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Phil Mills Macro Thread

I am looking to add a few races to my first triathlon season.  My A race is the Lake Stevens HIM on 8/17.  I was considering an Olympic Tri or half marathon on  7/12.  What are you thoughts on scheduling a race 5 weeks out from a HIM?  If this is too close, when would be a good time to schedule an Olympic distance race?

 

Thanks,

Phil

Comments

  • Any Oly 5wks out from an HIM is fine, no problems. 

  • I had some great results after completing the GF block. Help me interpret the results of my last bike test, i.e. what I need to focus on going into HIM training. This is my second time testing with power, so my pacing is a bit uneven. I completed the 5k TT two days prior and felt that I paced it a little too conservatively. Still had gas left in the tank. I hit the 5 min test hard, which may, or may not, have hurt the FTP test.
    According to the wiki, with a delta of 1.32, I should focus on threshold work. What do you recommend?

    Pre GF Stats: http://tpks.ws/JKtq

    Vo2 Max: 264
    20 min TT: 219 = FTP 208
    Delta 1.26
    w/kg 2.61

    VDot 44 http://tpks.ws/VwkY

    Post GF Stats: http://tpks.ws/L3nm
    Vo2 Max 294 +10%
    20 Min TT: 234 = FTP 222 +6.5%
    Delta 1.32
    w/kg 2.81
    VDot 47 http://tpks.ws/EqbC

  • Posted By Phil Mills on 30 May 2014 04:30 PM


    I had some great results after completing the GF block. Help me interpret the results of my last bike test, i.e. what I need to focus on going into HIM training. This is my second time testing with power, so my pacing is a bit uneven. I completed the 5k TT two days prior and felt that I paced it a little too conservatively. Still had gas left in the tank. I hit the 5 min test hard, which may, or may not, have hurt the FTP test.

    According to the wiki, with a delta of 1.32, I should focus on threshold work. What do you recommend?



    Pre GF Stats: http://tpks.ws/JKtq



    Vo2 Max: 264

    20 min TT: 219 = FTP 208

    Delta 1.26

    w/kg 2.61



    VDot 44 http://tpks.ws/VwkY



    Post GF Stats: http://tpks.ws/L3nm

    Vo2 Max 294 +10%

    20 Min TT: 234 = FTP 222 +6.5%

    Delta 1.32

    w/kg 2.81

    VDot 47 http://tpks.ws/EqbC

    Hey Phil,

    Congrats on the gains! Please just follow the HIM plan as written, working with your new training zones. FYI, within the race prep phase of our plans we include FTP work, quite a bit, but we've found it's more about maintaining the gains you've made and building endurance on top of those vs making/expecting much future gain between now and the race. That's why the OS, Bike Focus, and GF plans are so valuable for us, as those are what we use to make you faster. Race Prep is about consolidating that faster-fitness and putting endurance on top of it. 

    Good luck! 

  • Coach Rich,

    Before the JOS completely takes over my focus, I have a question regarding run volume when transitioning into the HIM plan in May. Last year I had a great difficulty in achieving my run pacing when transitioning from the GF to the HIM plans. I could not complete the intervals, at the prescribed paces. This was most apparent on the negative split, long (13+ mile), Thursday runs. I was able to complete the first week's run, but could not so so in subsequent weeks. Coming out of the GF plan, my runs topped out at 8 miles. I believe this had a big impact on last year's A race, as my run finished just as I had trained it.

    Two other variables occurred the week after transitioning plans. I caught the stomach flu, which knocked my running out for 10 days. My 5k test coming out of the GF plan gave me a big bump in my run pacing. These alone did me no favors, and could have caused this set back. I just want to ensure that I exit the JOS with enough run volume to hit the HIM ground running, so to speak.

    My first change will be to maximize the JOS Sunday runs by extending them to the full 75-90 mins. Any other suggestions.
  • Hi Phil,

    I believe that Patrick has included guidance in the OS long runs for how to bump those up to the 75-90' mark you're targeting, with the intent of preparing athletes for an end-of-the-OS half marathon. So I suggest you find that guidance and follow it.

