Is it better to train by time or distance?
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301 days
jhudalla posted 16 weeks ago.
Conventional wisdom would say which every comes first. But a race is measure in distance, your result is measured in time. Food for thought. HOWEVER, if you are having injuries it's best to back off. No sense in really hurting yourself because then you'll be sitting in front of the TV getting recovered and putting in zero hours or miles in training.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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tmin posted 16 weeks ago.
jhudalla wrote:
Conventional wisdom would say which every comes first. But a race is measure in distance, your result is measured in time. Food for thought. HOWEVER, if you are having injuries it's best to back off. No sense in really hurting yourself because then you'll be sitting in front of the TV getting recovered and putting in zero hours or miles in training.
I can do the distance. I just recently moved. The city I was living in previously has a 60 mile route, which I did regularly in about 3 hours. Since I've moved my average speed has dropped from 20 to maybe 14 mph due to the steep climbs.
542
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301 days
jhudalla posted 16 weeks ago.
I know exactly what you are talking about. I moved from NV to MN. NV = mountainous, MN = hilly to flat. I'd say to just put in a solid effort for the time until you can build up the fitness to ride in the big hills. WHICH, btw, will make you much better. Where are you planning on doing most of your races?
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
372
Member
883 days
kkocan posted 16 weeks ago.
For me, training for my second IM, I used both.
In the spring and early months when weather and lots of gear to fight the weather holds your avg speed way down I went by time. As IM has been getting closer my workouts have been more focused on distance (ie ride 112, vs ride 6 hours).
So I guess the answer can be both.
________________________________________________
2008 Main Races:
VA Beach Shamrock Marathon
Desoto TTT
WV Mountaineer HIM
IM Wisconsin
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overcome posted 16 weeks ago.
What are the hills like on the race(s) you are training for? If they have similar hills I would think distance but if it is a flat course I would think time.
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307 days
jsk85 posted 16 weeks ago.
I train mostly by time, but I keep track of my distances to ensure that I'm hitting the distances for my upcoming races. I feel like with time I can get a much more even level of exertion from one workout to the next. I also have the ability to choose b/w flat and hilly, so that helps too.
I know what you mean with the differences, though...I've been doing one flat ride to work on aero position, race cadence, etc...and will do like 1.5-2hrs (28-40 miles) one day a week. Then will do a hill ride with some roadie friends 1.5 hrs or so (22-25 miles) another. And of course I'm always way more drained with the hills than the flats
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140 days
tmin posted 16 weeks ago.
overcome wrote:
What are the hills like on the race(s) you are training for? If they have similar hills I would think distance but if it is a flat course I would think time.
The race is will have 200ft climbs over maybe 2-3 miles. I've been training on maybe 500ft climb over 2-3 miles. These are hills of course, but spend 3 times moer time on the climbing side than the descending side.
4910
Member
1714 days
beads1985 posted 16 weeks ago.
I tend to train by time so I can just go out and run or ride with a lot less planning. I can keep track of my ride distance with my bike computer. I will do rides or runs by distance but no as often. I can still gauge my progress by how far I go in a particular time.
Nothing to it, but to do it
So I've been training with the HIM training program @ trinewbies.com
http://www.trinewbies.com/tno_trainingprograms/tno_HIM.asp
And since Ive started training I've been getting all sorts of over use injuries: chondromalacia, ITB syndrome, etc. So, I think I maybe overtraining.
I live in an area where there are lots of steep climbs and hills, and can be difficult to find rollers, or flats. So a 25mile ride (in the training plan) takes me nearly 2 hours because of all the steep climbs, and can be difficult to stay aerobic. A 25 mile ride on flat ground would take me a little over an hour and I would stay aerobic.
So do you all think it is it best to train by time spent in the saddle or distance covered?
Tim