Adding a little structure to my training
1091
Member
674 days
jsk85 posted 1 year ago.
I trained with a similar strategy my first 4 years of triathlon, mostly b/c I was a collegiate rower and couldn't focus all of my training around triathlon. With this being my first full season of tris, I setup a plan by using Traithlete Training Bible. I used it more as a skeleton of my training than as a day-by-day workout guide...giving me the approx hrs I need to be training each week and what some of my focuses should be...all built up around my A race(s). I would then layout my workouts each week based on what my work/life schedule already looked like.
I saw more than significant improvements almost across the board. I can't say I'm necessarily in better shape overall either, just better traithlon shape. It's really help me focus my training.
I have only raced short course for most of the past 5 years (2 HIMs that were suffer-fests)...but my A race this year was an Oly I completed in 2:29:47...my previous best of 2 years prior was 2:51 and change...so a 22 minute drop.
Obviously some can be attributed to not multi-tasking my training (focusing on 2 sports) and some can be equipment upgrades (never had a wetsuit until this year, or a tri-suit to speed up transition times), but the results are obviously noticeable.
I went from a 30-50% MOP finisher to a top 10% in most races and have taken my AG (albeit clydesdale) 2x this season.
Needless to say, I will be structuring another plan around my A races for next year (70.3s in early August and late September) once I finish my A race number 2 in October (Marathon).
So, that's my very long .02
150
Member
802 days
Toothless posted 1 year ago.
I went from "hodge podge" last year to structured this year, and my OLY time improved by 15 minutes and my HIM by almost 30 minutes. Part of my change was using the training log here on trifuel. Using the log, I was very surprised about how little actual volume I ended up doing during "hodge podge" weeks vs. structured weeks.
713
Member
668 days
jhudalla posted 1 year ago.
Toothless wrote:
I went from "hodge podge" last year to structured this year, and my OLY time improved by 15 minutes and my HIM by almost 30 minutes. Part of my change was using the training log here on trifuel. Using the log, I was very surprised about how little actual volume I ended up doing during "hodge podge" weeks vs. structured weeks.
+1
Logging the info allows you to view your volumes and adjust accordingly. I'm definitely a fan.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
69
Member
474 days
Trilosopher posted 1 year ago.
I knew what the answer to my question would be, I just wanted confirmation. And the extra suggestion about the Trifuel Training log is a bonus, so thanks a lot!
259
Member
557 days
cutiger95 posted 1 year ago.
Yep my hodge podge generated a plateau in my training from early in the season where I was dedicated to a plan and subsequently making improvements.
A follow up question to the recent post about Training Theory (thought I'd start a new post, rather than undermine the author by taking his posting in another direction):
My training has little more rhyme and reason than common sense and intuitions (I suspect I'm not alone in this, but it's not something that is readily admitted and discussed here). I end up training around 6 days per week, and it usually ends up that I do each discipline 2-4 times per week. I'll do one long run every 7-10 days, and (at least intend) one long bike every 7-10 days. Everything else is pretty random and depends on how much time I have (and what part of the day I have that time) and how I feel mentally and physically. My "peak" consisted of 3 or so weeks of 13 hour weeks, the rest were 7-10 hours. This worked for me: I wanted to finish an Ironman, but remain flexible for travelling, socializing, studying, and relaxing, and I achieved just that.
The point I'm getting at is not to criticize a structured training plan (I'm actually considering getting more structured for next year, depending on the answer I get the the next question). I'm curious whether anyone has spent a year of hodge-podge training like my own, and then converted to a more structured plan the next; and if so, how radical were the results?