My computer email only accepts the EN training forum thread. If I log onto members.endurancenation.us or admin.endurancenation I get the sign in prompt. When I sign in I get the sign in prompt over and over again. I can email you through this forum only because I am responding to an email you initiated. If I tried to go to this forum by entering the EN web address directly I would again get the sign in prompt over and over.
I also tried to enter the cell phone members.EN address yousent me, but my cell phone also gets the sign in page and the same as above.
The only way I can get into the EN web address is to enter through the forum thread in reply to emails from the thread.
Maybe my password has an error in it. Could you email it to me? I'd go to my account page and check it out, but to do so I'd have to sign in, and that's what it won't let me do. I don't kinow how to be more specific than this. I simply can't sign in and I'm denied access to both the admin and members pages. so this forum thread is the only way I can commmunicate to you.
@ Jimmy - if you are really wanting to integrate Crossfit, I would do it as a more of a periodization type of thing; not overlapping with EN workouts. The stuff here is all about ROI, and for us age groupers, the biggest ROI is time in sport-specific training for the most part. Go through a 12-20 week cycle, complete the work, and then take a few weeks to do some Crossfit while doing some lighter tri stuff. Changing the stimulus like this, and then going back to another 12-20 week cycle would be a better way to integrate Crossfit.
If you were able to do Crossfit at the same time as you were doing our style training - we would know you were cheating at one of the other. It is just too much.
I got out and did my 5kTT for heart rate this morning. I really really really dont like max effort 5k's. I start to sweat them the day before. Then about 4 laps in my brain starts to try and talk me out of going hard the rest of the way.
But I did it and put it all out on the track. Avg HR was 170 and it was even the whole way according to garmin. mile 1: 170. Mile 2: 169 Mile 3: 170, last 200M: 170.
So at least I am consistent!
I look forward to yall teaching me what to dowit hthis hard earned data!
I'm a new member, just signed up for the trial today. I learned about EN through their 4-keys DVD and used it with a lot of success at a HIM this past weekend, so I thought I'd start looking more into it. This past week I've been listening to podcasts I got through iTunes - they may be old, but the base advice is still sound - and it gave me enough insight into how EN works that I decided to jump in with the trial.
My question is this - what options are there for someone who has their A race (in my case, IMLP) right around the corner, but has no real defined plans after that other than a few fun/training events, with distant visions of another IM in the future? I don't necessarily have the need for a structured plan at the moment, but I will some day in the future when I sign up for another IM (who knows, maybe I'll be possessed the day before this years IMLP and I'll end up signing up for next year!). When that day comes, I can see paying $99/month for access to all the plans - but if that day doesn't come around for another 2-3 yrs, that total bill @ $99/month can be hard to swallow. It appears that there used to be another pricing structure in place years ago that may not have had access to training plans, but still had access to forums and other information - or other relevant information could be purchased ala carte. Does that, or something like it, still exist?
I am a trial member and really enjoying EN. The philosophy behind the training and the communal atmosphere is really compelling.
I am curious to hear how many folks here have gone from Short to Long Course format after joining EN? My current focus is Oly’s next year since I have been worried about volume and time commitments. I get the sense here that there are a lot of folks who have figured out how to make it work.
It would be great to hear from both folks focused on Oly’s and HIM’s. How much time do you usually commit during the work? Why have you chosen focus on one over the other, or both?
I am a trial member and really enjoying EN. The philosophy behind the training and the communal atmosphere is really compelling.
I am curious to hear how many folks here have gone from Short to Long Course format after joining EN? My current focus is Oly’s next year since I have been worried about volume and time commitments. I get the sense here that there are a lot of folks who have figured out how to make it work.
It would be great to hear from both folks focused on Oly’s and HIM’s. How much time do you usually commit during the work? Why have you chosen focus on one over the other, or both?
