The Training Plan Changes Thread
Hi Folks,
Last Monday, immediately after our marathon planning session at IMFL, RnP sat down to podcast the training plan changes we will make based on the feedback we received from you.
- Go here to view the thread with your feedback.
- Go here to listen to the podcast re our interpretation and future actions, based on this feedback.
At the end of this post is a straight copy and post of our podcast notes. Please review.
I would classify these notes and our feedback to you on your feedback to us...as falling within 3 general camps or coaching/customer services categories:
Keep it Simple, Focus on What Matters, and Avoid Feature Creep
EN happens on a web platform and we realize it's only natural to want that platform to do more and more stuff. But our feeling is that we are coaches, you are athletes, our job is to coach you and have you focus on what matters. We have this conversation within the context of an entire training log/website/downloadyergadget industry that gets you to think that you need a website that does backflips for you, because THAT's what makes you faster. As your coach, I sez that that stuff really doesn't matter, or at least not as much as you think, from the perspective of "you get faster because of a training plan and the stuff that support is, not because of a fancy website."
When you recommend we connect the DataTool and your zones to your training plan so that it displays YOUR watts, paces, etc right in your workouts, I'll gently remind you that:
- While it sounds simple, _that_ is much, much more complicated than it sounds and, in the short term, can be accomplished with a pen and pencil on your end.
- Just like any other business or organization run by two guys, the equation of money, time, and headspace is a zero sum game: something's gotta give for something else to happen. So, I would argue, our focus on keeping it simple and focusing you on what matters enables to do a few much cooler, unique, and more powerful things:
- Charity Starter Program: $250/charity, max of $2k/mo x 12 mo = $24k/yr from EN donated to YOUR charity. To make it more personal, and to remind all of us what EN is really all about, EN contributing $24k to your charities is actually Rich Strauss and Patrick McCrann, and their families, kicking in to support you.
- Member Map: that tool costs us time and money, and in just a few short days we're seeing people make cool connections with the map. There is a LOT of potential here:
- Sleeper Cells, expanding our presence at races, the Race Director position, Free Tri Rallies, etc -- all of these initiatives are very cool, have the potential to be extremely powerful and unique, and they cost EN time and money.
So, again, in the short term, would you rather have the DT connected to your plan, displaying your numbers within your plan, and saving you the time and money of using a #2 pencil...or would you rather have a network of sleeper cells, a greatly improved and expanded EN presence at many more races, etc. I'm not saying that these are mutually exclusive in on the long term, but in the short term, these are decisions that RnP have to make based on our experience as coaches, athletes, and the limited resources of time, headspace and cash.
As always, we think it's valuable to share this perspective with you, our stakeholders.
A Coaching Method/Style Based on Our Experience
There are some things we are just not gonna do, or let you do, because we are the coaches, you pays us for advice, and...that's our advice. All of our ebooks, podcasts, content outside the site, the free trial process are all part of evil plan 
to ensure that only people who get it and dig our coaching advice/method actually become members. So, yeah, sometimes we give you all a little dose of our way or the highway but most of you get it...we hope . We're always open to discussion and criticism, because we all learn and it forces us to improve our game, but if I see a opportunity to save you from making the mistakes I've made based on the some of the more stoopider stuff I've done over the years, I'm going to advise against you doing stoopid stuff 
.
Capturing the Community Knowledge
Dave Tallo's (I think it was Dave) ideas of capturing all of the tweaks, hacks, changes and recommendations that you yourself have come up with...is HUGE. It's a great idea and we feel much more powerful than RnP going into the plans, again, and changing 10' to 12', 3 x 1.5mi to 4 x 1mi, etc. Not saying we're not going to do that, but ideas and a resource like that are what will keep EN lightyears ahead of the curve.
Thanks for listening and now I'd like to ask your help:
Google Alerts brought this post on BT.com to our inboxes this morning. I realize that some of the comments may have been driven by the tone of the podcast: RnP talking to folks on the inside, who know us, have met us, "get" us...you, our stakeholders. You are the primary audience so we talk to you like we talk to you . Then, kinda as an afterthought and because we feel that transparency can be powerful, we just tossed it out to the world for all to hear.
Anyway, it would be great if some of you could respond with your perspective on how we work, the collaborative exchanges we have with you here, etc.
Thanks!
Member Feedback / Video / Changes -- Podcast Notes
Big Day Protocol Into Wiki:
- IM & HIM Outline and Location, food, goals, etc.
