I have a few questions....When should I plan to start the OS...My races for 2011 are: St. Anthony's Olympic Triathlon May 1st. and IMFL in Nov.
Second....I want to start training with power...I currently have Reynold's DV 46C for wheels on my tri bike.....should I have wheelbuilders build my Reynolds wheels with the powermeter or go with the velocity wheels that EN is offering. Also is there still a discount on the powermeter if I opt to go with my own wheels?
Also what should be my focus now till I start the OS Plan.....I trained for IMLP this year but due to a back injury I had to give it up. So I have not done anything since June of this year to allow the back to heal. I feel great and with a few extra pounds added but looking to get to getting started for the 2011 season.
1. When to start is a function of when is your head ready and, in your case, when are you healed up. When you're ready to commit to the work, then you're ready to start…unless you're rolling into the holidays, as we are now. In that case it's usually better to wait until after the new year to start.
2. In my experience, by the time you pay to have the wheel shipped to my WB, pay for the parts, labor, and shipping back to you, it's often the same or not much more to just get a new wheel. Email me at rich@endurancenation.us and we can talk specifics.
3. We have a "pre-OS" plan for the members that you can follow.
I actually got the video a few months ago and just popped it in the DVD now. Before watching it, I was somewhat worried that this was just a hardcore IM program (I'm aiming for a 70.3) I'm so glad I watched the DVD and got a better sense of EN. Btw, I have to say that you two are really likable in the video and convey a great tone
Anywhooo.... here's me in a nutshell: I'm a mom of 2, run my own firm, stay very busy, but enjoy training. Fell in love with Tri 2 1/2 years ago and have registered for a HIM next June (my first). I don't have a bunch of other races set up; I want to succeed at the HIM and then perhaps do a few other races later in the season if things go well.
2 QUESTIONS:
1) I have put ton of energy into sorting through available training plans, books, resources etc to start training for the HIM. I've totally overwhelmed myself with information, philosophies, etc. I need someone to put it together for me (stop me from overthinking it!) so I can just get out and train. It seems like being a Team Member would offer me this - correct? Some continiung guidance along the way would be great and I know I'd really use the online forums and team member support. (EDITED TO ADD: I found the answer to this on the "Team Coaching" thread. Sounds perfect)
2) What's the breakdown of EN teammembers just doing the 70.3 distance? Are there many of us or would I be a bit alone if i don't do the Iron distance?
Great that you feel this is a good fit. The purpose of this 5-day trial is, honestly, so that you can come inside and see how this Team Coaching gig works and if it's a good fit for you. Very, very difficult for us to explain to you on the outside so we let you come inside and see it for yourself.
We have MANY HIM athletes. We have many HIM-only athletes and about 90% of our IM athletes are scheduled for 1-3+ HIM's in route or after their goal IM race. We've even seen a pretty large influx of short course-only athletes in the last couple months, as we grow and word gets out. You'll fit in, no worries.
A question for the coaches on the OS plan, and when to start. I have been struggling with motivation for the last few months, and have done very little training in that time. I have lost a lot of fitness since my 1/2 IM over the summer. I was planning to start the OS plan the first week of the year, but I'm concerned that I am too out of shape and the plan will kill me (more than it already would!). I feel like I need to train to get ready to start the OS plan. Should I delay starting the OS plan and put in a few weeks of training, or just do what I can in the next week or so (which will mostly be running, due to traveling, but that's what I need the most work in anyway), and start the OS plan at the beginning of the new year like I had originally planned?
We have a "pre-OS" plan that you'll be able to see if you decide to become a member. You could do that until you feel you're ready to step into the OS plan.
Just read "The Book" this weekend and I'd like to become a member. As I see it from your outline, there is not a need to purchase additional training plans (Outseason, IM) if I join the monthly membership program, as workouts are given to me on a 3-4 week rolling basis. Is that right? Power training is not something I have ever done, but I have a Computrainer and live in Indiana, so I can use it with your plan for the time being, right? Thanks for the response...I think I'm in.