Thanks,
Todd
Given the EN approach, you pick what your goals are and what distance you want. If I look at it from the perspective of training plans leading up to an A race, most people are doing the same time commitment until about 12 weeks out. There is no difference in Olympic OS vs IM OS....all the same. The volume in the HIM and IM training plans then goes up when your 12 weeks out, mostly based on 3 specific workouts--the long run, and the 2 weekend bikes. When I look at my training of HIM to IM, it basically means about 2 hrs per week (both on the weekend ride). I'm not a runner, so I keep those to about 1.5 hours as the long run, with about 2-3 closer to 2 hrs. I also get rid of some of the admin time on the weekend rides by warming up about 10 minutes, then hitting the main set instead of a 30-40 minute 70% time.
Just signed up for the trial. Not sure if this is remotely the right place for me. My main interest, so far, is riding the bike. I'm 59 and live in Fairbanks AK, so for now I'm mostly interested in the off season schedule. I'm really into biking, in a big way, but the thought of adding running is starting to twitch in the back of my mind. Ran some half-marathons years ago. Mostly I'm thinking adding the running this off season will get the body comp. where it needs to be and then go from there? Don't care to much about the race, but love the training.
John, you never know until you give it a try. Good thing is that if it is not what you are looking for you can always step away without any questions. Looking forward to seeing you develop as a cyclist and perhaps a runner. Who knows, you might just like it.
I'm a new trial member since Monday the 1st, but am just now getting around to digging in deep to the team/site after running Chicago this past weekend. I really like what I see and hear about training philosophy, race execution, etc. Thanks very much to the coaches for the webinars the last two weeks and to Rich for my season plan. I've also been reading as many of the free blogs and articles as I can. It clicks with me and I really want to join in the fun. I'm racing IMWI 2013 and planning on Racine 70.3 which align perfectly with the team's focus races and the whole team presence at those races is a HUGE draw for me. But I still have a few concerns/worries/whatever:
1. I feel way in over my head just coming to the "Team Feed" homepage. Everyone seems really awesome and experienced and knowledgable and fit. Just coming off my first season of tri's, I do not feel very experienced and certainly have a ways to go towards being as fit as I would like. And then trying to explore some of the other forums, groups, etc.....I think the appropriate word is "intimidated".
2. I am worried that since I am starting just my second year of tri that I don't have an adequate "base" upon which to throw all of this "fast" on top of. This past season included 2 HIM's and the marathon, so I'm not starting next year from the couch, but I still worry that I'm setting myself up for injury if I try to go too fast too soon.
3. While I do believe this team to be an excellent value in terms of pricing, personally for me I am trying to make sure it is really where I want to put my money. As this is completely a hobby to stay (relatively) fit and active and have some fun and accomplish some cool stuff (I love the "do cool stuff with your fitness" idea), I am still trying to find a place to fit this in my already stretched budget when I know I will still have more expenses over the season for stuff like replacement training clothes, training/racing fuel, and replacement equipment (tubes, tires, shoes, etc.). While I think the training and information is fantastic, I am still trying to justify the cost for my hobby. While getting faster would be great, simply finishing with a smile and staying healthy is enough for me at this point.
Anyone have some perspective on any or all of these issues? Sorry for the long post, but thanks for listening!
Dave, 1st off, welcome and congrats on Chicago. Hoping that you'll find something for you in the house. I'll give you my n=1 experience as a 1 year member.
Q1. As a relative newbie to the tri-world when I came in, there is just so much going in EN that you can get sensory overload really quick. I think it helps to dig into the wiki solely in the season that you are in (e.g. probably for you, the OS stuff). There is also a good "New Members" thread at the very top of the wiki that is an excellent starting pointl. As to the dashboard, its just like any other social media spot. Lot of stuff to read, but only if you read it. I would hold off digging into the forums until after spending a week or so in the wiki getting to know our lingo/mentality. Again, that's just a recommendation.
Q2. Foget-about-it! The great thing about the EN plans is that 'fast' is relative to your own speed. If you are a 'fast' doode, you'll test fast and your assigned paces will be fast. If you are a more normal speed doode, you'll test at a normal speed pace and your assigned paces will be normal speed as well. And we also recommend not following any plan into a wall, so if on any given day, you need to back off, then by all means back off. You are responsible for yourself.
