Find Out How EN Helps Our Members (Official Thread)
Trial Members,
In the triathlon space, coaching resources are typically divided into:
- Low cost/free generic training plans, or...
- A 1:1 coaching relationship, usually starting at ~$150/mo and going up to well north of $400/mo.
Our "team coaching" model is therefore very unique and very difficult to explain to people on the outside with just webpage or two. The purpose of your trial membership then is to have you come inside, see how we work, and talk to our customers directly. They, not us, are your best resources for learning more Endurance Nation.
You likely have a lot of questions about how EN "works," questions about your coaching philosophy, how we coach our athletes, if EN is a good fit for you, etc.
Please ask those questions here and we'll encourage our members to answer them. Again, the best spokespersons for how we do what we do, it's effectiveness, and the value we create for our members...is our members. We want you to talk them, not so much us 
Thanks!
Comments
my own experience with the team has been that i got off a high volume training plan a little over a year ago and did my last 14 weeks before IMAZ '10 with EN, i finished (which was my goal) in the 71s percentile and then focused on a high quality out season, followed by a twelve week (yes only 12 weeks) of building and finished IMKY in the 51st percentile. I am now going for IMAZ again in a few weeks.
along the way i had two tremendous experiences with ENers at AZ & KY, have a bunch of fantastic online friends here in the forums & on FB, participated in a members only training camp hosted by an ENer in Aspen and made a bunch of REAL friends that share my passion and traiining philosophy with great results.
if you want to, call me, my cell is 917-848-2335
I'm not sure if I will have time to call you, but if you want a good workout then let us know what your training for and I'm sure one of us could throw you an example of an EN weekend. In other words, are you 8 weeks from an IM, 12 weeks from a HIM, just general training prep, or starting your Out Season?
Thanks
Brian
Training is changing. There is no reason to attempt to re-invent something. Learn from those who both likely have for time and experience the you. The training plans are simple and straight forward. After a season of working through the plans and chatting with teammates you'll feel more comfortable making changes changes to your training based on your current needs and time available.
They're are currently working on additonal team merchanise discounts, always a plus. I purchased my Quarq from the team.
When your out there with snot bubbles working on executing your race it is always good to see teammates.
@Brian,
* Friends! I've got a hundred friends I've never met
* Beer. All the IMs have team get togethers before, during and after the race. Beer is for after the race!
*Polite conversation. Lots and lots of topics all answered nicely with no condescending manners. Lots of really smart slow people who offer much better advice than some fast folks
* high tech site. Forums, blogs, Facebook, podcasts. Lots of ways to connect.
*Rallys. Free training weekends. Local get togethers to ride/run with like minded folks
*Always looking to improve the user experience
Lots more too!
Welcome aboard.
@Joe,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNJz67IUaB8&feature=player_embedded
Guy's name was Michael Simpson. His video is here:
Race report here: http://endurancenation.us.dnnmax.com/Training/TrainingForums/tabid/101/aft/6095/Default.aspx
In the screencast I've done for your season plan at the start of your trial I mention this: observe how the team gives feedback, support, and shares it's knowledge and experience with each other.
I've been an Ironman-specific coach for a very long time. I've owned/managed/supported my own triathlon forum since about 2002. I can honestly say that Patrick and I together can't come close to matching the collective "excellent answer/feedback-fu" that this team puts out on a consistent basis.
In other words, ask a question here and you'll get a better, deeper, more detailed answer than I or any other 1:1 coach could ever give. Your 5-day trial is your opportunity to observe that dynamic and take it for a test drive yourself.
Coach Rich, was it you or coach P that set up my season plan?
Thanks Tom.
@Brian - if you have a few minutes, these two links are well worth your time.
I have been doing triathlons for the past 10 years, and really plateaued ever since my first IM 7 years ago. I am extremely frustrated with seeing the same poor results over and over again! I was wondering if any of you were in a similar position before joining ER? I am very excited about the ROI concept, and the new thoughts on training that EN brings. Can any of you share your experiences, that were going down a similar road to the one I am on? I really appreciate all of your thoughts in advance!!!!
Best Regards,
Bryan
A question that has probably been covered before, but if so I didn't see it. Anyway, I am curious about what kind of "shape" I would need to be in to benefit fully from the EN plan. A little background - I did 4 tri's last year with my A race being the Augusta HIM. I completed that in just over 7 hours while weighing in at appx. 260 lbs (yeah, I was the 'big guy' on the course). I am currently in the middle of FastCamp, and after gaining some weight after Augusta, have lost 43 lbs and hope to lose 30-40 more before repeating that race again. I am also signed up for an Olympic in May and the Kansas HIM in June.
My question is - should I wait until I am more 'fit' to join? Will I get the max benefits from the plans and coaching while I am still losing weight? Although I have already seen improvements with FC, I am sure a big part of that is from the weight loss as well. Put another way, is it worth joining now when I am still a 'big guy' or should I wait until I am at or near my goal weight to join? Which would give me the greatest benefit? I almost feel like until I lose the weight, I woudn't get the full benefits of the program.
