Greg D's 2014 Big Picture

gwdykes@hotmail.com

Rich,  Am reaching out
as am really struggling with my race plan this year.   I did my first HIM last year, a couple of
sprints and a X50 distance.   I want to
do my first IM and was going to sign up for Texas.  My HIM was in late Sept., took some time off
in Oct and started the Nov OS I began to have knee pain.   It was diagnosed as a sprain,  and is finally better.   I have been doing some rides on the trainer,
in the pool a couple of times but have gone backwards as  very little running  and no consistent focused training since late
October .  As a result I am way behind,
planning on starting OS again with Jan OS,  
to build fitness level.   I did
not register for Texas in early November as was concerned about the knee.   Of course now it is sold out (except for
foundation slots).   Not sure how much this matters but I travel
extensively for work and as a result do miss the occasional wko and am always
rearranging the weekly schedule so thinking longer preparation time is better
for me.  So it seems I am back to a fall
race which means lots of fun with the meat of the training plan in the Texas
heat in late summer.     I am a larger triathlete (raced at 225lbs in
Sept, shooting for less than 220 this year) and I know this is opposite of EN strategy
but I prefer flatter although a hilly course is not a deal breaker.   Family vacation is in late May so a
June  race is probably not doable.  I was thinking maybe Louisville or even the
full version of the HIM I did last year (Redman in OKC).  Would appreciate your thoughts on the IM and
any other things I should fill around it. 
 Thank You!

Coach Rich

When is the Reman Full? 

The short answer is that the primary driver for what races and when you do them is what time of year best works for you, to be training for a full IM. If you're healed up now and good to go for a Jan 6th reset of the OS, building fitness towards an IM isn't a problem at all. You have plenty of time so don't let that drive your decision. Rather, the timing of the race and whether it works with your life should be the primary consideration.

gwdykes@hotmail.com

I have some time for Redman, wont be full for a few months. So if I was willing to pay he foundation price you think I could be ready for Texas in mid-may? Also would appreciate your thoughts on an IM branded event such as Louisville vs. Redman (limited to 200 participants for IM, very local although well supported) for a first timer. Thank you.

Coach Rich

Posted By Greg Dykes on 27 Dec 2013 05:09 PM


I have some time for Redman, wont be full for a few months. No, I meant when is the date of the race. I see it's ~Sept 20th. I imagine you have very hot summers so know you're talking about training through the heat of the summer?   So if I was willing to pay he foundation price you think I could be ready for Texas in mid-may? Yes...but ask yourself if going from your current fitness to a mid-May Ironman, and the training involved (highest volume in March and April) works for your lifestyle and person commitments. Again, THAT stuff is what's most important, not so much the ability to build X fitness by Y date. Also would appreciate your thoughts on an IM branded event such as Louisville vs. Redman (limited to 200 participants for IM, very local although well supported) for a first timer. Thank you. Depends on what you want out of your first Ironman with regards to the Ironman "experience" and how much you want to pay for that experience. $xxxx for WTC IM vs much, much less for Redman. A 200 person field for a full sounds pretty lonely to me, even if well supported.