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Joe Krum"s Micro Thread

Coach,

 

First post (never had the opportunity to speak directly with you).  When two workouts are listed, e.g. a bike and a swim tomorrow, are they meant to be done back to back as a brick or fit in as the day allows?  Is there a suggested recovery period between back to back run days (i.e. target at least 18 if not 24 hours) or doesn't this matter?  Finally, I compete in two soccer leagues.  One on Sunday mornings and the other Wednesday evenings.  I played yesterday and skipped the suggested run workout.  I'm willing to limit or even give up the soccer as I train for my first Ironman this year (IMAZ).  Please advise (for both Wednesday this week and generally).  Really excited to be a part of the EN Team!   

Comments

  • Joe - you
    Can call me anytime (6175133830) or schedule a call here: http://meetme.so/patrickmccrann

    The only time a brick workout comes into play some last few weeks before your big race, so in this case I'm not worried about it. Spoke them up as you need to and use the color-coded indicators as a chance to do the most important workout first: the red! Is the most important workout followed by yellow and then green being the least important.

    In general we recommend 24 hours between run workouts as best you can.

    That soccer training is fine as long as you can stay healthy. The only time I ask you to turn it down as the last eight weeks before your big race, so you have plenty of time until then. For now we can drop the interval workout on Tuesdays in favor of these soccer practices.
  • Thank you.  I've completed every bike and swim workout the last two weeks but I've been dealing with a nagging lower left leg injury, pain low on the shin just above the ankle (especially when my foot is flexed back towards my leg), that's kept me from running (I'm aware of it on the bike and careful pushing off the wall of the pool but it doesn't preclude those workouts).   Seeing a doctor tomorrow but only expect a PT referral.  Any recommendations for plan modifications this week? 
  • Please keep me posted on what the doctor says.

    The standard edit for a training plan with no running is to do interval bikes during the week: Tuesday and Thursday, followed by the regular weekend rides. Then your Monday/Wednesday/Friday workouts are swims.

    You can take the Wednesday ride and do it on Tuesday and Thursday, or you can do the Wednesday ride on Thursday and do our 5 x 4 minutes at 110% effort/zone five with equal recoveries.
  • Preliminary diagnosis is anterior tibialis strain. Expecting to resolve on it's own: range of motion exercises, ice and Arnica. I'm currently in the Get Faster Advanced 8 week plan (week 5) so it sounds like, per your advice, I continue to follow minus the running. I missed the bike today due to Dr.'s appt. I can either add tomorrow before or after my swim or skip and pick up Thursday. thanks!
  • Skip and pick up Thursday!!!! Thanks for the update!
  • Update, limited improvement from ice and Arnica protocol. Good news is that ortho has ruled stress fracture and diagnosed extensor tendinitis and prescribed PT. Could potentially resume lite running in 7-10 days, No problem continuing to train swimming and on the bike.
  • Ok. If you don't mind it, aqua jogging is also a nice way to keep the running muscles loose and limber. No pressure, just glad to hear your already on the path of recovery.
  • Coach,

    Seem to have made a full recovery, (apart from recovering running fitness). Ran twice last week. Sunday's run was 6.5mi in 50 or so minutes with 3x1mile (4") intervals. Miles were consistent (7:03-7:04). In week 8 of Get Faster Advanced. Couple of questions. Rode hard on the trainer in the bike test this morning only to discover that my computer was not properly set up and failed to capute either VO2 Max or FTP power data (frustrating doesn't begin to describe). I'd estimate 250-255 in terms of VO2 max and 220-230 normalized power over the 20 minutes. Do I need to retest? Also, given that this weekend is a holiday weekend, there'll likely be the opportunity to get at least 1 if not 2 rides in. Should I/how should I modify the plan?
  • Great to hear re the recovery!!!!! No need to retest the bike...sorry to hear about it. Ideally you'll run test sooner than the weekend so you can enjoy some longer rides out there.

    You let me know when the run test is or how you want handle it, but I would plan on two rides outside – no goals from an intensity perspective just enjoy the weather and the time.
  • Coach,

    Not going to be able to get a 90 minute run in today (Half Iron week 7). Can I flip with swim tomorrow or just skip? JK
  • Joe, if you want same day / 24 hour feedback plse text me! :) 6175133830
  • Coach, In Week 11 of Half Iron, Advanced but "A" race is IMAZ in Nov. Have the opportunity to participate in a 2 mile open water swim event on Saturday, how would that impact my schedule (Saturday is scheduled to be a "Big Day"). JK
  • You would just do it as part of the big day.…..or if you can't swing that, then bump the bike and run to Sunday. Can't miss a swim chance like that !!
  • I'm be going to traveling for work next week Wednesday-Friday night. I'm hoping I can sneak in my Wednesday workout before leaving but will miss the long run on Thursday and swim on Friday (less concerned about the swim). This week is a test week (Week 12 Adv. Half Iron). Did the bike test this morning but was considering replacing the run test with a long run. Thoughts or suggestions?
  • Great call. Long run this Thursday...so next week you can rest 2 days. It hit the weekend in full stride!!
  • Coach,

    One of my IMAZ training partners is using an older version of your IM plan. Long bike during race prep has a significant number of Z4 intervals. The current plan is all about High Z2 Low Z3 Steady. My current FTP is 234 (calculated on a trainer). My goal at IMAZ is 21+mph avg. Am I really ready to go long and steady?

