General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Olympic 3x Balanced 16/20 Week Group Rss Feed  
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2010-08-31 8:13 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
How's everyone doing in here???

2.9 miles in 24 minutes this morning after a good session of lifting.


2010-08-31 2:58 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
bmmac - 2010-08-30 7:41 PM Did my first tri (a sprint) in mid August and now registered for first OLY in late September.  I just jumped into this program for the last five weeks of it and seem to have been able to make it from my own unstructured plan to this ones final month.  The main adjustment seems to be more swim time and less bike time than what I've been doing.  My right shoulder is a bit sore and was wondering if I'm laying on too much swimming at once.  I tend to do 1500 straight when I get in the water and then add on some 100's to get the distance up.  Any suggestions would be appreciated as to how to handle the swim load.


I did my first tri (sprint) July 26, and am signed up for an olympic Oct 2.  I jumped into this program mid-way, like you.  As for my swim workouts, I've been using SWIMPLAN.COM  Very good workouts!  Lots of interval work, drills, and variety.  I've seen my swim times improve a bunch. 

Good luck to you!
2010-09-01 10:41 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
What do you guys do when you're not "feeling" it?  I wasn't feeling the swim this morning.  I did 500m all out and then made the rest of the swim more casual.
2010-09-01 12:24 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
uhcoog - 2010-09-01 10:41 AM What do you guys do when you're not "feeling" it?  I wasn't feeling the swim this morning.  I did 500m all out and then made the rest of the swim more casual.


^^^That. In my opinion, it takes a confident athlete to know when to back off a workout. If I wasn't "feeling it", I would ask myself if I was being honest about how I was feeling or just being a baby. If I was being honest and for whatever reason was not feeling good during a workout (could be diet, lack of sleep, allergies, need more time to recover, stress, etc), then I would do exactly what you did. Be intuitive and either adjust the workout or call it a day.
The flip side to that is learning to let yourself go longer or harder on the days when everything is "right" and you feel awesome. There is room for intuitiveness in a training plan but it's not for everyone. If you are new to the sport or really Type A, it may just mess with your head to have gray areas like that.
Jessica
2010-09-01 6:34 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
uhcoog - 2010-09-01 8:41 AM What do you guys do when you're not "feeling" it?  I wasn't feeling the swim this morning.  I did 500m all out and then made the rest of the swim more casual.


I have a "5 minute rule" if I'm not feeling it.  I get out of the house, usually the hardest part. Then start my workout.  I give my self 5 minutes.  If I still feel tired, sick, injured, mental, I'll call it.  I've learned that practice makes permanent, and perfect practice makes perfect.  If I can't have a good, mindful practice, I'm not doing myself any favors.  I whole heartedly agree with Jessica, you have to be intuitive with your body.  If I hear "HTFU" one more time, I'm going to puke!Yell  Nothing like a beginner athlete, who's not under "professional" supervision pushing themselves too hard and ending up injured.
2010-09-02 4:44 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group

I think everyone should be intuitive for the reasons you have stated.  If you body isn't "feeling it" and you go long and hard, you're probably going to do more bad than good.  On the flip side, I'd hate to waste a day on a short, easy day when the body is ready to go.  I think once you've been doing this for a while you can get the hang of it fairly easily.  Key part, though, is being honest with yourself.

I'm doing a modified Oly race this weekend - 1/2 mile swim 26 mle bike and a 6.6 mile run.  Basically just been adding distance to my training and have not been focusing on time.  I signed up so I could get a sense of where I am and where I need to go as I plan to make a big jump next year from sprints to Olympic races (The plan is an early season Sprint and then 4 Olympic distance races).

I'll be starting my off-season first full week in October and that's when I'll be doing the 16 week plan.  Really looking forward to having this forum this off-season.



2010-09-02 10:19 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Lewgrave - 2010-09-02 2:44 AM

I think everyone should be intuitive for the reasons you have stated.  If you body isn't "feeling it" and you go long and hard, you're probably going to do more bad than good.  On the flip side, I'd hate to waste a day on a short, easy day when the body is ready to go.  I think once you've been doing this for a while you can get the hang of it fairly easily.  Key part, though, is being honest with yourself.

^^^^ THIS!!

And those of you that have read my posts before, you know what I'm about to say. :D

Ditch the technology occasionally. Get rid of the GPS, HRM, cover up your cyclometer, and just go run/ride or swim. Listen to your body and what it's telling you. Every once in a while go out with the sole purpose of going HARD until you have to quit, and see how far/how fast.

I bet you will be pleasantly surprised at some of the things you can accomplish when you start working outside your comfort zone a bit, or letting your body free to do it's "own" thing rather than relying on an external taskmaster.

Technology has its place, but the more you are in tune with yourself, the better you can gauge things in a race, especially if your technology dies halfway. I've heard so many tri stories of "I was KILLING it until my garmin died, then I overcooked the last half of the bike and died on the run" or variations thereof.

