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Hill Training for IMAZ??

Paul HoughPaul Hough
in Group Discussion-Ironman Arizona 2010

I spent some time driving to the hills in my 12 week run-up for IMCDA and that paid off 'cause I had no problems with the course.  Since IMAZ is mostly flat should I continue to include hills in my bike program or is it better to just train on the flats?   I'm thinking that the extra power I develop on the hills translates to faster times on the flat.  What do you think? 

Comments

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott
    Your average overpass or big bridge should mimic the "hill" quite nicely. There's about a mile where it creeps up to 3+%, and maybe 2-3 miles where it's 1.5-2.5%. The rest is FLAT. Coasting going downhill in an all out tuck, I had trouble hitting 30-32 mph; uphill, I never got slower than 12-14 mph, and that was when I sat up to drink!
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    Paul -

    Hills teach discipline and focus (watts up vs down). Hills are great to simulate the steady winds you'll most likely face when you are out there. I would do it at least 1x a month!

    P
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    Even as a big doode (6'1" and 200+lbs at present), I love me some hills. I totally believe they translate to being able to hold higher watts for longer, on a flat course.
    Even though a watt is a watt...after I did my hill training for IMCDA 2008, my TX flatlander friends couldn't hold my wheel on flats.
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