Mixed Ability Levels:
RnP went back and forth for 20 minutes. technically harder to do than you think.
- it would take bandwidth/time/money from web guy.
- we are afraid that you’ll lose your place: beg plan with Adv Swim, but int long runs should taper here while beginner bike tapers there.
- Solutions:
- continue to use the micro threads to ask coaches/team for input on how to adjust.
- Explain the Beg / Int / Adv workout breakdown.
- Here is an example:
-
-
Beginner Level
-
Intermediate Level
-
Advanced Level
- Bike Workout Sample
- Run Workout Sample
- This his how we write the workouts: advanced to basic, so they are all connected.
- To make bike workouts harder:
- To make bike workouts easier:
- To make run workouts harder:
- To make run workouts easier:
Built In Self Care Session
- Workout Listed as Maintenance, linked to wiki (L1,2,3)
- Each workout is 30’ and includes elements of Flexibility, Strength, Core
- Talk to Leigh Boyle about this.
- In wiki we add:
- Flexibility
- Strength
- Core
More Detail on Recovery/Special Notes by Week
- This guidance will be included in the new weekly podcasts: Modifications for This Week.
Race Simulation Thoughts:
- We can’t win!!!!
- We will write 2011 plans to have 2 and 3 week taper options:
- Ironman, Advanced, 20wks, 3 week Taper
- Ironman, Advanced, 20wks, 2 week Taper, etc.
- Wiki Article on Training Plan Selection in Self Coaching Section on 3 vs 2 week taper.
Data Tool:
- Personalized numbers into the workouts...it’s coming, but it’s work and expensive.
- Probably no print out option.
Swim Workouts:
- HIM vs IM -- you are there for an hour and should expect to swim that long.
- If workouts take you longer, then do MS1 and Drop/Modify MS 2 as needed.
- Rich makes all swim workouts MS1 biased.
- Wiki Fix: New to Swimming / Need Help Swimming protocol...
- Voice overs of the drills / Video answers
Capturing the Tweaks
- We like the idea and want to work with you on this.
- Survey that dumps it into a Google Doc, coaches turn around.
- Sport, Week, Day, Goal, Tweak, Notes.
Run Volume Thoughts
- We are not fans of anyone running longer than 2.5 hours.
- However:
- If you must, here’s the “I’m a Delicate Runing Snowflake Hack”:
- Weeks 20 to 13 it’s a Sunday Strides workout, as you were.
- Weeks 12 to race, we do the following:
- Thursday long run stays same
- Saturday ride is capped at 4 hours with exception of race rehearsals.
- Sunday Total Time commitment is 3 hours, and broken down as:
- Run First, Bike Second
- Run is 15’ warm up, 4-6 by strides, remainder at EZ pace.
- ABP ride becomes Steady/Z2/.7 PM Session for remainder.
- When Sunday run goes north of 45 minutes, total combined time is 2.5 hours.
- If you only have X time on Sunday in the AM, then keep Saturday ride and do runs only on Sunday.
- If you must, here’s the “I’m a Delicate Runing Snowflake Hack”:
- Podium Level Plans
- RnP won;t do it b/c everyone thinks we are talking to them. Example of the power hack.
- Solution is to use new Tweak protocol to capture changes, make official and let you use them.
Run Stuff:
- Uphill Strides -- improved wiki guidance, why do them, what if no hills, etc.
Sync Wiki with Plan Guidance
- We will fix this. As a member, you can make edits to the wiki to fix that. Thanks.
Bike Workouts
- Improve the wiki guidance on this.
- Crazy workouts: Advanced option is to add up the FTP and include that in the workout as it will yield the goal TSS over time.
- Why Stand? rich explains
Running in the Heat
- Please outline your solution in the wiki and the members/coaches will pile on to make it official.
Training Plan Renaming
- Yes there is an issue here: OS plan sales. (funny name options)
- Won’t really solve the problem, as that’s you not looking at the time selection dealio and you have your own bias.