As a member you'll have open access to all of our training plans so no need to purchase the plans. However, since you are paying us month to month we show the details of your training plan in a rolling 4wk window. We realize that many members want to see the bigger details of the workouts farther out, for planning purposes, so our solution is a view on your training plan page that outlines the general details of your entire training plan: what flavor workouts are on what days, the volume, etc, so you can look at ahead to see that your long ride in Week X is 4hrs...but we don't show you the intervals that make up that 4hr ride (see rolling window above)
While we strongly encourage you to train with power if you have the means, it's not required to be a member. If I were to guess I'd say the team is 50/50 HR/Power. Our recommendation, however, would be to sell the CT in the spring to finance an on-the-bike PM.
I'm wondering if the new Short Course training plans will be available to us. I'm mostly doing short-course duathlons and don't have a long-ourse race (Miami Man Du which is a half basically) until November (and I have a 2 month break leading into that race).
Patrick and I are working to bring those plans inside the platform here and available for the members. We expect to have that completed by the end of next week, about 4/8.
I'm really pumped about being on the ENteam. I'm on day 3 of my trial and am already sold.
Thanks! We understand that what we do here isn't for everyone and, more importantly, the community here is the most valuable and unique thing about EN. We want people to take that community and vibe for a spin for 5 days before they join.
We have zero interest in having people on the team who haven't vetted themselves, so to speak, and are not a good fit for us and us for them.
1. I can't really do any 2 workouts a day except for maybe a Saturday or a Sunday. Is this going to make a huge difference? I have a 1 year old at home and drive about 60-90 minutes each way to work everyday.
2. I don't have a power meter or a hear rate monitor. Will there still be plans I can use knowing this information?
I'm starting the trial membership and I have a few questions before I decide on this: 1 - How much individual tweaking do you make in the training plans, e.g. to work with vacation, travel, work obligations for an individual? 2 - How much individual feedback is given week to week? 3 - Do you guys do nutrition advice? Not just for race day, but for training/daily intake?
I worked with a coach a few years ago, mostly online, and the experience was less than great, so I'm a little skeptical, but I could sure use some help getting ready for my first try at the IM distance!~
@Trey: if you decide to become a member, we work issue like that in the "Micro Thread" in the General Discussion forum: you tell us your constraints for the week and we do the smartguy thing to give you solutions to fit the training around your schedule.
@Janine: please see this forum post on "How Team Coaching Works," all of your questions should be answered there. The short answer is that if you ask it, we and the team will answer it for you. That communication happens inside these forums vs paying us $$$$ for the privilege of a personal email or phone call. We've worked with and perfected this system/feedback loop over the last 4yrs, growing from 80 to over 600 athletes. We feel that success says a lot about how we perform as coaches.
More importantly, we HIGH encourage you to ask you peers here about their experiences with us. They are your best source for information about our coaching knowledge, experience, and customer service.
Thanks, I think I'm figuring this out. Next question - beginner vs intermediate plan. I signed up for the intermediate plan based on my HIM finish times, but I have yet to do full IM distance. Would a beginner plan be more appropriate than the intermediate plan? Thanks, Janine
Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced is a function of current/recent fitness as determined by race PR's, not goal fitness or what's on your race resume (ie, I've raced a half but not a full).
Bottomline, if you fit the Intermediate HIM profile, go with the Intermediate IM plan.
Posted By stephen chappell on 01 Jun 2011 03:16 PM
If I just bought a plan a week ago, is there some type of credit toward the monthly cost?
Yes. As a training plan customer, membership for you is 3 x $29/mo, and then $129/mo thereafter. No minimum commitment, you can cancel at any time.
Just ping us if you decide to join. You'll likely be billed the full $129 rate but not a problem to refund you $100 and set up the $29/mo on the backend.
I just started triathlons this year, and would like to train for a HIM or two next year, on the way to a full Ironman in two years. So far this year I have completed 2 Sprints, have 2 more scheduled this weekend and in July, then 2 Olympics in Aug. and Sept.
