Brick question for midweek

trigirl1203

Im in week 11 OS and todays brick is 5(2.5 ON/2.5 OFF) and remainder Z3 work, (60min), and a 25 min brick run after.  Im short on time this afternoon, so would it be better to do the full bike 60 minutes or the WORK part of the bike and the brick run (skip the remaining Z3 work on the bike)?  Thanks guys!

PS SOO pumped about upping the intervals...5 of those 2.5 min Z5 intervals instead of 4 sounds soooo enjoyable   NOT hahaha

jburbatt

I'd suggest going with what you may need work on, i.e. if you need to run or need that "brick" workout then do the run. If you're like me and need as much time on the bike as possible then do the Z3 work (honestly I rarely do the run brick during the week until the in-season, just doesn't work with my schedule). Think it just depends on what kind of work you need (or want to do)!

Steven Ford

I would agree with Jennifer, I am getting better about the tuesday brick but if I am short I cut that out.

dhalligan

Lauren,

The brick runs are designed for run frequency.  Often, others have been advised to do the run at a different time if the brick doesn't work for you.  Traditional advice by Patrick and Rich has been if you don't do the run as a brick, you can run later and add 5-10 minutes, or do it on Monday, keeping in mind to keep it easy so it doesn't impact your Tues bike.

Or, just skip it.  You're in the OS and your A race is a long way away.  The primary goal for Tues is to get the best bike workout you can.

Dave

x3ministry

I would do the work on the bike 5x2.5'x2.5' and one Zone 3 effort to take me to the 45 minute mark then do the brick run. I know that you are not gaining much fitness from the run portion but what you are gaining is run durability. Run durability can't be measured like most meterics but it is vital to the program. If you miss to many of these little runs you will find yourself fighting little injuries. If you happen to miss one or two I wouldn't lose much sleep but if it becomes the routine I would re-evaluate my priorities.

Michele Cellai

 Lauren,

I am a little late to the party, but don't sweat missing the mid-week BRick run during OS. Last year I skipped every Tuesday run until at least March, and I did NOT make it up. I just made a conscious decision that I did NOT want to change clothes and run outside in winter. Too much admin work before heading to my paying job- i.e. strip naked, dry off, put on dry clothes, and layers at that, all for a 15-25 minute run. Just did not seem worth it. As OS went on, the run got longer and the amount of clothes I had to put on was less because it was warmer outside, and I didn't have to dry off afraid that my hair would freeze instantly.

I also have to disagree with the above post that ends with re-evaluating your priorities if you are consistently missing this run. Unless you are trying to KQ, life priorities are more likely to be family, work, THEN triathlon training. Especially during the OS.

8 weeks out from your A-race, that's when you should worry if  you are consistently missing the same work out each week, IMHO.

Hope that helps.

GMAN 19030

I don't do bricks. Never have and never will. I'm firmly in the Rich Strauss camp when it comes to bricks. I'd rather have several hours rest in between bike and run sets. I get my running legs pretty quick in a race so I have no worries about the transition. I'd rather add 15 minutes or so to the run and do it as a standalone run.

That's my n=1. I know some folks need to train that muscle transition more than others. I am not blessed with speed but I am blessed with recovery ability.