Q3. Cost is an individual thing. You know about the membership cost. To be honest, the membership cost is the only money I've given to EN (with the exception of a jersey and singlet) in my year of membership. There are other options (add-ons) that you can get, but they are by all means not necessary to play and succeed here. For example, I use power-agent (free) for bike power analysis, trainingpeaks (free version) to track my workouts, and strava (free version) to throw down smack with others in my area. Those are just some examples (and probably irrelevant to you if you don't have power, but you get my drift) Plenty of ways to be frugal if you look for them. On the other hand, tri is not a cheap sport and there is absolutely no judgement on what your own willingness to pay to be a member is, but to me, the EN community definitely keeps me around. I love the execution resources, the free and friendly exchange / debate on information, and especially the mutual online support during the out-season and race specific build ups found in the groups here in the house. The groups are where the magic really happens! I know there are plenty of workouts over the past year that I would have bagged or under-performed if I didn't have to post my stats here afterward. We keep each other honest in a supportive way as we all go through the same stuff. Some folks don't like/need that option; however, it is a big motivator to me.
All in all, after a year of membership, I am in for another season. Everyone is different and has their own opportunity costs, to me, its worth it. Hope this helps you make a informed decision that's right for you. Good luck whichever way you go!
Q1) Yes, there is an overload factor. The dashboard feed is fun, but can be totally skipped if you want - anything important makes its way into the forums anyway. The wiki will take a while to peruse through - just plan on it taking time. You don't have to remember everything all at once. I agree with Roy though - just chill for a couple weeks to figure out the general persona of EN within the forums and such. Also, a great way to introduce yourself to the overall philosophy is the podcasts.. great for listening do during a commute or what would otherwise be downtime.
Q2) If you've done 2 halfs and a marathon, you're all set - you have sufficient base. Everyone adapts the workouts to suit their needs depending on their limitations.
Q3) Can't comment much here, as cost and finances are extremely personal. Personally, once I found EN, I stopped looking for tri information and advice on other parts of the internet, which has saved me hours of trial and error in training, and hours of scouring for information. Everything I've found to be true has been echoed in EN's philosophy, yet 90% of what is out there is bad advice. I recently came to the realization that on many boards, people mistake detailed advice for good advice. For example, someone on a forum might reply to someone else with lots of stuff that sounds good for how to build up to a marathon - build up to 40-50 miles per week, add no more than 10% per week, run at least 5x weekly, mostly easy but 10% of weekly mileage at a fast pace, weekly long run on Sunday @ 30% total weekly mileage, stay in zone 2, etc. All that sounds impressive, and the original poster comes back and says 'wow thats great advice, thanks!' without looking into the fact that the person making those suggestions has been dealing with achilles tendonitis for 6 months and won't be able to actually run the Boston Marathon (a lifetime goal to qualify for) in 2013 because he can no longer run more than a mile without pain.
If that sounds like a true story, it's because it is
My point is this - yes, EN costs money, but it saves hoards of research and training time by giving you a direct path to success - like Rich says, the plans work for 95% of the people, 95% of the time.
Best of luck, and don't be afraid to ask more questions as they come up!
I am a new trial member and finally spending some time going through the website! Wow, it's quite overwhelming. I am on the second week of the preseason plan but can't seem to find where I can record my workout results (time, pace, how I felt... etc). Can someone help me locate that piece? Thanks! So far, I am excited about EN has to offer!
Jenny, there isn't a training log feature in the Haus. As the party line goes, RnP focus on coaching; other entities offer quality (and free) training log options. Personally, I use the free version of Trainingpeaks to capture everything. Different folks in here use a variety of stuff, from paid subscription websites to home-made excel spread sheets.
Hi all I'm a 'trial newbie' to EN but have done 5 IM around babies, toddlers and now teenagers I'm 'down under' in New Zealand so will be on an opposite season clock to most of EN members. Are there many Southern Hemisphere ENers out there? I'm looking for the team support as all my training is by myself so keen to have some ENers to race with - long term goal is ironman New Zealand 2014 if any if you Northerners want to come over and 'play' :-)
Hi, I am a new member to the site and trying to see if anyone else has struggled with MAC compatibility. So far, I've just had to convert a few files to WMP format, but downloading items like the Swim Clinic PDF (which I assume have imbedded videos), I'm not able to see or view any videos to ensure I'm doing the right thing. Appreciate any insight/work-arounds. Mark
I am sold on the training philosophy and I have posted on a running forum for years and realize how much values that sort of thing can add for self-coached people. But lately I have very limited time to post/read forums online, is it still worth it for me to join the team? Things will ease up late in the year.
