doing mock tri's for training.....good or bad idea?
933
Member
262 days
TriSooner posted 15 weeks ago.
thesonicson wrote:
Triathlon is a combination of three events, and as such, it is logically intuitive the assume that one should train for all the events as close together as possible. We repeat the mantra of "train like you race," so why not do all three in the same session? But smart training treats triathlon as three distinct component parts that when combined become whole. For most of your training you should treat each discipline as a distinct training session, yet realizing that the eventual sum (ie, race day) of your individualized training will eventually manifest itself with overall improvement. Grouping all the events together with such frequency does not equate to the same whole you could achieve if you were to focus on each discipline and gave each sport its due attention, intensity and time.
I have been doing a "mock tri" twice a week since I started training in late March.
How intense can your weekly runs be if you are already taxed by a 1,000m swim and 20mile bike? Also, how good are your swims knowing you have to hold back for the upcoming bike and run. Everything suffers when you can't devote the appropriate energy to one discipline per workout (the occasional brick not included). If Tuesday is your 'bike day,' focus on making it the most high-quality session you can achieve. Don't save anything for the run. Then if Wednesday is a 'run day,' make the most out of your run without going into taxed from the bike.
In the end, the cumulative effects of distinct, high quality-training sessions is greater than bi-weekly 'mock tris' that you admitted aren't very fast. Your twice weekly s/b/r session takes how long? 2+ hours? You would be better off overall if you took that time and focused just on one discipline per training session (AM then PM). I suspect you are diminishing your performance by diluting your focus, energy and intensity. Don't take my word for it: Look at any tri training plan and you will not see 'all-three-in-one-day' training sessions.
138
Member
229 days
CadenceGuy posted 15 weeks ago.
I would say no, never do more then a 'brick drill'. Especially if your doing them twice a week, your asking for injury. Even if you still feel good, its the little things that add up over time that you may not notice that are killer to a season once they come full bore. I would say use your 'mock tri' days as an opportunity to add more miles to your bike and run or use them to add speed work into your routine if you havent already. Just my .02, keep to brick drills only and stay healthy in the long run.
622
Member
479 days
Iron Dan posted 15 weeks ago.
Doing a mock tri every once in a while is fine, doing a mock tri twice a week is not the greatest training plan. I agree with TriSooner on this one in that training for each discipline individually will allow for greater overall gains in each discipline and better overall performance on race day. Throwing in the occasional mock tri in addition to bricks is an ok thing to do; I just wouldn't over do it.
51
Member
119 days
thesonicson posted 15 weeks ago.
Thanks for the your takes on this matter. I guess I was just thinking that it would be better to build good cardio endurance 1st vs. muscle endurance. I just feel like I am cheating myself if I only go out for a 4 mile run. But here's the thing, I seem to run into the the same muscle fatigue at about the 3-4 mile point in my run regardless of whether or not it's part of a "mock tri" or just an evening run. How can I correct that?
933
Member
262 days
TriSooner posted 15 weeks ago.
thesonicson wrote:
Then either go longer, take a hilly course, or do speed work on a track. You said you are training for an Oly? You should be comfortable (or work up being comfortable) with the 10k distance, so don't limit your runs to 4 miles. That's the point I was making in my earlier post: If you lay off the bike just before your run, I imagine you could get in a quality 10k run with fresh legs.
I just feel like I am cheating myself if I only go out for a 4 mile run.
thesonicson wrote:
The simplest explination might be that your run conditioning is lacking. You may be overtraining on the bike and the run suffers. I think if/when you cut out the bi-weekly mock tris your run will improve dramatically when you give it its due attention. Also, muscle fatigue may indicate a lack of anaerobic conditioning. All those little weekday tris may have built up your aerobic capacity, but as you said, they aren't very fast. As such, you haven't built up the turnover and lactic-acid threshold you seek. Think about incorporating speedwork (google 'Yasso 800') and add hills to build up strength. This may be simply a symptom of all the bike-to-runs you've been doing.
I seem to run into the the same muscle fatigue at about the 3-4 mile point in my run regardless of whether or not it's part of a "mock tri" or just an evening run.
1665
Member
1454 days
PrinceofClydes posted 15 weeks ago.
Triathlon is just another great way of cross-training or in terms of lifestyle, it's another way of just doing the things we like to do anyway.
If I'm on holiday, like I was in Mexico in February, I'd start the day with a 2km swim in 80 degree water, then take a nice ride along the coast and when I get back go for a jog along the beach and fall into the water every now and then.
Later drink cold beer in a hammock under the palm trees.
Then eat your face off and be in bed by 9pm.
What better existence can you imagine?
Going flat out on every leg all the time is obviously overdoing it and asking for trouble, but somewhere in there is a compromise that seems right intuitively.
Last summer, I recall doing a five day stretch where I swam 1500m in the pool, got ready for a bike in a businesslike fashion, (without stressing about the T1 time) rode 40k, had a shower and a bite of lunch ( a drink and a bunwich) then went for a 10km jog/run. 5 days in a row - no harm.
Of course, it wasn't my first week of training either. So work up to it with shorter distances and less intensity on different legs each day to keep it from becoming boring.
Think of it as a lifestyle not a chore.
If you don't like it you shouldn't be doing it.
cheers,
PoC
"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.
217
Member
146 days
iamtb13 posted 15 weeks ago.
Hmmm....a new "triathlon" format.
Cold Beer
Sleep in hammock
Eat your face off
I'm in!!
51
Member
119 days
thesonicson posted 15 weeks ago.
trisooner,
Do you recommend doing anaerobic leg exercises during training? I come to this sport as a gym rat, (but not a muscle head) and feel my anaerobic side is more than adequate. I am going to stop the mock tri thing and really concentrate on my run, seeing that that portion is the one that is lagging. Thanks.
I am in my first season and training for Olympic distances. I want to get some feedback on the idea of running "mock tri's" for training. I have been reading that one does not want to over-train and burn theirselve out, and didn't know if this would fall into that category. I have been doing a "mock tri" twice a week since I started training in late March. I follow my "mock tri" days with upper body weight training days and include either a light run or light bike afterwards. Then the other days are swim/ bike or swim/ run and one day full rest. I started 7 weeks ago doing 1/4 mile swim, 8 mile bike, 1 mile run and struggled. I am currently at 3/4; 20; 4 and feel quite good afterwards and very little tenderness next day if any at all. I am not setting any land or water records, just doing a moderate pace. If I do a "mock tri" in the morning, I sometimes find myself wanting to run or bike that same evening, though I haven't because of that "over-training" thing. (I think I have a serious case of triatholitis)
Do you think this "mock tri" idea is a good one?