John

2010-09-02 10:35 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
See I read on this board and think I under do it on the tech side.  The most I do is take my droid with me so that I can use runkeeper on my runs/rides and I don't ever time my days in the pool, I just get an overall time.  I don't even look at the thing really until I'm done.  I just ride by what my body is telling me.  I figure at some point I'll get to a performance level where it will make an huge difference but as of now I'm just building a base and gaining experience.
2010-09-02 12:32 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
uhcoog - 2010-09-02 8:35 AM See I read on this board and think I under do it on the tech side.  The most I do is take my droid with me so that I can use runkeeper on my runs/rides and I don't ever time my days in the pool, I just get an overall time.  I don't even look at the thing really until I'm done.  I just ride by what my body is telling me.  I figure at some point I'll get to a performance level where it will make an huge difference but as of now I'm just building a base and gaining experience.


Personally, I love this approach! :p

I'm contemplating buying my first "gadget" other than a basic cyclometer and a split capable watch, and getting a powermeter set of wheels.

And don't knock base and experience, I've had years of both and I STILL go through "base building" periods. There is still no substitute for just getting out there and getting it done.

John
2010-09-03 5:06 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Technology has its place, but the more you are in tune with yourself, the better you can gauge things in a race


Which is a big reason I don't have any tech devices.  I want to train like I race.

I also enjoy the process more as I don't have to worry and be fixated on numbers.  If I want a long, easy session, I go long and easy.  If I want to push it, I'll push it.

I think it's pretty obvious but I don't count calories either.  I just make sure I'm eating well through the day with a few "breaks" every now and then.
2010-09-04 9:35 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Hey, just thought I'd jump in since I'm doing the Balanced training plan as well.

I personally am a big fan of using technology and currently have a Garmin 305 forerunner. Without my HR monitor telling me to slow down I usually end up pushing myself too hard and get out of the endurance zone. I'm a numbers/science kind of guy, and a self described logical positivist. I like precision in my training. I like knowing why I'm doing what I'm doing and the science behind it. Standardizing my training gives me data which lets me quantify my progress which lets me know when I'm doing something right (numbers going up) or wrong (numbers not going up). When you have concrete performance goals prioritized into a non contradictory hierarchy you have entered the realm of optimization, not all training is equal.

That said I agree with others in that one should be wary of becoming too dependent on technology. I've found my technology pretty helpful and developing better intuition about my body, and work on associating my perceived level of exertion with my HR according to my monitor. 


2010-09-06 6:28 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
jperna - 2010-09-04 9:35 PM Hey, just thought I'd jump in since I'm doing the Balanced training plan as well.

I personally am a big fan of using technology and currently have a Garmin 305 forerunner. Without my HR monitor telling me to slow down I usually end up pushing myself too hard and get out of the endurance zone. I'm a numbers/science kind of guy, and a self described logical positivist. I like precision in my training. I like knowing why I'm doing what I'm doing and the science behind it. Standardizing my training gives me data which lets me quantify my progress which lets me know when I'm doing something right (numbers going up) or wrong (numbers not going up). When you have concrete performance goals prioritized into a non contradictory hierarchy you have entered the realm of optimization, not all training is equal.

That said I agree with others in that one should be wary of becoming too dependent on technology. I've found my technology pretty helpful and developing better intuition about my body, and work on associating my perceived level of exertion with my HR according to my monitor. 


I don't want to give the impression what you've stated above is not the way to go.  I can list several examples off the top of my head why this is better than my current approach.  What it comes down to for me is too much number crunching takes away from my enjoyment which is something I don't want to happen.
2010-09-06 7:39 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
jperna - 2010-09-04 9:35 PM Hey, just thought I'd jump in since I'm doing the Balanced training plan as well.

I personally am a big fan of using technology and currently have a Garmin 305 forerunner. Without my HR monitor telling me to slow down I usually end up pushing myself too hard and get out of the endurance zone. I'm a numbers/science kind of guy, and a self described logical positivist. I like precision in my training. I like knowing why I'm doing what I'm doing and the science behind it. Standardizing my training gives me data which lets me quantify my progress which lets me know when I'm doing something right (numbers going up) or wrong (numbers not going up). When you have concrete performance goals prioritized into a non contradictory hierarchy you have entered the realm of optimization, not all training is equal.

That said I agree with others in that one should be wary of becoming too dependent on technology. I've found my technology pretty helpful and developing better intuition about my body, and work on associating my perceived level of exertion with my HR according to my monitor. 


You hit on something really important here: people learn differently, people respond to situations differently, and we all have an obligation to understand OURSELVES so we can maximize our strengths and become better athletes. If you like precision, like playing with data, do better with concrete numbers to crunch, etc., then a high tech approach is best for you. And it really can help people learn how to train in the proper training zones.
I think everyone can benefit from a heart rate monitor for at least a year, while they learn what different efforts feel like. After that, whatever works and makes you happy!
Jessica
2010-09-09 5:04 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Anyone else find Thursdays are the hardest day to get through on this plan?
2010-09-09 6:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group

uhcoog - 2010-09-09 3:04 PM Anyone else find Thursdays are the hardest day to get through on this plan?