    Similar question on the long runs. Current plan is for a lot of time spent in Z1 which calculates to 8:58 pace which seems really slow. I did not have a good run in Oceanside this year (my first 70.3 race) because I didn't understand how to race the bike and still averaged 7:52. JK
  • JK you should see the guy who has my plan from 2008!!! :). We improve the plans each year, the latest is the greatest. The intervals are too costly; the importance of improving your 4-hour power and learning how to pace and fuel that effort to set up the run is paramount.

    I have no idea why you picked 21+ mph or if your FTP + taper + race set up will support that speed. But I can promise you that you will be able to ride .72-.74 IF and have a really solid run.

    It's the process and managing that process that counts...start chasing outcomes and your day will be over long before the finish line.
  • Thanks Coach. Any preference on the Saturday long ride between trainer and road? SoCal has great weather but a lot of traffic and lights. Trainer is mind numbing but at least it's college football season! Was up before dawn to run this morning and be on the trainer by the 5:30 am PDT Penn state kickoff. Put in a solid 3:20 (I allowed myself the 20% trainer modification from the Wiki)
  • I prefer safety first. I like outdoors as there are many external factors to manage (wind, hills, temp) that prepare to manage those (and more!) on race day. Maybe alternate with the later start Saturdays?? :)
  • Hey Coach,

    Tough workout today, WK 10 Advanced IM bike intervals. 2 Z4s (10' and 15') then 3 Z5s (5'). I couldn't even sustain the second Z4 interval and bailed on my first Z5. Felt like I was working a whole lot harder on the trainer than power indicated and couldn't find a sustainable cadence/gear to hit targets. Never happened before. Onward and upward or do I need to rebalance? I plan to run long tomorrow and hope for a long open water swim on Friday. This weekend I coach 9am youth soccer games on both Saturday and Sunday so I'll need to get my head around how I get my rides in (some comination of afternoon rides and the dreaded trainer).
  • Now those workouts are crazy hard...if you need to dial them back to all Z4 time, many have. Do what you can on Sat/Sun while staying sane... :)
  • Coach, doing a HIM on Sunday - B race that coincides nicely with "Big Day" in my Advanced IM (week 11) plan. Looking ahead, however, next week is a test week. Maintain or modify?
  • Good call on merging the two -- a catered big day! :) you only should consider testing if you believe there are gains to be had that you can't guesstimate -- IOW if you have been riding your FTP intervals comfortably at 15w higher than your target, then how's can assume your FTP is higher. Of course, testing would specifically confirm it...

    HOWEVER, the most important part of test week is that it's a REST week as well...if you don't test, plse keep the spirit of the early portion of the week in place...

    Personally, I would be off Monday, Tuesday light swim, Wednesday is steady bike...ideally you can pick things back up on Thursday with a run for time not intensity. By Saturday you are a rock star. :)
  • Coach,

    Big Kahuna went really smoothly. Trying to get back into a training rythm though has been tough. Work commitment Wednesday this week and commitments with the kids/family on Sunday. Can I stack 2 hour run Thursday, 5 hour bike Friday and 3 hour ABP ride Saturday? JK
  • I hear you on the stacking, but we have to be careful. If the run and Friday bike are successful, I would probably cut Saturday to two hours. Or at least make the first hour before doing the last two at ABP.
  • Got it, thanks!
  • Hey Coach,

    Any implications to moving camp week up to this week (Week 14 advanced IM plan) from next week? Modifications required this week and next? JK
  • Moving the camper week forward is totally fine. The most important thing is getting it in, we can always adjust. Ideally you aren't too tired from the week before you begin. If you did a regular week of training and then inserted camp week, you may need to cut down on the Saturday ride keeping it to just four hours. otherwise camp week is fine. When you exit camp week you'll need to look at the recovery protocols that usually following week 16, which include a Monday and a Tuesday off before one or two light days and getting into your week. Please skip ahead to week 16 or refer to the wiki for more information.
  • New plan, couldn't manage the second ride on Saturday (1:22 OWS Thurs, 108 mile bike and 6.6 mile run Friday (in crazy temps) and 18 mile run this morning but a combination of family obligations, fatigue and a wheel that was out of "true" and catching my rear brake blew up plans to ride Saturday). So, 2 questions, 1 for this week (IM week 15), Wednesday and Saturday are lost days. I plan to swim tomorrow, ride with a short brick on Tuesday, run long Thursday, ride long Friday and then ABP ride Sunday. Would that work? Also looking at fitting camp week in the following week (week 16). Too late? It sounds as though you put a lot of value in those back to back long rides...
  • Joe - no worries on that missed week, you did a ton of good work and at the end of the day I think that wheel was just a sign that additional work might've pushed you over the top. In a strange way I think you need to thank it. :-)

    Your plan this week is fine, although I'm sure those "lost" days are actually decent involve lots of work and potentially stress. Do your best to recover and hit those other days of work.

    I do love me that camp week, remember it's a tool to create specific training stress for adaptation. Moving closer to the actual race reduces the amount of stress that you can absorb. I'd probably go two long rides but both days without the runs and then just run long on the third day. But only as long as is required in that week of the plan, not the original camp week length. Deal?
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