I had already bought the out season plan last month, I can use that and then buy the IM plan for my A race in November Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Gosh Anu, that is a hard question to answer. I know that I sure like having the team to ask questions of when I am not sure of the plan or if I am feeling like I might break, but that is me. I would feel like I was flying without a net if I did not have my membership to EN, but unlike you I have a flexible schedule and am able to get into the forums on a daily basis. You could always join and then if you feel you are not getting in the forums as much as you want, you can pull the membership. EN is good that way. No hassles. You just let them know you are out and you are then out. Sorry I can not give you any concrete advice.
Hi Anu -- a good question, and in the end there's no 'right' or 'wrong' answer, only what works best for you. I joined EN last October. My initial plan was to only buy a plan and keep on doing my self-coaching thing. I usually train on my own and am pretty disciplined in terms of getting my workouts done, so I didn't think I'd need a 'team' to motivate or support me. I can tell you I've done a complete 180 since then ... First off, I'm saving so much brain power by having the coaches help me prioritize races and plan the entire season for me. I used to just pick a race, figure a training plan for that race, recover and repeat. With the season plan, I feel like I'm training (and racing) smarter, and am preserving my body much better, which is important for me in the long-term. Ssecond, regarding the forums, you nailed it - they require you taking the time to get full valur out of them, and that's a decision only you can make. There are two components to the forums for me: first, the social/emotional support when I'm having a bad day or am tired, or on the other hand, want to share some goodness. Second, and for a MOP AGer, there's a lot of wisdomw flying around here, and to be able to ask specific quesitions and be able to draw on the collective wisdom of the more experience members has already helped me a lot. Even if you don't post, just browsing the forums or watching certain threads has value in and of itself. And then there's the wiki which provides all kinds of resources. So is there value? Definitely! But it's up to you to decide whether you can take the time to draw on it. I will say that when I first joined, the first two weeks or so were a bit overwhelming as I was learning how to navigate the site/forums/wiki, but that passes and I'm so much happier for it. Good luck with whatever you decide! Kate
@ Anu ... here are some non-forum things in EN which have continuing value:
The ability to change plans on the fly, from, say Intermediate to advanced, or change the date if you race changes, or add a componenet if you add a race.
All the online information, such as the wiki, which just sits there waiting for people to read it
Members only value added, such as the heat pace calculator, which tells you how much to slow down in an IM if the temp is high, the training paced calculations, or the new relationship with Trainer Road, or some of the discounts for tri-stuff, like 25% off @ DeSoto.
The awesome availability of the coaches via email and at races
and a ready-made team at all North American IMs and many 70.3s for race week support
There are probably MORE EN monthly members who don't cruise the forums regularly then there are those who do. Those folks must feel like they are getting something for their $.
Thanks Anu for the question as I had the same one. I am a trial member, and always self coached. I don't have too much extra time to check the forums so I was wondering the value of the team vs just buying the plans. It is hard to judge on a trial membership because we dont have access to the all the extras in the wiki, but I appreciate the answers from Kate and Brenda. I like the team atmosphere and it is somethinig I am looking forward to. I represented Canada at the World Long Distance race in Vegas last year and it was so cool to be part of a team. Looking to expereicne that again as a member of the EN team is a big plus. Thanks for all the input. Cheers, DB
I am a trial member seriously considering signing up as a full member. However, my trepidation about having a coach is having someone tell me to stop doing some of the things I enjoy doing. I have race ADD and tend to be distracted by shiny things. I love racing and race way too much (I have 4 races in January including 3 marathons). I want to focus on getting better at the 70.3 distance, but I don't want to give up running as much as I do. Can these desires be accounted for in the training plans or are the plans focused on peaking for the triathlon only? I recognize that I could race better if I focused on fewer races/sports, but I enjoy racing. I do not expect to be winning my age group, so I just like to race against my own times. I usually pick 2 "A" races per year but race around 16-18 events per year total.