Comments
FWIW- I listened to the podcast on my run this morning. I was very happy to hear you guys will be incorporating much of the feedback into the plans, in a way that makes sense to the EN Team model. The Hackapedia is probably the biggest "aha" that will help everything from the modifications for "Podium Plans" to "Shit Happens" stuff, to "Run Volume Snowflakes" (and I'll go on the record here AGAIN to say I was a skeptic that 2.5 hours would be enough, but you were right, and I'll NEVER run over 2.5 hours again when training for a Ironman). And I nearly jumped for joy when you mentioned adding some "personal care" stuff as well as conceding that perhaps 1.5 hours is a little longer than any of us slow kids really need to be in the pool for a Half Ironman
)
I think it was a great podcast for an internal audience who have some familiarity with the old plans, the way things work in the hause, the tools we use, and how we operate together. I think that just fell apart when delivering it to an external audience that doesn't understand all that stuff (or get Rich's bad cop role
Again, thanks for helping us make EN such an awesome place to live, train, and kick butt!!!
~ P
Regarding podium level tweaks/plans. I believe that the EN training & racing strategy works for everyone, young & old, Fast & slow, in shape and coming off an injury. Those seeking to get to the pointy end of his/her AG, or move from 5th to 1st, should already be experienced enough with training and reading body signals to be smart enough to tweak the plans for their SPECIFIC needs. At that end of the spectrum, each individual's needs pretty much become unique. E.g., Matt Ancona and I are going to have different training needs to improve our running - he'e relatively faster HM than 5K, I'm the opposite. Macro and Micro threads are about the only way to handle this; I imagine the possibilities are so diverse that a wiki article just won't encompass all the needs.
BUT: there is one set of constants in what's needed for those with a podium goal, and it just gets worse if you're trying to win. That is the level of consistency and committment to daily training, the absolute and brutally honest focus on dissecting one's needs and then applying solutions, and (worst of all) the "fine line" approach one must take to racing. A wiki article or appendix to the advanced IM plan on those realities might motivate some people, and scare others.
RnP; EN Rocks! I don't know how you guys manage to do it all...are you sure you don't have a team of little elves running the show in the background
Totally agree with the "keep it Simple"approach...If all the small upgrades and changes to the website get approved I would worry that EN may not be affordable any more. Right now EN is such a HUGE value...so much info and couching support for a relatively small monthly fee. Also a FREE Training Camp...Most camps are $1,000!!! Again, EN is a HUGE Value..
Lastly, The " I’m a Delicate Running Snowflake Hack” is pretty funny to me....Maybe it's because I was forced to run 4-5 days a week when on Active Duty in the Army, But I will gladly stick to 2.5 hours of running and not a minute over...why take the chance with the high risk of injury activity such as running.
Anyway, this is just my opinion from a somewhat new dood, still under 1-year, I appreciate all of the new initiatives that you guys are putting forth and I'm exciting to see what the future brings in the haus. I will admit that I've been occasionally worried about the pretty dramatic increase in size of the team because the closeness of the community and the true team feeling is really what made EN special to me throughout my journey to Ironman last year and I don't want to lose that. I think with an increase in the size of the team and the sheer amount of activity that is going on on the dashboard and the forums that it also can make it all just a little bit more overwhelming to the new members and possibly contribute to a few of those members feeling disenfranchised easier, as may be the case with the BT thread but I do not know the full story.
All the same, I know that both of you as coaches care immensely about this crazy EN thing that has taken on a life of its own over the past few years and are trying to do your best to understand the team and best serve it as it continues to evolve and grow. It's not going to be easy, and you aren't always going to please everyone, but the last thing I would ever accuse you guys of is not caring about your athletes. Keep up the hard work guys, we really do appreciate it.
just my 2 cents
All,
Thanks for the feedback and the support.
@Trevor, I think the OP on the BT thread is on the outside of EN, not a member, and listened to the podcast, the tone of which was probably best received by folks like you and other members who know and get us.
@Steve, yes to brainmatter conservation. We (mostly P) do a LOT of admin related to payment processing, fixing people's access to the site, etc. If you look at the EN website and how it's all connected -- forums, wiki, dashboard, your plan, the payment system, the member map -- all of _that_ is custom made, built peice by peice. We really, really need to focus on improving that stuff before we can turn to getting rid of your pencils.
And, if I could jump into the BT thread and get away with saying this I would: show me two other coaches who even ask their customers for training plan feedback, much less actually improve their plans from year to year? There are none, zero.
Tweakapedia - I love it. If the structure / template can be in place by the holiday break, I can write (transpose?) a bunch of these and start the catalog towards reaching critical mass.
R, P, thanks for asking and for listening. True evidence of an effective consultation.