I just purchased your short course training plan to help train for the Olympics/Sprints. Should I wait until September after the Olympics are done to become a full member? (to start OS and beginner HIM training?)
To give you an idea of my fitness, my last Sprint 400 yd swim, 15 mi bike, 3.1 mi run was in 1:23:33, and I'm 6 foot 194 lbs. I just did that yesterday, and left it all on the race course, with 70-80 degree sunny weather, light wind, flat course...
Also, like I said, I just started this year, and your website seems geared toward experienced HIM and IM triathletes... or am I wrong... I guess from the posts I'm seeing, am I underqualilfied for this program?
We have many short course athletes on the team, and long course athletes who have either stepped down to the short distances race this season or are mixing those into their long course season. But we are still, primarily, a long course triathlon team so most of the talk/resources you see in here are geered towards long course training and racing.
That said, all 600 TeamEN athletes are/have raced everything and team membership is still very valuable for short course athletes, as long as you can reconcile yourself to the long course noise in here. That is, you can look through the forums and see nothing but LC talk and be intimidated by that (you shouldn't be, you can learn a lot) or you can ask any short course questions you like and sit back and watch the power of a community of 600 athletes help you through your new sport. Up to you decide if the value is there for you.
Have walked through the web site and believe in the philosophy. Have experience with training the fast/slow twitch muscles, improving strength and aerobic fitness, lactic acid, HR and VO2 thresholds but it has been years since I have been at that level.
I have signed up for the 2012 IM Championships in NYC that will take place on August 2012. Will likely sign up for 1 or 2 olympic distance events befor that but have not chosen them
I am giving myself a year to do this right. Background on me
• Decent biker
• Average runner
• Have been in a pool but not for what we are talking about
Fitness
• Collegiate and US Natl Team Oarsmen member – so I know what it is like to train and complete – obviously not for 10 to 13 hour competitions
• Have logged upwards of 10k miles on a bike in a year
• Have trained for the NYC marathon three year in a row and did not get invited to the dance
• Fitness has tailed over the last 2 years but I have an OK base
So the questions
• Most training plans are around 24 to 36 weeks with a taper.
• What should I be doing now since this si really my off season
• Where do I start – pool, bike and running
• How do I tie it all together
• In terms of goals I have no idea what I should expect at this stage except finishing – which is a fair start
Just answered your email but putting this here also:
Hey Scott,
Welcome to your trial membership! A few notes for you, based on your comments below:
As a first time Ironman, it's very, very, very important that you have a series of short term goals, each about 8-12wks into the future, that you move towards throughout the year. So, in effect, you're not training "for" your IM until about 12-16wks out, as in your head is in a place where every day you're thinking that what you're doing is for the race. If you put your head in that place months and months before the race...you'll be insane well before race day :-)
For this reason, we like to structure our season as:
-- Begin the OS plan when your head is in a place where you can commit to the hard work for 16-20wks. Most of our team begin the OS in October or November, based on when they've ended this season and when they need to get into race fitness for next season.
-- Ideally, the two variables above combine to have you do the entire OS plan. It's our best tool for making you much faster so we want you in it for the full plan, if possible.
-- You have some sort of race lined up about 6-8wks after your OS. Most do a half Ironman. Others do a half marathon, a bike race, or other. This becomes your final exam, so to speak, for the OS and keeps you focused through the winter on a race in May vs a race in August so you don't go nuts.
-- After this race you then transition over to the balance of our IM training plan to focus on your race in August.
-- Throughout this flow, we encourage you to take a few "transition weeks:" weeks of very little to no structured training, allowing you to reset your head.
Today is August 5th and I haven't really seen you in the forums interacting with the members. My advice for you would be to:
Post some questions in there about this plan above, as it relates to you, and ask them for their input and experience with our season planning method above. Guarantee we have dozens of athletes, very similar to you, who've done _that_ cycle above 1-4 times and can give you a very good perspective.