I'll let others provide more detail if they are in a similar boat as you, but for the most part the idea is to pick one or two 'A' races, and focus on those. That does not mean other races cannot be fit in. In fact, sometimes it is beneficial. Case in point - I used a half marathon race before the OS to figure out my running VDOT, and I have another half scheduled after the end of the OS - so as long as weather and road conditions hold out for mid-February, it should be a good comparison as they are both very flat courses. I am doing it this way because I just can't push as much during a solo 5k test as I can during a race. So there is certainly a lot of wiggle room in the plans to put in other races (especially of the 5k or 10k, and sometimes a half marathon distance) - some of those races may be all-out efforts, others may be scaled back a bit in order to accommodate the larger goal of peak performance of the A race. But for the most part, RnP are going to coach with their triathlon coach hat on.
Three marathons in one month, however, will likely go straight across the grain simply due to the volume and recovery costs that will affect training for your 70.3 A race later on in the year. So that might be a place where you have to decide which you want more.
All that being said - there is nothing wrong with joining and seeing how things play out, and if you decide it's not a good fit - so be it. I don't want to dissuade you from giving it a shot, because believe you me, there are so many resources within the group that you may find benefits in places you never thought of. On the other hand, I want to be upfront and honest about the approach.
@ Steve - there's racing, and there's training. When I tried to do some serious marathoning (Boston) followed two months later by an Ironman, I found I could not train well for both simultaneously. While I like to race, I like to perform well even more, and I was frustrated with the results of trying to mix the two sports. Doing well at a marathon for me means at least 55 miles a week running, and that much running doesn't leave enough energy for proper swim and bike training for an IM.
So I gave up stand alone marathons to focus on Ironman, and am happy running 20-30 miles a week. Now, if you see your marathons as something done without specific training, just something you can throw down on 4-5 hours a week max running, then you *might* be able to do both. But there are team members who have tried mixing marathons into the triathlon training mix at a high frequency rate, and found running injuries were the result.
Bottom line, for me: the EN plans are plenty tough as is, and adding extra credit training is quite risky and should be done with full knowledge of your own sporting history as well as your personal propensity to injury and overdoing things generally.
Thanks for the responses Brenda, Kate and Al. Appreciate the input.
I am a member of a tri group locally and there will be 16 of us at IMAZ which is my goal race, so I have some team support, people to kick me in the butt or sympathize etc. Where EN comes inf or me is the training philosophy that will work with a job that often grabs big chunks of time. But I do see having people using the same plan to bounce ideas of will be worthwhile.
Lots to think about. Thanks again for the responses.
Trial member here and have some questions/concerns. Just trying to be sure EN is right for me to reach my goals this year. My A race is IMLP, very first IM for me. I am a relative newbie to racing at age 60; will be 61 for LP. My very 1st race EVER (since High School) was a very hilly with trails 15k in 2011 at age 58. Since then I have done about 20 different races that include a mx of sprint tris, olys, HIM, run races and Ocean Mile swims. I am slow, old and new. But I love this sport and to just finish IMLP will be a great accomplishment. What I really want at IMLP is to run the marathon and not walk 10+ miles.
Anyway my questions/concerns are:
1. I will likely just be doing heart rate training and it looks like EN really focuses on Power. I am probably not going to get a power meter and was wondering if the training will be just as effective doing HR?
2. I have been doing a Crossfit like group training class 2x a week for years now and love it. It beats the hell out of me but it really keeps me strong. I don't see any strength training in the EN plan. Do I need to give up my class? What about strength training?
3. I have done CF endurance training in the past (for Timberman in 2011) and the intensity seems similar to EN. My concern is that at times I could not recover quickly enough to effectively complete the next days training. This happened a bunch of times and made me wonder if it is an age thing or what and I am just not cut out for it? So will the higher intensity of EN training leave me feeling the same way?
4. Just also curious how many 60 - 64 age groupers in EN?
5. Will I be able to train with friends and my tri club or will I be training on my own 99% of the time? How much flexibility is there in the plans?
6. Given my profile do you guys think this is the best fit for me or should I continue to do what I have been doing ( a mix of self-coaching and 1 on 1 coaching) and wait till I get another season under my belt and try EN next year when I might be a little bit better of an athlete?
