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Victor Heredia´s Macro Thread - Mont Blanc 80K-IMLT

vherediavheredia
in Coaching Forum 🧢

Hi Rich



I am finishing my trial period and ready to move on with becoming a full member, and follow the EN Plan.

As you know, IMLT will be my first IM. 

However,  I have scheduled (for a year already) an 80K Ultra Trail in Mont Blanc (http://montblancmarathon.net/en) on June 27th. This race has a 20,000 ft elevation gain and a 24 hr time limit. I think it will be great as a mental training for the IM.

This race  is on  week 9 in my EN Season Roadmap.  I have a coach that is helping me with an specific program for this race.

The main training sessions that affect my schedule are the long runs during the weekends.



My Question. Can you fit this race into my schedule (at least to make it compatible with my season plan), or shall I wait until July to join the EN membership?



I am really excited and impressed by the EN methodology, resources and tools.

Thank you for your guidance

Victor

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Comments

  • vherediavheredia
    Hi Rich
    I came across your video "Resist the Siren Song of Epic Winter Events" that kind of discusses part of my question.
    IMLT will be my first IM and the Mont Blanc thing is something I decided a year ago. You know better the psychology of endurance people.
    I completely understand now the volume vs speed idea.
    What would be your advice for me at this point?
    Thanks

    Victor
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Hi Victor,

    My honest notes for you:

    • Training for and racing an 80k trial race won't help your Ironman. In fact, it will significantly compromise your Ironman training. See below.
    • The mental toughness of training for and racing an 80k is overrated. Ironman triathlon is a completely different sport and the training itself is plenty hard and mentally challenging. IOW, you'll get what you're trying to find through IM training. 
    • I have no idea who your running coach is. But in my experience, running coaches who specialize in ultra running will be rather old school -- massive running volume, etc. Again, I have no idea, just my experience. If you have your triathlon training plan from us in one hand and your plan from your other coach in the other, I can guarantee that the two plans won't play together nicely, at all. Specifically, you'll need to make significant compromises to your bike and swim training to accommodate your run training. 
    • So you enter your IM training well behind on the bike, not to mention the massive recovery hole that racing an 80k trail race is going to put you in. That is, your 80k is in IM Wk9 of you plan, but you could very well be in a recovery mode / can't do the training scheduled for a good 2-3wk after that race. 

    That said, I get wanting to do cool stuff with your fitness. But the above is my Ironman triathlon coaches hat on, cuz you asked me 

     

  • vherediavheredia
    Rich

    Thank you for your sincere comments.
    I completely understand your perspective.

    I have different options now.
    1- Do the 80K and quit the plan of Triathlon this year.
    2- Do the 80K as a fun run (not pushing too much) and do the IM
    3. Do the 80K as a fun run (not pushing too much) and do the 70.3
    4. Don´t do the 80K and focus on the IM

    My goal with the IM is to have an initial positive experience and finish strong in any case.
    So I would like to do 2 or in any case 3.

    My other coach (www.b-runner.com.mx) is also a triathlon team of coaches. So he is including the triathlon component in my training.
    I really like the approach you have to training, your community and this direct interaction. I think it is great the idea of performing well on race day.
    But of course I don´t want to be in the middle of a conflicting process with two coaches.

    That being said, I have 2 options if I want to stay with plan 2 or 3.

    1- Stay with EN, but focus on the plan offered by B-runner until 80K race and then switch my focus to EN. This will involve discussing my EN plan with B-Runner in order to make it as compatible as possible.
    2- Stay with B-runner, and after the 80K evaluate to join EN.

    I would stay with No. 1
    I would like to have your comments on this.

    Sorry for coming with crazy plans. Thank you for your patience, understanding and advice.

    Best

    Victor










  • vherediavheredia

    Rich



    I talked to Patrick and had a great conversation.

    So this is my plan.

    I am joining EN as full member.

    I will discuss with my other coach in order to make compatible my plan with the EN approach. I will do the 80K as a fun run giving priority to my IM goal and hope for the best hahaha. I am sure we will make it happen.  Thank you for your patience and advice.

    Any further comment or suggestion will be highly appreciated.

    Best regards from Tahoe

    Victor

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Posted By Victor Heredia on 07 May 2014 02:29 PM

    Rich



    I talked to Patrick and had a great conversation.

    So this is my plan.

    I am joining EN as full member.

    I will discuss with my other coach in order to make compatible my plan with the EN approach. I will do the 80K as a fun run giving priority to my IM goal and hope for the best hahaha. I am sure we will make it happen.  Thank you for your patience and advice.

    Any further comment or suggestion will be highly appreciated.

    Best regards from Tahoe

    Victor

    Nope, sounds good. FYI, I'm putting on a training camp in Tahoe in August and will be at the race to coach and support the Team. Last year I did our Four Keys talk at the North Tahoe Events Center for about 250 people, plan to repeat that as well. 

  • vherediavheredia

    I am in for the Tahoe events and the training camp.

    I will be registering to the camp soon.

    Thank you for your coaching

    Victor

  • Coach RichCoach Rich
    Cool, see you at the camp.
  • vherediavheredia
    Rich

    I did the 80K at Mont Blanc last weekend.
    I felt great. I didn´t push too much. I have been swiming and riding (technique since Wednesday) and feel fantastic.
    I am now in a triathlon camp with Durren Smith in Morzine France. This is a 4 day camp focused on technique. It has been amazing and I have been given great advice on my bike, swim and even running technique.
    I feel great. Super motivated and ready to continue with my IM Training. NO injuries.
    I need to catch up with my bike swim fitness.

    MY QUESTION.
    Shall I download a new program or shall I continue using the program I downloaded. I obviously have not follow my present program.
    THANK you for your advice and patience!!!

    Victor
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Hey Victor,

    Sounds like a cool camp!

    When you get back from the camp, please load the Ironman training plan, setting it to end on IMLT. You should be all set at that point. 

    Good luck!

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