tri training and marathon training

Define "overtrain."

I'm training for Chicago, while also training for my first two triathlons. I don't see anyway around sticking to your marathon plan. You have to do the miles, IMHO you should peak around 50-60MPW including at least three runs over 18 miles.

I have added the swimming and biking to my marathon training program. Actually, I stopped weightlifting and substituted swimming as I was already doing the biking. I'd be happy to post my entire weekly schedule if it helps.

"Overtraining" is a specific sports medicine term: http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/2001/05_01/uusitalo.htm

More commonly people wrongly refer to "doing too much" as "overtraining."

Edited by the bear 2004-08-27 12:15 PM

I think endurance is the most important part of tri training. You should definitely have that covered with your marathon training. Throw in one bike and one swim workout per week and you should be set without risking overtraining. Swimming is pretty low stress, you could swim on a rest day for your marathon training. How about combining the bike with one of your shorter running days for a brick?

Go for the sprint, if you are fit enough for a marathon the sprint will be a breeze.

I agree with Bear...the marathon training is necessary, or you won't finish 26.2, and the aerobic base it gives you, will aid in all the other disciplines...
The only thing I disagree with Bear on, however, is his statement that he has a humble opinion...I have yet to see a 'humble' opinion yet from him
Often right...never humble


d

Well, sometimes I make an effort to appear humble...

ROFLMAO!!!!!! Talk about calling a spade a spade!

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the feedback. Sounds like a great plan. I definitely will do the sprint tri then. Bear, I would really like to see your training plan. And thanks for that website about clairfying what overtraining is vis a vis "doing to much". I love having all the information I can find. I am completely a tri geek with a lot to learn.


CeCe

I would agree with the idea of adding a bike and a swim to your workout, although, I would be tempted to add 2 bike and 2 swim. I think that in marathon training we sometimes focus to much on quantity instead of quality. You can add the bike and swim and still effectively build aerobic endurance. If you are following a marathon plan like Hal Higdon's interemediate plan with 5 days of running, you might consider eliminating a shorter distance day and replacing it with a good bike ride. Do swim on a rest day and turn another short run into a brick and you'll be about there. Again, for me quality is the key: Running 1 LSD (long, slow distance) peaking at 20+, 1 mid-distance with 4-6 mi at race pace and one day of speed work (intervals) with good warm up and cool down. Biking: 1 LSD and one speed day. Swim: 1 LSD and 1 day of intervals (focus on stroke count and efficiency always!).

I have found that I am able to more training in multisport without exhaustion than I can with running alone. Go figure

I am sure that tri training has made be a better marathoner, and I'll get the proof in October.

Good luck. Be sure to share what works for you, as I know that there are others with the same issue of mixing triathlons and endurance runs.

You can see Bear's training schedule in this thread.
http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp...

No rest days!

Bear,

How many hours a week do you devote to training?

As many as 20, depending on where I am in my marathon/century training.

Edited by the bear 2004-08-27 2:33 PM