First, WELCOME! I see you're in NJ, and I just wanted to make sure you know that several of us are getting together at 5:30p on Saturday, January 19th at Molly Maguire's in Clark. This would be a perfect opportunity for you to meet some of the Jersey peeps and find out how/why EN works for us!
As for your questions above, I'll do my best to provide simple answers:
1. HR Training - yes, we love training with power here in the Haus, but the bike workouts are GREAT whether you use Power or HR. And depending on what equipment you have, TrainerRoad could be an excellent supplement to your indoor workouts, and the folks in EN are just the people you need to guide you through the process with ease.
2. Strength Training - no, not necessarily the norm in EN, and not in our plans. See the blog for some of Coach Rich's thoughts here: http://tinyurl.com/acvl98o
3. Was your CF training plan based on test specific values (ie, did you do a bike test, run test?)? Yes, the EN OutSeason plans are high intensity, BUT they shouldn't be out of reach given your tested values. I have to wonder if the weight training you were doing as part of your CF plan had a negative effect on your ability to perform on the bike and run. I've been in that position when I was training for a bodybuilding type competition - I saw a serious drop in my ability to bike and run. My body was thrashed from the weight training - it took me at least two weeks to recover to the point that I felt able to bike anywhere near my previous ability.
4. YES!!! See Wicked Smart Al right above your post! He's out there CRUSHING it!!! Carol DeFazio (60-64 AG) did her first IM at IMNYC this past season, took FIRST in her AG and went to Kona! We have plenty of Baby Boomers in here (heck, they even have their own forum - Boomers and Beyond!). And I'm sure they can give you better insight to your question #3, as well!
5. You can do whatever works for you! I occasionally go on group rides, and when I do, I make sure that they know I have specific intervals I need to hit - I'll separate from the group to do my intervals, and join them afterward. A group ride with some folks who are a little faster than you might be perfect for the Sunday ABP ("Always Be Pushing") ride. You are technically still a self-coached athlete, so you can do whatever is best for you, but ultimately you'll get the greatest value from doing the workouts as they're written regardless of whether you are alone or with a group. I prefer to train alone, and I think that there are definitely some instances when it's helpful - one being that, despite the volunteers and other participants, it'll just be you and your thoughts out there on the IM course, and it's good to "learn" to be inside your own head for hours at a time.
6. Personally, I've had nothing but a positive experience, and I think most folks will tell you the same. You'll find athletes of every level in EN. Regardless of where your fitness is, you only stand to gain - both fitness AND knowledge - by becoming a member.
Hope this was at least a little helpful - and again, it would be great if you could join us for dinner/drinks on the 19th!
Comments
My computer email only accepts the EN training forum thread. If I log onto members.endurancenation.us or admin.endurancenation I get the sign in prompt. When I sign in I get the sign in prompt over and over again. I can email you through this forum only because I am responding to an email you initiated. If I tried to go to this forum by entering the EN web address directly I would again get the sign in prompt over and over.
I also tried to enter the cell phone members.EN address yousent me, but my cell phone also gets the sign in page and the same as above.
The only way I can get into the EN web address is to enter through the forum thread in reply to emails from the thread.
Maybe my password has an error in it. Could you email it to me? I'd go to my account page and check it out, but to do so I'd have to sign in, and that's what it won't let me do. I don't kinow how to be more specific than this. I simply can't sign in and I'm denied access to both the admin and members pages. so this forum thread is the only way I can commmunicate to you.
@ Jimmy - if you are really wanting to integrate Crossfit, I would do it as a more of a periodization type of thing; not overlapping with EN workouts. The stuff here is all about ROI, and for us age groupers, the biggest ROI is time in sport-specific training for the most part. Go through a 12-20 week cycle, complete the work, and then take a few weeks to do some Crossfit while doing some lighter tri stuff. Changing the stimulus like this, and then going back to another 12-20 week cycle would be a better way to integrate Crossfit.
If you were able to do Crossfit at the same time as you were doing our style training - we would know you were cheating at one of the other. It is just too much.
I got out and did my 5kTT for heart rate this morning. I really really really dont like max effort 5k's. I start to sweat them the day before. Then about 4 laps in my brain starts to try and talk me out of going hard the rest of the way.