I thought it was just me!  Don't know what it is, but they are tough.  But it's good to know there's someone else suffering out there too.

2010-09-09 9:30 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
blbriley - 2010-09-09 6:26 PM

I thought it was just me!  Don't know what it is, but they are tough.  But it's good to know there's someone else suffering out there too.



Legs felt like rubber this morning.  Guess Thursdays are going to be about seeing what I'm mentally made of.


2010-09-10 4:01 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Hi all,
I'll be starting the "Oly 2x Balanced" program on Monday.....didn't see a group thread so I suppose I'll hang out with you fine folks for the next 16 weeks....   I may end up doing extra workouts but the 2x weekly is the minimum I need to hit. 

I reached the point of "faster vs longer" and have decided on longer for 2011.  I'm going to do this 16 week Oly program, then in Jan/Feb will transition into a 20 week HIM program to be ready for a mid-June HIM (most likely Patriot, perhaps Mooseman)

Kevin
2010-09-10 4:22 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Mainer22 - 2010-09-10 4:01 PM Hi all,
I'll be starting the "Oly 2x Balanced" program on Monday.....didn't see a group thread so I suppose I'll hang out with you fine folks for the next 16 weeks....   I may end up doing extra workouts but the 2x weekly is the minimum I need to hit. 

I reached the point of "faster vs longer" and have decided on longer for 2011.  I'm going to do this 16 week Oly program, then in Jan/Feb will transition into a 20 week HIM program to be ready for a mid-June HIM (most likely Patriot, perhaps Mooseman)

Kevin


Welcome.  You're about where I am.  I plan on transitioning to the HIM program a little later in the spring in hopes of hitting one the last part of next season.
2010-09-10 11:14 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Mainer22 - 2010-09-10 2:01 PM Hi all,
I'll be starting the "Oly 2x Balanced" program on Monday.....didn't see a group thread so I suppose I'll hang out with you fine folks for the next 16 weeks....   I may end up doing extra workouts but the 2x weekly is the minimum I need to hit. 

I reached the point of "faster vs longer" and have decided on longer for 2011.  I'm going to do this 16 week Oly program, then in Jan/Feb will transition into a 20 week HIM program to be ready for a mid-June HIM (most likely Patriot, perhaps Mooseman)

Kevin


Welcome! You may find that your longer also becomes faster, that's one of the nice side effects of increased volume.

John
2010-09-11 2:46 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Mainer22 - 2010-09-10 4:01 PM Hi all,
I'll be starting the "Oly 2x Balanced" program on Monday.....didn't see a group thread so I suppose I'll hang out with you fine folks for the next 16 weeks....   I may end up doing extra workouts but the 2x weekly is the minimum I need to hit. 

I reached the point of "faster vs longer" and have decided on longer for 2011.  I'm going to do this 16 week Oly program, then in Jan/Feb will transition into a 20 week HIM program to be ready for a mid-June HIM (most likely Patriot, perhaps Mooseman)

Kevin


Welcome! We are happy to have you here! I will start a thread for the 2X balanced but if you are the only one in there, make sure you hang out in this thread as well!
Jessica
2010-09-12 11:42 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
A note from today's run:  I forgot how much harder 60lbs of kid in a jogging stroller makes things.


2010-09-13 10:09 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
uhcoog - 2010-09-12 11:42 AM A note from today's run:  I forgot how much harder 60lbs of kid in a jogging stroller makes things.


It's good for you, though. Through some dumbbells in there, too. Ha!
Jessica
2010-09-13 12:46 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Tri Take Me Away - 2010-09-13 10:09 AM
uhcoog - 2010-09-12 11:42 AM A note from today's run:  I forgot how much harder 60lbs of kid in a jogging stroller makes things.


It's good for you, though. Through some dumbbells in there, too. Ha!
Jessica


Don't doubt that at all.  I just was a bit shocked when I started feeling it around 30 minutes. 
2010-09-13 1:45 PM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Looking for advice.

Instead of doing this plan back-to-back in the off-season, I'm thinking of doing some good base work until 16 weeks out from my first race (mid-May).  Any advice on how to structure this if I decide to go this route?  Thanks.
2010-09-14 7:52 AM
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Subject: RE: Olympic 3x Balanced 16 Week Group
Lewgrave - 2010-09-13 1:45 PM Looking for advice.

Instead of doing this plan back-to-back in the off-season, I'm thinking of doing some good base work until 16 weeks out from my first race (mid-May).  Any advice on how to structure this if I decide to go this route?  Thanks.


Well, the goal is to be ready for that first week of training 16 weeks out. BT does have some great winter maintenance plans at the Silver level of membership. In general, pick your weakest of the three disciplines and try to devote more time to that while also working on the other two. If you weakness is swimming, for example, 3x a week in Masters should be the backbone of your training while run and bike get two each week. A lot depends on how much time you want to devote to training over the winter. Some people stop swimming for two months, some people swim more. Just depends on what YOU need to work on.
Jessica
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