Can I race an OLY in Week 7 of IMCDA Plan?
So last night I was listening to Rich's podcast on how valuable training time is getting as move closer to IMCDA (this Saturday, we can say "next month"!). I have to go to Valdosta, GA on 22-23 May and had been thinking of catching an OLY on Saturday that is about 45 miles from the in-laws. Am I losing too much if I did the OLY on Saturday morning followed by a 50 mile bike same day, then pick up the schedule the next day? I did a sprint last July with a 56 mile bike leg home after so it's not beyond my ability. It's tough to be training all the time and not racing, but I'll pass on this one if the Haus thinks this is not the best use of my training time.
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Comments
Paul,
As self-coached athletes, the decision lays with one person only. So, not too many folks here will "tell you what to do". That being said, there are pros and cons to each decision.
On a race like this, 5 weeks out from CDA, you've got to ask yourself "self, why do I want to do this race?"
- if it's an important race to you, then figure out how to make the week work around it. You could treat it like a Sunday workout (on Saturday), and do your long bike on Sunday. Need to consider whether there'll be any need for taper and/or recovery (based on your personal experience doing Oly's in the past).
- if it's "something cool to do", then consider alternatives. Maybe look at riding the bike course backwards several times to cheer on friends at different points, or riding to and back, etc.
Personally, I have a really hard time holding back in a race, and believe that, if you're paying an entry fee, and putting your USAT annual ranking on the line, you should RACE races, not hold back because there's another 50 mile ride coming up afterwards. If it was me, I wouldn't do it.
Of course, that being said, I'm squarely on the fence about doing an HIM Aquabike around the same timeframe before IMLP, so maybe I'm too indecisive to be worth listening to
Mike
Paul - I like to race, and so have a bias towards thinking this is a good idea. BUT - at this point in our schedule, the long rides and run have a HUGE importance. So if it were me, I would use the race as a substitute for one swim, the run interval workout and the (short) bike interval workout. In other words, that week, do the race, and don't do those other three workouts. Figure out a way to get the long run and two long bikes during the Mon-Thurs time frame. If you can't fit them in, don't do the race. Add a swim, a brick after the first long ride, and on Friday, do a max of 30 minutes running with some strides, and a bike check out ride with a few "30/30s". Take Sunday off (or swim as much as you want), and then get back at it on Monday.
Ask ANY of the folks going to IMSG this weekend if they would have been happy about cramming an Oly into their schedule 4 weeks ago. I'd bet you'll get a resounding NO WAY! In fact, most folks are so stressed out at that particular point in the schedule that they are doing all they can to just hold it all together and not completely alienate their families and loved ones. It always sounds like such a good idea this far out from the race, but when you get closer to Ironman race day, one more race on the calendar (especially if any travel or family daycare logistics are involved) will just feel like a burden. At least, it does to me- I'm usually a total headcase at about that point in the schedule.
Today, I took advantage of probably our last cool morning in Tampa and threw down 17 miles on a dirt trail. Saturday is 1 May with a projected heat index of 100...summer weather starts this weekend and long runs are going to become much more difficult.