Front-loading training in advance of upcoming strike at work
I'm 10 weeks out from IM Kona. So far the training has been going well. I'm loving the heat in DC this summer and get chilled when I get into the A/C. I figure that's good. Anyway, I work for a huge telecom company, and our union may go on strike in 9 days. As a management employee, I've been trained to climb telephone poles and install and repair phone service in case of a strike, instead of my usual job as a lawyer.
If the strike happens, I'd be expected to work 12 hour days for the first 10 days nonstop, with one day off per week after that. I'm pretty sure I'd be pretty tired by the end of the day if I'm carrying heavy ladders and out in the sun all day. If the strike happens, it would start at midnight Sunday/Monday August 7/8. So I've got two more weekends. The chance of a strike is probably 25% or less. ( I'm hopeful that I could get away for the actual race two months out if it came to that, but that's not guaranteed either if the strike lasted that long.)
This weekend is the end of week 2 of my plan. Should I try to get in extra training in advance (especially on the bike), or just see what happens and deal with it then. Thanks for any guidance. If the strike happens, I'll be back asking for help on how to pare down the training plan to the essentials, which I presume to be the long bike and long run.
Comments
Keith,
Here are a few of my thoughts and a couple questions. What was your longest race this year prior a 1/2 to validate the Kona slot or did you do a full?
As to your question it moving from a desk to 12 days as you mention will be challenging to say the least hopefully it will not come to that.
As for front loading the challenge here is your recovery and ensuring that you get to the next day and next weeks workouts without digging your self in to a whole. Adding in some more biking should be the easiest but in reality it's only 1 week so you could get two longer rides in there.
Gordon
Maybe that's par for the course in your industry but that just struck me as extremely odd.
My recent history is IMLP in July 2010; Savageman Half in September 2010; cyclocross races in fall 2010. 3:13 marathon in December 2010. I didn't bike much from December to April. I ran easily 3x week, and swam regularly during that time. (I was actually lifting weights a lot trying to bulk up. That's out the window for now.)
I ran a 10 miler in April only a few seconds slower than my time in 2010, when I did a full Outseason. In May 2011, I did a 4.4 mile swim race, so I have the swim endurance and I'm faster than ever. I got into Kona via lottery on April 15, and immediately started hitting the bike again. My watts are back where they were last year, if not a little higher. I'm up to 4 hours on the bike and did a 1:55 run yesterday.
WTC accepted Savageman as my validation race even though it was 54 weeks before Kona.
Bob,
Verizon hasn't had a strike since 2002 or so, and I wasn't here then. The training is pretty cursory compared to what the real techs get. 24 hours of pole climbing school, 40 hours of hands on wire work, and 30 hours of videos. But yes, it's very odd.
Unfortunately, it is. I'm a management project manager/consultant at AT&T, and I was "trained" in 2009 to do the same. And they expect me to "train" again for a potential strike in 2012. I'm wholly (with all my being) against the idea of being forced into training and working a job that I did not apply for, not properly trained for and don't want to do. I am actually looking for an employment lawyer here in TX to help with my options.
Crazy thing, the company is OK with me going into a person's house and having only 70% competency on doing that install/repair job. How confident they are in their half-ass training?!?
Any way...off the soapbox now, I guess. Don't get me REALLY started.
Keith,
Given where you are 4h rides, 1:55 run and the marathon I don't think you need to worry. Not to mention Coach P's comment. Just fit in what you can if there is as strike. Remember those rides are full of efforts to get your TSS score up.
Gordon