Need to travel to Asia either one week or two weeks prior to A-Race IM. Opinions sought.

John Withrow

I'm doing IM Vineman on July 30th as my "A" Race this year (my 9th Ironman).  I'm hoping to be reasonably competitive.  I'm racing in the Ironman Executive Challenge again this year. I'd say if I have a "perfect race" given my current but expected future fitness, I think I have a 40/60 shot or so at another Kona slot...

Here in lies my predicament.  I was just informed today that I will need to take a ~5 day work trip to Japan/Korea mid July.  I pretty much have my choice of returning home (to Minnesota) from the trip on either the Saturday which is one week prior to the race (leave MN Monday July 18th, return home Sat July 23rd), or the Saturday two weeks prior to the race (leave MN Monday July 11th, return home Sat July 16th).  

I'm not so concerned about the missed workouts as it will essentially be around a taper, I can run while there, and I will still have the weekends before and after the trip if need be.  This being my 9th IM, I've done this rodeo before and don't really get stressed about much.  The earlier week is slightly worse for missed workouts, but gives extra time for sleep recovery before the race.

Here's my question...   Which week should I go.  Jet-lag sucks, especially traveling halfway around the world for a 5 day trip.  And stress on the body is stress on the body.  Especially the whole lack of sleep thing exactly when your body needs to be recovering and recharging and getting ready to peak for a race.

Thoughts?

Paul Hough

John - I could argue it either way but it really depends on the individual and how their training has gone up to now. If someone had been training consistently hard through the build period and hammered the week prior to the earlier trip, then I would suggest that one as a way to kick off a deep taper in week 18 and follow the regular schedule for 19 and 20. Conversely, if their build was a little less consistent with more missed key work-outs than normal, then I would not want to sacrifice the normal schedule for week 18 (might even enhance it), then take the later trip starting the taper in week 19 (basically extending the build one more week for additional training followed by a 2 week taper).

JeremyBehler

JW - I had a similar experience a few years ago,   I'd vote for the later week...particularly if you will be able to swim in addition to run.   I think the week 17/18 bike workouts/volume play an important role in race day fitness and it would be harder to work around that constraint.  

That said..you are a seasoned vet and could undoubtedly make either work, but if it were me I'd go a bit later.  In my experience jet lag from Asia takes a couple days to recover from so you should be more than fine for race day assuming you have the flexibility that week to sleep in as needed, etc.   

dnesom

I have done several 70.3s close to international travel (China/India) but will be doing my first 140.6 this year, so take this for what its worth. If the rule holds, it's about 1 day of recovery for every 3 hours of time zone change--this may vary by individual. I usually put my eating schedule on my home timezone (EST) on my return journey and seek a set of flights that allows me to land after dinner on my arrival day going immediately into my overnight fast. I put away electronics and go to bed at normal time whether tired or not and stay in bed lights out until my normal waking time whether actually asleep or not. Then get in my usual breakfast the morning after with a light workout (run or swim) and then go about my day getting off to bed again at my usual time. This routine usually allows me to settle back in with virtually no jetlag after my first full day home.

All that said, if the above works for you (or you have some other working anti jetlag routine) I'd say return closer to race day and do your travel during your taper period. If you suffer seriously from longer periods of jetlag usually (many of my colleagues do especially on return journeys) then I'd say return earlier so you are fully recovered.

BTW, I will be returning from Manila on Nov 1st and driving to Florida Nov 2nd for IMFL which is on Nov 5th (My first full IM). I'll be testing my first theory above then. Would love to hear what you decide and how you manage to work it out. Unfortunately for me I don't have much flexibility on this trip...

Best regards,

Dave

Dawn Cass

John, I would also go for the later week. I have not done much travel to Asia however many times to Europe. The best thing to combat jet lag is indeed to force yourself into your normal time zone on heading home as Dave suggests. It really helps to get you adjusted again. You have a full week to recover so also make sure you clear that week from any crazy work commitments (if possible), and just give your self time to get caught up.

Personally I think the volume workouts are more important to keep...and manage the sleep/time zone element from there. Also consider you will have the adrenalin on race day that tends to "wake" you up as well.

That said, you are a seasoned IM and if you get your fitness to where you want it to be by that time and can manage the training while away (question there), then extra days of jet lag recovery could help.