But I did it and put it all out on the track. Avg HR was 170 and it was even the whole way according to garmin. mile 1: 170. Mile 2: 169 Mile 3: 170, last 200M: 170.
So at least I am consistent!
I look forward to yall teaching me what to dowit hthis hard earned data!
Hi all -
I'm a new member, just signed up for the trial today. I learned about EN through their 4-keys DVD and used it with a lot of success at a HIM this past weekend, so I thought I'd start looking more into it. This past week I've been listening to podcasts I got through iTunes - they may be old, but the base advice is still sound - and it gave me enough insight into how EN works that I decided to jump in with the trial.
My question is this - what options are there for someone who has their A race (in my case, IMLP) right around the corner, but has no real defined plans after that other than a few fun/training events, with distant visions of another IM in the future? I don't necessarily have the need for a structured plan at the moment, but I will some day in the future when I sign up for another IM (who knows, maybe I'll be possessed the day before this years IMLP and I'll end up signing up for next year!). When that day comes, I can see paying $99/month for access to all the plans - but if that day doesn't come around for another 2-3 yrs, that total bill @ $99/month can be hard to swallow. It appears that there used to be another pricing structure in place years ago that may not have had access to training plans, but still had access to forums and other information - or other relevant information could be purchased ala carte. Does that, or something like it, still exist?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Team EN –
I am a trial member and really enjoying EN. The philosophy behind the training and the communal atmosphere is really compelling.
I am curious to hear how many folks here have gone from Short to Long Course format after joining EN? My current focus is Oly’s next year since I have been worried about volume and time commitments. I get the sense here that there are a lot of folks who have figured out how to make it work.
It would be great to hear from both folks focused on Oly’s and HIM’s. How much time do you usually commit during the work? Why have you chosen focus on one over the other, or both?
Thanks,
Todd
Given the EN approach, you pick what your goals are and what distance you want. If I look at it from the perspective of training plans leading up to an A race, most people are doing the same time commitment until about 12 weeks out. There is no difference in Olympic OS vs IM OS....all the same. The volume in the HIM and IM training plans then goes up when your 12 weeks out, mostly based on 3 specific workouts--the long run, and the 2 weekend bikes. When I look at my training of HIM to IM, it basically means about 2 hrs per week (both on the weekend ride). I'm not a runner, so I keep those to about 1.5 hours as the long run, with about 2-3 closer to 2 hrs. I also get rid of some of the admin time on the weekend rides by warming up about 10 minutes, then hitting the main set instead of a 30-40 minute 70% time.
Hi all,
Just signed up for the trial. Not sure if this is remotely the right place for me. My main interest, so far, is riding the bike. I'm 59 and live in Fairbanks AK, so for now I'm mostly interested in the off season schedule. I'm really into biking, in a big way, but the thought of adding running is starting to twitch in the back of my mind. Ran some half-marathons years ago. Mostly I'm thinking adding the running this off season will get the body comp. where it needs to be and then go from there? Don't care to much about the race, but love the training.
Any thoughts.
Thanks.
Hi everyone,
I'm a new trial member since Monday the 1st, but am just now getting around to digging in deep to the team/site after running Chicago this past weekend. I really like what I see and hear about training philosophy, race execution, etc. Thanks very much to the coaches for the webinars the last two weeks and to Rich for my season plan. I've also been reading as many of the free blogs and articles as I can. It clicks with me and I really want to join in the fun. I'm racing IMWI 2013 and planning on Racine 70.3 which align perfectly with the team's focus races and the whole team presence at those races is a HUGE draw for me. But I still have a few concerns/worries/whatever:
1. I feel way in over my head just coming to the "Team Feed" homepage. Everyone seems really awesome and experienced and knowledgable and fit. Just coming off my first season of tri's, I do not feel very experienced and certainly have a ways to go towards being as fit as I would like. And then trying to explore some of the other forums, groups, etc.....I think the appropriate word is "intimidated".
2. I am worried that since I am starting just my second year of tri that I don't have an adequate "base" upon which to throw all of this "fast" on top of. This past season included 2 HIM's and the marathon, so I'm not starting next year from the couch, but I still worry that I'm setting myself up for injury if I try to go too fast too soon.
