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Should I plan a HIM as a lead up to an IM?

m21519m21519
in Races & Places 🏁⛺

 Hey folks,

 

I am planning on doing IMAZ in Nov. 2013.  It is my first IM, its my "A" race, and the ONLY race I'm am concerned about.  That being said, is it recommended that I incorporate a HIM into my season plans.  If so, how far out from my A race should it be.  I am currently in the 10th week of the OS plan, is it better to roll into a HIM, plan and/or a " get faster" type plan, and stay the course.  Appreciate any feedback, thanks.   

Comments

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    First off, if you haven't slready, make sure you let the coaches help you with designing a Season Plan. I don't know the direct link to starting that, but I'm sure if you post in the Macro Thread, they'll get you started.

    Second, my own thoughts on your query:

    • IM AZ is so far away, you ought to be thinking about it as "next season" not this season.
    • In other words, you can safely consider doing one or more races in the time frame Feb-Mid August and not impact your plans for IM AZ in any way.
    • As a matter of fact, you really should think about that Feb-August time frame as your current season, so you don't go nuts focusing for so long on one event.
    • As to whether you *should* do an HIM as part of your training for IM AZ - it's not required, and actually you should not consider doing an HIM within 2-3 months of the IM, depending on your experience. But if you don't have a lot of experience with either "long" (HIM or IM) or big (1500+ racers), you ought to get your feet wet with an HIM or two in June, July or early August.

    The EN team is planning a big presence @ the Quassy HIM first weekend of June in Connecticut.

  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030

    http://www.endurancenation.us/blog/training/racing-a-half-ironman-before-a-full-ironman/

  • jwpicciottojwpicciotto
    Once you start into your training plan, it is strongly recommended that you not do a Half IM. For most age groupers, if you race the event, you will not be recovered in time for your A race. You will lose valuable training time. Some people decide to do one but not "race" it. I have to say I am not sure what the point of shelling out hundreds of dollars for a training day are. Again not recommended in RnP's protocol.
  • GMAN 19030GMAN 19030
    Two different things at play here, John. Mike's question revolved around if it was recommended to do a HIM leading up to an IM (like some IM-training prerequisite). I think we all agree that it's not.

    Some disparity and disagreement will come from the decision to do a HIM and at what point (as in weeks from the IM) would it have the least effect on an IM. Recovery is highly individual. What might take one person three weeks might only take another person one week. It's the recovery part of the equation that really makes the "losing valuable training time" argument a factor or not. Sure, it's not worth it at all if the HIM is going to take you out of the game for three weeks. I recover from a HIM in a week assuming I don't end up in the hospital or something (which did happen once). I also think we tend to underestimate the fitness achieved by a hard run HIM and overestimate the fitness achieved by IM training.

    I agree with your other point. If you registered for the race then give 100% and race it.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    +1 Bob
  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    All,

    Thanks for helping Mike. See my blog post. In the end, it's about the timing of the HIM you're thinking about:

    >12wks out = all good, great tool to keep you motivated, accountable, and your head in a space where you're training for an HIM not an IM
    12-9wks out = same but becoming less good, as you're now in IM training mode. By now I've likely placed you in your IM plan and you'll have to modify that IM plan to accommodate race week and post HIM recovery.
    8-6wks out = much less good and the HIM accommodation hole punched into your IM schedule is legit. Also, the last ~5-7wks of your IM plan are the most critical -- this is where your critical volume is, race rehearsals, etc. An HIM in this period can be VERY costly
    <5wks out = very bad idea. The classics I've seen are late May races for IMCDA, late June races for IMLP, early August races for IMWI, etc. Again, very bad idea.
  • m21519m21519
    Thanks Folks, I was thinking about the Syracuse HIM, on June 23rd. that leaves me almost (5) months out from AZ. I was just a little unclear about How that would affect my season planning, and what specific plans I need to upload. I love the idea of keeping the volume as low as long as possible..... Thanks EN U rock!
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