    Good luck!
  • Thanks for the reminder on Patrick's guidance and for not spoon feeding me where to find it. I re-read a number of articles in the OS wiki.

  • Posted By Phil Mills on 12 Jan 2015 12:28 PM


    Thanks for the reminder on Patrick's guidance and for not spoon feeding me where to find it. I re-read a number of articles in the OS wiki.

    No worries. Good luck!

  • Not sure who best to send this to, as Coach Patrick probably has his hands full with IMTX this weekend.

    I'm experiencing pain under the ball of my right foot and am not able to run. Last Wednesday was my last run, and I am looking for guidance on how to best modify my plan for this week and possibly next. I was going to substitute 60'-90' bike wko's with Z4 & Z5 on alternating days. I would also add in an extra swim wko. Thanks.

  • Posted By Phil Mills on 11 May 2015 06:01 PM


    Not sure who best to send this to, as Coach Patrick probably has his hands full with IMTX this weekend.



    I'm experiencing pain under the ball of my right foot and am not able to run. Last Wednesday was my last run, and I am looking for guidance on how to best modify my plan for this week and possibly next. I was going to substitute 60'-90' bike wko's with Z4 & Z5 on alternating days. I would also add in an extra swim wko. Thanks.

    Yes, that sounds good. In my experience, 4x hard bikes is ideal and 3 swims. No need to try to ride more than that. 

  • Coach Rich,

    I am in the process of planning a two week trip to FL in April (4/6-4/19). According to the Season Roadmap you planned for me, this would fall in weeks 4-6 of the Get Faster plan. Running will not be an issue, except for the humidity, and there are a few swimmable lakes within a 10 min drive. The bike is where things get dicey. I will have gym access to fitness bikes, though those aren't ideal. On my last visit the gym had a manual tri stationary bike that I could train by HR.

    How should I best manage my plan if I do not have access to a bike? Should I hit the bike hard before my trip and make it a run focus, for those weeks? Thank you.

  • Posted By Phil Mills on 21 Dec 2015 01:02 PM


    Coach Rich,



    I am in the process of planning a two week trip to FL in April (4/6-4/19). According to the Season Roadmap you planned for me, this would fall in weeks 4-6 of the Get Faster plan. Running will not be an issue, except for the humidity, and there are a few swimmable lakes within a 10 min drive. The bike is where things get dicey. I will have gym access to fitness bikes, though those aren't ideal. On my last visit the gym had a manual tri stationary bike that I could train by HR.



    How should I best manage my plan if I do not have access to a bike? Should I hit the bike hard before my trip and make it a run focus, for those weeks? Thank you.

    Yes, we generally recommend that people go bike-heavy on the front end of a trip then go run-heavy (ie, frequency) during the trip. More information in the Wiki, under the Self-Coaching section

  • My A race (HIM) is in two weeks and I would like guidance on which plan(s) to drop into. There are two events before the start of the OS that I want to prepare for.

    The fist is a bike event on 9/10. 80 miles with 18 climbs totaling 10k ft of climbing. Grades range from 13% -27%. I was not prepared enough for this event last year.

    The second event is a stand alone half marathon on 10/1. Though I have run many of these in training, I haven't raced one.


  • Posted By Phil Mills on 24 Jun 2016 06:44 PM


    My A race (HIM) is in two weeks and I would like guidance on which plan(s) to drop into. There are two events before the start of the OS that I want to prepare for.



    The fist is a bike event on 9/10. 80 miles with 18 climbs totaling 10k ft of climbing. Grades range from 13% -27%. I was not prepared enough for this event last year.



    The second event is a stand alone half marathon on 10/1. Though I have run many of these in training, I haven't raced one.



    Phil,

    Please submit a TSR request for me so I can plan this out for you formally. 

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