your tri coach interact? Do you basically act as the go between? 4. How much do you pay for the coaching services that you use? 5. Do you continue to log your workouts here on BT or does your coach have some custom logging mechanism for you? If you do continue to log using BT (which rocks), does your coach look at them? 6. How does your coach provide feedback? 7. In what form does your coach deliver to you your workouts? An online plan, through the mail? I know this is a pretty long list of questions, and each question should maybe be a thread of it's own. Thank you in advance for your feedback, Chris Edited by ChuckyFinster 2005-02-14 1:17 PM |
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2005-02-14 2:54 PM in reply to: #116948 |
Veteran 113 | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Hey Chuck, I'll give you a snapshot of how my coaches and I do it, so you can get a feel for one particular coaching model. Working from low cost up, this is what we have: Training Plans Coached Workouts Training Plan + Coached Workouts Premium Coaching Training Sessions with the coaches Some of your other Q's: How long to train for an IM? Read my Event Based Volume article. Also, do a search on his board or the more general one. I think I may have discussed how I divide an IM training season. My short answer is:
If you follow this guidance, then you only need to "be training for" an IM for about 12 weeks. By this, I mean you have turned a key in your head that says "I am training for this Ironman on Date X. My training is race specific and my head is focused on the task at hand." Swim coach and tri coach: this is a big one. I think many tri coaches don't come from a swimming background so they often abdicate the swimming responsilibility (or at least form instruction) to the masters coach. However, that masters coach may or may not be the best resource for integrating swim training into and IM schedule. Ideally, your tri swim coach should be able to offer you or point you towards quality swim technique instruction and then do a common sense check to what the master's coach is telling you to do in workouts. IM-specific: sorry, I have to put in a plug here. Make sure the coach of your choice has personal experience with training and racing IM AND has been successful. I've learned the most about IM training through my own training, having made a ton of mistakes. Also, what is their experience with coaching athletes to Ironman? I've seen good Sprint-Oly tri coaches fail to make the connection that training for an IM is fundamentally different. Like most things, coaching IM athletes is an art, not taught in books, and really only truly learned through experimentation with their own training and the experience of coaching many, many IM athletes. Yeah, lots more to talk about here. Good Q's. |
2005-02-14 3:40 PM in reply to: #116948 |
Elite 3498 Chicago | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... You know good and well that you need to podium in a 1/2 IM race before ever attempting an IM. Didn't we go over this already? |
2005-02-14 4:21 PM in reply to: #117051 |
Extreme Veteran 534 Brisbane | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Steve- - 2005-02-14 4:40 PM You know good and well that you need to podium in a 1/2 IM race before ever attempting an IM. Didn't we go over this already? Yeah, what's the rush? |
2005-02-14 4:38 PM in reply to: #117051 |
Elite 2458 Livingston, MT | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Steve- - 2005-02-14 12:40 PM You know good and well that you need to podium in a 1/2 IM race before ever attempting an IM. Didn't we go over this already? Ask me how I did in 32 days Man I can't wait. I have never felt more ready for a race. Ralph's 1/2 IM in 32 days woooooooohoooooooooo!!!!!!!!! Now, stop trying to hijack my thread and answer the questions! Hey Rich, what assumptions are you making when you say "12 weeks". thx - Chris |
2005-02-14 5:01 PM in reply to: #117099 |
Elite 3498 Chicago | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... ChuckyFinster - 2005-02-14 3:38 PM Steve- - 2005-02-14 12:40 PM Ask me how I did in 32 days Man I can't wait. I have never felt more ready for a race. Ralph's 1/2 IM in 32 days woooooooohoooooooooo!!!!!!!!! Now, stop trying to hijack my thread and answer the questions! Hey Rich, what assumptions are you making when you say "12 weeks". thx - Chris You know good and well that you need to podium in a 1/2 IM race before ever attempting an IM. Didn't we go over this already? LOL. sry, I just couldn't resist. I'll be good now. |
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2005-02-14 5:07 PM in reply to: #116948 |
Veteran 113 | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Before that 12 weeks the athlete's mental state/focus is "I am training to train. I'm not yet training for the race." The keys I like to see my athletes hitting before we enter this Race Prep phase are:
Now, how long it will take an athlete to develop to the point where they can accomplish these keys? That's probably what you were asking when you said how do you need to be training for an IM. For me, it's a critical mental shift. During the above, for me and my athletes training for CDA, we are...just doing the above or building them up to that. They are NOT training for CDA yet. I'll flip that switch in about mid April. |
2005-02-14 5:18 PM in reply to: #116948 |
Expert 1207 Liberty Lake, WA | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Answer 1: Yes, it is fine to race the LA Tri, take a month off, and then train for 7 months with a coach. Answers 2-7: I do not use a coach so I can not help you with these questions. Good luck on your upcoming races and future IM. After some of your recent comments I sure hope you do well or else there is going to be a Chucky Flame Fest. |
2005-02-14 5:36 PM in reply to: #116948 |
Master 1558 Pensacola, Fl | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Come on...give us more credit than that!!! **readies fire pit and purchases large amounts of lighter fluid** Just kidding! Even if we disagree, I do wish everyone the best in their goals/races!! |
2005-02-14 5:49 PM in reply to: #117172 |
Expert 1207 Liberty Lake, WA | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Don't get me wrong, I really do hope that he does well. |
2005-02-16 6:05 PM in reply to: #117136 |
2 | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Hi Rich, I am on board with your guidance about where athletes need to be before race prep. It would help with some clarification on body comp, however. From your coaching experience, what is the typical bf% of first time, MOP, BOP masters IM finishers. |
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2005-02-17 5:19 PM in reply to: #118262 |
Veteran 113 | Subject: RE: Many, many questions... Body comp thoughts:
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