From those discussions, decide for yourself when is the best time for you to start the OS plan. Don't worry about what that means for Feb, means for March, May, etc. Don't worry about that now, we've managed that a thousand times. Right now, figure out when you're head will be ready to commit to 16-20wks of hard work that will make you much faster.
If that OS start date ends up being Oct 1, for example, we can help you figure out what do between now and then, keeping on board as a member (ie, you pay us), or you can go on hold, not paying us, not having access to the site, but we'll hold your place on the team and you come back when you're ready to start the OS.
Just signed up for the 5 day trial and am a bit concerned about the OS plan. Right now I'm training for two marathons (Hudson-Mohawk 9 Oct 2012, A Priority) and Philly Marathon (17 November 2012 - B Priority, running with some first-timer friends). I'm committed to doing both races (long story) and am very reluctant to drop one or both.
I'm thinking that starting the OS between 1 Dec and 15 Dec may be a very late start. Plans for 2012 now only include Eagleman and IMLP. I'll fill in other Oly's and 1/2 IMs per the EN training plan...
Comments
Steve
I have a few questions....When should I plan to start the OS...My races for 2011 are: St. Anthony's Olympic Triathlon May 1st. and IMFL in Nov.
Second....I want to start training with power...I currently have Reynold's DV 46C for wheels on my tri bike.....should I have wheelbuilders build my Reynolds wheels with the powermeter or go with the velocity wheels that EN is offering. Also is there still a discount on the powermeter if I opt to go with my own wheels?
Also what should be my focus now till I start the OS Plan.....I trained for IMLP this year but due to a back injury I had to give it up. So I have not done anything since June of this year to allow the back to heal. I feel great and with a few extra pounds added but looking to get to getting started for the 2011 season.
Thanks everyone for a great forum!!
Gary
Hey Gary,
1. When to start is a function of when is your head ready and, in your case, when are you healed up. When you're ready to commit to the work, then you're ready to start…unless you're rolling into the holidays, as we are now. In that case it's usually better to wait until after the new year to start.
2. In my experience, by the time you pay to have the wheel shipped to my WB, pay for the parts, labor, and shipping back to you, it's often the same or not much more to just get a new wheel. Email me at rich@endurancenation.us and we can talk specifics.
3. We have a "pre-OS" plan for the members that you can follow.
Hi there,
I actually got the video a few months ago and just popped it in the DVD now. Before watching it, I was somewhat worried that this was just a hardcore IM program (I'm aiming for a 70.3) I'm so glad I watched the DVD and got a better sense of EN. Btw, I have to say that you two are really likable in the video and convey a great tone
Anywhooo.... here's me in a nutshell: I'm a mom of 2, run my own firm, stay very busy, but enjoy training. Fell in love with Tri 2 1/2 years ago and have registered for a HIM next June (my first). I don't have a bunch of other races set up; I want to succeed at the HIM and then perhaps do a few other races later in the season if things go well.
2 QUESTIONS:
1) I have put ton of energy into sorting through available training plans, books, resources etc to start training for the HIM. I've totally overwhelmed myself with information, philosophies, etc. I need someone to put it together for me (stop me from overthinking it!) so I can just get out and train. It seems like being a Team Member would offer me this - correct? Some continiung guidance along the way would be great and I know I'd really use the online forums and team member support. (EDITED TO ADD: I found the answer to this on the "Team Coaching" thread. Sounds perfect)
2) What's the breakdown of EN teammembers just doing the 70.3 distance? Are there many of us or would I be a bit alone if i don't do the Iron distance?
many thanks to both of you,
Shannon
Hi Shannon, welcome to your trial.
Hello!
A question for the coaches on the OS plan, and when to start. I have been struggling with motivation for the last few months, and have done very little training in that time. I have lost a lot of fitness since my 1/2 IM over the summer. I was planning to start the OS plan the first week of the year, but I'm concerned that I am too out of shape and the plan will kill me (more than it already would!). I feel like I need to train to get ready to start the OS plan. Should I delay starting the OS plan and put in a few weeks of training, or just do what I can in the next week or so (which will mostly be running, due to traveling, but that's what I need the most work in anyway), and start the OS plan at the beginning of the new year like I had originally planned?
