What flavor OS plan for my wife??
Team - question for everybody..... My wife is looking to get an OS training plan. Her dilemna is choosing between the Beginner and Intermediate. Her background, besides the whole Breast Cancer thing, is triathlete since 2007, 3xHIM finisher, *many* 1/2-marathons (PR this year of 1:59:xx), and an assortment of 5Ks. This year, she did Racine 70.3 in 6:2x. I think she should buy the Intermediate, she thinks Beginner.... Her main concern between the two is that she is a bit injury prone as a result of the chemo....and the level of effort.
Has anyone compared the two side-by-side yet?
What say you?
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But thats just me opining on someone's situation I know little about - so it really is only worth about $0.02
Joe -- I'll give my $.02, but I think you may want to get some input from RnP. I recall reading somewhere in EN that the Beginner plan isn't really for beginner triathletes...it is more for people coming back from injury or illness who are seeking to re-build fitness. This sounds like your wife as she clearly is not a beginner in tris with 3 HIM finishes and numerous 1/2 marathons to her credit, but is coming back from a serious health issue. (BTW, I raced Racine 70.3 this year too and any woman who finished that race in 6:2x in 95* heat and 80% humidity and a bright sun is tough and not a rookie).
I've done two OS - one with the Beginner and one with Intermediate plan. The Beginner plan is no joke...the work is hard and will produce significant OS results if the person consistently puts in quality workouts. To me the big difference was that the Intermediate plan ramped up the length and frequency of the intervals sooner than in the Beginner plan. In the Intermediate plan you just have less time (fewer weeks) to get accustomed to the intensity of the work and the length of the Z4 & Z5 efforts. If one isn't use to or expecting this, it could be a shock both mentally and physically. IMO, I suggest that your wife start with the Beginner plan, put quality effort into doing the workouts as written, and re-build her fitness with reduced (but still some) risk of injury. If she is consistent with hitting her zones as written, she'll get faster with the Beginner plan. She may also avoid digging too deep a fatigue hole while the Intermediate plan will help her quickly dig a deeper hole. I've always followed the advice that it is better to be slightly under-trained and healthy (meaing not injured) than to over-train, get injured and not get to the start line of the race. Finally, if she is doing well, she can just loaded up the Intermediate plan at a later date. Hope this helps.
@David - we recently celebrated her 2-year Cancerversary, and 1-year "No more Chemo"-versary. Thanks for the words. And remember "Save a Life, Grope your Wife!"
I just sent your comment to her....her response: "LMBO!!!" Like you, I hope she writes about it. I find it so amazing that the two of us can go through some experience together, but what we get out of it is soooo totally different. Which I don't find out until I read it.
Just for clarification for anyone who might be a bit confused: The very, very short story is that I found the lump in my wife's breast that turned out to be malignant. I am thankful that I found it as it turned out to be a *very* aggressive tumor. Therefore, I believe in the phrase, "Save a Life, Grope your Wife!"
{on soapbox} Men - you know them better than she does, and you will know first if there is something new/different/strange/weird going on. Speak up if you find something. Women - if your SO says, "What's that?", please get it checked out. {off soapbox now}