Thanks!
NO! The beauty of the EN programs is they are designed to help _anyone_ improve from whatever base level of fitness they have, through the judicious use of training efforrt based on current tested fitness levels. They are a numer of ENers here who regale us with their struggles and triumphs in attaining improved body composition, and they seem to thrive on the EN plans.
Plus I'm really not sure why you would need to be more fit. I assume if you weren't in EN you would train on your own with not too much structure. Here you would have a daily plan. The intervals will lead to further weight loss provided proper eating. Sure you may have to tweak a few workouts but overall the benefits are greater IMHO. And we have Kona qualifiers down to people who just get across the line. The key is everyone trains at their own paces with the goal of getting faster. And you will get faster and leaner if you follow the plans.
Greg, we have many, many athletes who have done or are doing exactly what you're doing this summer: making significant body composition improvements while training for a half Ironman. That's a wealth of experience and accountability that you can tap into. In particular, we've got game, as a squad, when it comes to using online and mobile tools to track calories in vs out via diet and exercise, and backing that up with simple accountability tools like a weekly weigh-in.
There are all types within EN, and all are welcome. The one thing that you will find is that all are trying to be the best triathlete they can be, and EN will give you the tools, plans, knowledge, and support to help *you* achieve *your* goals.
Welcome to EN!
Thanks everyone for the information.
Yes get fit WITH EN.
I have been researching EN for a while now and like the training filosophy, I just finished a HIM 2 weeks ago using a traditional plan and finished 5:40. About 25 min slower than I planned due to stomach cramps on the run. I like the idea of 2 bikes on the weekend of a longish distance and I am curious if you feel those translate into your run fitness.
The reason I ask is that looking at the sample plans the long runs seem short to me. My Z2 pace for a long run is 9-9:20 mi and a 2 hr run does not get me very far. I am training for IMFL and this is my first IM.
Thanks
Ed
As far as worrying about whether the Long Run is long enough...Don't! The EN system has been proven across thousands of IM and HIM finish lines.
Honestly, you could not have found a better place to get you ready for your first IM than here at Endurance Nation. I truly wish I knew then what I know now. My two 'pre-EN' IM races would have been much, MUCH!, different.
Welcome aboard!
Morning all. Looking forward to hearing from coach(es) about how to structure my season. I am actually coming here from a crossfit endurance background so this is higher volume lower intensity than I am used to. But insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results right?
I have 2 70.3's on the calendar this year (Mt Tremblant and Austin) but my real goal is to train my computer speed so that I can sign up for IMFL or IMAZ for 2013.
@ Ed - As a former marathoner coming to the tri world, I also thought that the long runs were "too short". Don't worry...they will get you ready for the IM run without tearing you apart and getting injured. The key to these works are the intervals that are built into the back half of the long run, so that you are pushing yourself when already somewhat tired. It isn't just a "slug along for miles" run. Pushing yourself to Z3 after you have already run 90 or 120 minutes will give you great confidence that can handle the last 10 miles of an IM run.
2x on the importance of race execution. The IM run is all about not slowing down or walking at the end, and the best way to do that is proper execution on the bike and first half of the run.
@ Jimmy - Welcome. I think you will like the combination of volume and intensity. In fact, many outside of EN in the tri world think we do too much intensity and not enough volume. See my comment above about intensity inside a volume workout -- sounds like your cup of tea.
I just did the first run workout from the get faster plan and I can honestly say it felt great. It kind of recharged me, not going out for a long Z2 run and just slogging along. I actually felt like I did something. Also the wealth of knowledge is incredible, I wish I had this info for the HIM I just did!
Hi folks
I will be doing the 40min TT bike test via heart rate today. It will be much easier to do it on a spin bike. Will this be a valid test? The bikes at our gym are notoriusly bad at power measurement but I figure that if it is hr that I am after it should work fine.
Also, anyone out there crossfit? If so I would be curious to hear how you work it in with EN training.
thx!
@Jimmy: the topic of crossfit + endurance training, or in place of it, is a big and probably contentious one. I can tell you that in our experience, Crossfit, without serious modifications, is not the ideal way to train for triathlons and at a minimum will be rather difficult if not impossible to integrate with the style of HIM and IM training that we do here. Again, very big topic, might be worth starting another separate thread to discuss in more detail.
@Jim: if you're posting to this thread (you are) then you're logged in. Are you have difficulty seeing other parts of the site? Please be specific so we can help you.
@Jimmy: re testing -- are you not able to do the HR test outside on your "real" bike? That would be much more accurate and valuable for you.
@ Rich -
I can do the heart rate test outside on my tri bike but it will be a week. Going out of town. I could get it done on a trainer tomorow night but my guess is that will not be as accurate either.
I will do the bike test when I get back and get the run and swim tests done in the mean time.
San Antonio seems to be in the midst of a 4 or 5 day rain storm anyway. Which I dont mind running in but am not going to ride in!