Thanks!
Carol
Welcome to your trial!
We have a "pre-OS" plan that you'll be able to see if you decide to become a member. You could do that until you feel you're ready to step into the OS plan.
Just read "The Book" this weekend and I'd like to become a member. As I see it from your outline, there is not a need to purchase additional training plans (Outseason, IM) if I join the monthly membership program, as workouts are given to me on a 3-4 week rolling basis. Is that right? Power training is not something I have ever done, but I have a Computrainer and live in Indiana, so I can use it with your plan for the time being, right? Thanks for the response...I think I'm in.
Hi Richard,
Welcome to your trial. To answer your questions:
I'm wondering if the new Short Course training plans will be available to us. I'm mostly doing short-course duathlons and don't have a long-ourse race (Miami Man Du which is a half basically) until November (and I have a 2 month break leading into that race).
Thanks!
Patrick and I are working to bring those plans inside the platform here and available for the members. We expect to have that completed by the end of next week, about 4/8.
Thanks Rich! Looking forward to it. :-)
jan
I'm really pumped about being on the ENteam. I'm on day 3 of my trial and am already sold.
Thanks! We understand that what we do here isn't for everyone and, more importantly, the community here is the most valuable and unique thing about EN. We want people to take that community and vibe for a spin for 5 days before they join.
We have zero interest in having people on the team who haven't vetted themselves, so to speak, and are not a good fit for us and us for them.
This is a great program... I'd like to become a permanent team member.
Thanks for the plan Coach Rich and the call Coach Patrick! I look forward to doing the hard work you architect.
Regards,
Alan
Guys,
I have 2 questions:
1. I can't really do any 2 workouts a day except for maybe a Saturday or a Sunday. Is this going to make a huge difference? I have a 1 year old at home and drive about 60-90 minutes each way to work everyday.
2. I don't have a power meter or a hear rate monitor. Will there still be plans I can use knowing this information?
Thanks,
Trey
1 - How much individual tweaking do you make in the training plans, e.g. to work with vacation, travel, work obligations for an individual?
2 - How much individual feedback is given week to week?
3 - Do you guys do nutrition advice? Not just for race day, but for training/daily intake?
I worked with a coach a few years ago, mostly online, and the experience was less than great, so I'm a little skeptical, but I could sure use some help getting ready for my first try at the IM distance!~
Janine
@Trey: if you decide to become a member, we work issue like that in the "Micro Thread" in the General Discussion forum: you tell us your constraints for the week and we do the smartguy thing to give you solutions to fit the training around your schedule.
@Janine: please see this forum post on "How Team Coaching Works," all of your questions should be answered there. The short answer is that if you ask it, we and the team will answer it for you. That communication happens inside these forums vs paying us $$$$ for the privilege of a personal email or phone call. We've worked with and perfected this system/feedback loop over the last 4yrs, growing from 80 to over 600 athletes. We feel that success says a lot about how we perform as coaches.
More importantly, we HIGH encourage you to ask you peers here about their experiences with us. They are your best source for information about our coaching knowledge, experience, and customer service.
Next question - beginner vs intermediate plan.
I signed up for the intermediate plan based on my HIM finish times, but I have yet to do full IM distance. Would a beginner plan be more appropriate than the intermediate plan?
Thanks,
Janine
Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced is a function of current/recent fitness as determined by race PR's, not goal fitness or what's on your race resume (ie, I've raced a half but not a full).
Bottomline, if you fit the Intermediate HIM profile, go with the Intermediate IM plan.
Yes. As a training plan customer, membership for you is 3 x $29/mo, and then $129/mo thereafter. No minimum commitment, you can cancel at any time.
Just ping us if you decide to join. You'll likely be billed the full $129 rate but not a problem to refund you $100 and set up the $29/mo on the backend.
