Season schedule not typical
I live in Southern California and therefore my best or most convienent races are Oceanside 70.3 and Arizona IM. Given that is basically the first and last major WTC events of the year it is a little long for a traditional season and therefore too short of an outseason. How would you propose to plan around this problem? My possible solutions have been:
1. two shorter outseasons 1 for January and another in May-July
2. Flip the season and have AZIM be my first race and Oceanside or the OC olympic be my last with my outseason duriong the summer.
I of course will travel occasionally for races like Boise 70.3 this year.
While my days are shorter in the winter at least it is Socal and it is not that cold getting in the outdoor masters practice in the winter.
Thoughts?
Thanks,
JN
Comments
I also live in SoCal. I have been thinking about those two events for 2012. My thoughts were to do a 19 week OS beginning in October. I would do the "outside" bike option which means longer weekend bike rides. One of the reasons for shorter rides is the difficulty to maintain motivation if stuck inside on the trainer. A good way to end the OS would be with the Palm Springs Bike Ride century followed by a half marathon or 5K which turns out to be Week 19...
After a week of transition, I'd then fold in the last six weeks of the HIM program. That advice has been given to lots of folks who do early season HIM.
For me, that then opens up the spring for lots of bike riding. I would use the short course tri plans with long bike rides on the weekends and my normal long run midweek. Since I like long distance bike rides, I would shoot for the Triple Crown, 3 double century rides, one each in April, May (Davis Double), and June (Grand Tour). It would probably be wise to do a couple of 10Ks and/or half marathons over the spring and summer. It is also possible to throw in a couple of Olympic or even 70.3 races in the summer. Starting in June, I'd crank up the swimming to be ready for the Dwight Crum 2 mile ocean swim at the beginning of August. I'd then take a week or two of transition and fold in a twelve week IM plan to end with IMAZ.
19 week outseason beginning in October doesn't work for IM Arizona on Nov. 20
Let me be more clear. The 19 week OS starting in October 2011 is the lead in to Oceanside in 2012, not IMAZ. The spring and summer (for me) are then open for shorter tris, 10K and half marathon runs, and century and double century bike rides. All of these activities will take advantage of the work done in the fall and winter outseason and the early spring HIM training. A good swim (the 2 mile pier to pier Dwight Crum open water swim) is how I end my summer. After that, I would relax a few weeks and fold in a 12 week IM program that would end for IMAZ in November 2012 (not 2011).
You are absolutely correct that no fall OS will fit with a Nov IM in the same year. Moreover, if you start the OS in January, you couldn't very well do Oceanside. The strategy I discussed let's you do both events once but not in a repeatable process.
Thank you for the clarification. Excellent point. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for me I just did Oceanside. I am also looking for a repeatable season with those races given our location. I know WTC is looking at a central California full IM potentially starting in 2012 and maybe that would replace AZIM for me. Otherwise I think I get the 4 week break after AZIM which is not bad as it is Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then I get May off and do OS from June to dog days of August to do shorter indoor or early workouts because it gets so hot here. Then September - Race is focused prep.
Thanks,
JN
Jonathan, you may want to pose your question on The Macro Thread: I have big picture, season planning questions for the Coaches thread for some coach perspective.
For me, one of the valuable aspects of the EN team is the camaraderie of the groups that do the OS "together" and discuss the workouts online. The Oct and Nov groups are the largest. I suspect there may be a few folks (especially those team members in the southern hemisphere) who do the OS in our spring but as you say, that would not be typical. Doing the OS in the spring/summer would be a hardship for me since I'd miss having fun with my fitness with all the rides and runs and swims that are going on in all those daylight hours. But as you point out, you could indeed do 20 weeks of OS starting in June and then fold in 12 weeks of IM prep for November's IMAZ, take a break, and then gear up for Oceanside, and repeat. I did Oceanside in 2010 and am considering it again in 2012.
Rubin
Thanks for the advice I posted on the Macro thread.
JN
Jonathan, you've gotten some good answers from Rubin that, while not 100% applicable to your schedule (IMAZ on the backend), it should give you some insights into how we "stack" the training plans around here. My notes for you:
In short, you're doing "whatever OS I can fit in, given IMAZ --> Cali", then slotting in a more proper OS-style of season into the middle of your season, between Cali and IMAZ. Regardless, you do NOT need to be training for, focused on IMAZ from early April '12 through November. That way lies mental burnout and volume that does not make you faster.
Rich,
Since I have been reading a lot of EN stuff and a rediculous amount of EN podcasts I had a fairly good Idea that was the answer. It is always better to hear it from other people who know better anyway. I am excited to hear your thought on my schedule and I did fill in some shorter stuff and another HIM in my survey. Can't wait to get it.
Thanks,
JN
Rich,
Since my survey was mid season and it didn't ask the question I thought I would anticipate my question when I get the plan recomendation. I did the Oceanside 70.3 in 5:29 so I am probably squarley in Intermeditate although it was my first Long course and I of course have my goals set on 5:00.
Thanks,
JN