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Week prior to 70.3 and Travel

JeremyBehlerJeremyBehler
in Coaching Forum 🧢

So this is a bit Micro and a bit Macro.

I'll start with the Micro.  I am on the IM Adv plan for IMMOO.  I looked at the "Inserting races into your training plan" section on the wiki.  It says to "Follow the taper schedule of your plan" if treating the 70.3 as an A race or "normal schedule through Thursday, but repeat your choice of the interval bike or interval run on Thursday. Your long run this week is your race" if B race.  

I have a few questions : 

  1. What is the opportunity cost of treating as A vs B?  I'd like to go hard at Racine, but if it has a big cost for IMOO 7 weeks later I would feel differently
  2. Assuming I go with A, what is the taper schedule form my plan?  Is that saying follow the taper schedule from week 20 of the IM plan or to look at the taper for a 70.3 plan?
  3. I just found out that I need to be in Europe for work the week prior to the race.  I will arrive home on Thursday evening and then drive to Racine on Friday.  I will be flying business class so should be able to get rest on the plane but I will be dealing with a 6 hour time change and likely lack of pool access.  Any suggestion on how to approach and still rock Racine?
  4. Finally, the 10 days prior to leaving for Rome I will be on vacation in NC with time/access to great open water swimming and all the running/biking I desire.  Should I deviate from the plan to take advantage of this?

Thanks!

Comments

  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    @Jeremy...the difference here is (1) racing hard or (2) training hard and then racing. I don't have a problem with you racing Racine; it's preferred. The question is what will the cost of that week be to you. Working backwards, we are now flying to Rome for business for a week. That presents a different wrinkle than training alone. And then you mention you are in NC for vacation, full tri-mecca, which is 3 weeks prior to Racine and 10 weeks prior to IMWI.

    End of the day IMWI is still the A that you aim for, even if you race another A along the way. (note: possible not to train for a race, really, but to race it like an A race). image

    I suggest that you plan on the following:

    * Big tri week in NC, planning off of the Big Week page / info ( I can help here).
    * Driving that right into your travel week, which is recovery and run sharpening (1 or 2 short swims, like 10 x 100 at race pace) if possible.
    * Return trip is all hydration and rest and compression, etc.
    * You return on Thursday to ride 90' easy on Friday, maybe a quick dip on Sat AM if that works. Short 20' run on Sat.
    * Race Racine like an A race, but focus on getting gear and nutrition 100%....if fitness / sharpness isn't there, I am not worried.

    How you race determines how you recover. If you run that run all out, nothing left, it could take you up until next Saturday to come back. If you don't run that run all out, you could be "back" by Thursday...but recovery is critical here and we can sort that out as we go.

    Sound good?
  • JeremyBehlerJeremyBehler
    Super clear...thanks P.

    One follow up...given the riding in NC where I'll be is very mountainous, is there any issue to bringing a road bike vs. tri bike? There aren't even any rolling routes like the Bl% at any given time.
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    @JB, go road and be safe / have fun. Just try to smooth the hills out don't murder yourself like camp! image
  • JeremyBehlerJeremyBehler
    P - another wrench has been thrown my way. I had to return home from vaca early from work. Got in a good hard ride on Saturday and a 2mile OWS Friday, but came home yesterday. Weather didn't allow me to do my full big tri day per my schedule. So...here's my thinking for the next two weeks leading to Racine 70.3.

    This week -Follow last week's schedule this week, including long run Thursday AM and Big Tri Day (hr swim, 4 hr bike, hr run) on Saturday. Rest day Sunday as I fly to Europe).

    Next week - Short run Monday PM and Wed AM. Swim (venue permitting) or bike short on Tuesday. Wednesday is my flight home...short bike on Thursday, swim on Friday AM before heading to WI.

    I plan to Race Wisconsin as an A race and then fold back into IM Adv plan for Wisconsin over the following week.

    This sound ok?
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    Sounds good...hope all is well. Your travel week will require you to focus on flexibility and hydration...the jet lag could be killer too. But who wants to do the easy boring thing?
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