Hi Rick and Patrick,
I just started triathlons this year, and would like to train for a HIM or two next year, on the way to a full Ironman in two years. So far this year I have completed 2 Sprints, have 2 more scheduled this weekend and in July, then 2 Olympics in Aug. and Sept.
I just purchased your short course training plan to help train for the Olympics/Sprints. Should I wait until September after the Olympics are done to become a full member? (to start OS and beginner HIM training?)
To give you an idea of my fitness, my last Sprint 400 yd swim, 15 mi bike, 3.1 mi run was in 1:23:33, and I'm 6 foot 194 lbs. I just did that yesterday, and left it all on the race course, with 70-80 degree sunny weather, light wind, flat course...
Also, like I said, I just started this year, and your website seems geared toward experienced HIM and IM triathletes... or am I wrong... I guess from the posts I'm seeing, am I underqualilfied for this program?
Thanks,
Tim
Tim,
We have many short course athletes on the team, and long course athletes who have either stepped down to the short distances race this season or are mixing those into their long course season. But we are still, primarily, a long course triathlon team so most of the talk/resources you see in here are geered towards long course training and racing.
That said, all 600 TeamEN athletes are/have raced everything and team membership is still very valuable for short course athletes, as long as you can reconcile yourself to the long course noise in here. That is, you can look through the forums and see nothing but LC talk and be intimidated by that (you shouldn't be, you can learn a lot) or you can ask any short course questions you like and sit back and watch the power of a community of 600 athletes help you through your new sport. Up to you decide if the value is there for you.
Hope this helps!
Rich,
In beginning the hopes of competing in a HIM next year, when should I start the training for that?
Tim
Coaches
Have walked through the web site and believe in the philosophy. Have experience with training the fast/slow twitch muscles, improving strength and aerobic fitness, lactic acid, HR and VO2 thresholds but it has been years since I have been at that level.
I have signed up for the 2012 IM Championships in NYC that will take place on August 2012. Will likely sign up for 1 or 2 olympic distance events befor that but have not chosen them
I am giving myself a year to do this right. Background on me
• Decent biker
• Average runner
• Have been in a pool but not for what we are talking about
Fitness
• Collegiate and US Natl Team Oarsmen member – so I know what it is like to train and complete – obviously not for 10 to 13 hour competitions
• Have logged upwards of 10k miles on a bike in a year
• Have trained for the NYC marathon three year in a row and did not get invited to the dance
• Fitness has tailed over the last 2 years but I have an OK base
So the questions
• Most training plans are around 24 to 36 weeks with a taper.
• What should I be doing now since this si really my off season
• Where do I start – pool, bike and running
• How do I tie it all together
• In terms of goals I have no idea what I should expect at this stage except finishing – which is a fair start
Hey Scott,
Just answered your email but putting this here also:
Hey Scott,
Welcome to your trial membership! A few notes for you, based on your comments below:
-- Begin the OS plan when your head is in a place where you can commit to the hard work for 16-20wks. Most of our team begin the OS in October or November, based on when they've ended this season and when they need to get into race fitness for next season.
-- Ideally, the two variables above combine to have you do the entire OS plan. It's our best tool for making you much faster so we want you in it for the full plan, if possible.
-- You have some sort of race lined up about 6-8wks after your OS. Most do a half Ironman. Others do a half marathon, a bike race, or other. This becomes your final exam, so to speak, for the OS and keeps you focused through the winter on a race in May vs a race in August so you don't go nuts.
-- After this race you then transition over to the balance of our IM training plan to focus on your race in August.
-- Throughout this flow, we encourage you to take a few "transition weeks:" weeks of very little to no structured training, allowing you to reset your head.
Today is August 5th and I haven't really seen you in the forums interacting with the members. My advice for you would be to:
Hope this helps!
I'm thinking that starting the OS between 1 Dec and 15 Dec may be a very late start. Plans for 2012 now only include Eagleman and IMLP. I'll fill in other Oly's and 1/2 IMs per the EN training plan...
Comments/thoughts?
Greg