3. While I do believe this team to be an excellent value in terms of pricing, personally for me I am trying to make sure it is really where I want to put my money. As this is completely a hobby to stay (relatively) fit and active and have some fun and accomplish some cool stuff (I love the "do cool stuff with your fitness" idea), I am still trying to find a place to fit this in my already stretched budget when I know I will still have more expenses over the season for stuff like replacement training clothes, training/racing fuel, and replacement equipment (tubes, tires, shoes, etc.). While I think the training and information is fantastic, I am still trying to justify the cost for my hobby. While getting faster would be great, simply finishing with a smile and staying healthy is enough for me at this point.
Anyone have some perspective on any or all of these issues? Sorry for the long post, but thanks for listening!
Dave
Dave, 1st off, welcome and congrats on Chicago. Hoping that you'll find something for you in the house. I'll give you my n=1 experience as a 1 year member.
Q1. As a relative newbie to the tri-world when I came in, there is just so much going in EN that you can get sensory overload really quick. I think it helps to dig into the wiki solely in the season that you are in (e.g. probably for you, the OS stuff). There is also a good "New Members" thread at the very top of the wiki that is an excellent starting pointl. As to the dashboard, its just like any other social media spot. Lot of stuff to read, but only if you read it. I would hold off digging into the forums until after spending a week or so in the wiki getting to know our lingo/mentality. Again, that's just a recommendation.
Q2. Foget-about-it! The great thing about the EN plans is that 'fast' is relative to your own speed. If you are a 'fast' doode, you'll test fast and your assigned paces will be fast. If you are a more normal speed doode, you'll test at a normal speed pace and your assigned paces will be normal speed as well. And we also recommend not following any plan into a wall, so if on any given day, you need to back off, then by all means back off. You are responsible for yourself.
Q3. Cost is an individual thing. You know about the membership cost. To be honest, the membership cost is the only money I've given to EN (with the exception of a jersey and singlet) in my year of membership. There are other options (add-ons) that you can get, but they are by all means not necessary to play and succeed here. For example, I use power-agent (free) for bike power analysis, trainingpeaks (free version) to track my workouts, and strava (free version) to throw down smack with others in my area. Those are just some examples (and probably irrelevant to you if you don't have power, but you get my drift) Plenty of ways to be frugal if you look for them. On the other hand, tri is not a cheap sport and there is absolutely no judgement on what your own willingness to pay to be a member is, but to me, the EN community definitely keeps me around. I love the execution resources, the free and friendly exchange / debate on information, and especially the mutual online support during the out-season and race specific build ups found in the groups here in the house. The groups are where the magic really happens! I know there are plenty of workouts over the past year that I would have bagged or under-performed if I didn't have to post my stats here afterward. We keep each other honest in a supportive way as we all go through the same stuff. Some folks don't like/need that option; however, it is a big motivator to me.
All in all, after a year of membership, I am in for another season. Everyone is different and has their own opportunity costs, to me, its worth it. Hope this helps you make a informed decision that's right for you. Good luck whichever way you go!
Dave - just to add to what Roy mentioned:
Q1) Yes, there is an overload factor. The dashboard feed is fun, but can be totally skipped if you want - anything important makes its way into the forums anyway. The wiki will take a while to peruse through - just plan on it taking time. You don't have to remember everything all at once. I agree with Roy though - just chill for a couple weeks to figure out the general persona of EN within the forums and such. Also, a great way to introduce yourself to the overall philosophy is the podcasts.. great for listening do during a commute or what would otherwise be downtime.
Q2) If you've done 2 halfs and a marathon, you're all set - you have sufficient base. Everyone adapts the workouts to suit their needs depending on their limitations.
Q3) Can't comment much here, as cost and finances are extremely personal. Personally, once I found EN, I stopped looking for tri information and advice on other parts of the internet, which has saved me hours of trial and error in training, and hours of scouring for information. Everything I've found to be true has been echoed in EN's philosophy, yet 90% of what is out there is bad advice. I recently came to the realization that on many boards, people mistake detailed advice for good advice. For example, someone on a forum might reply to someone else with lots of stuff that sounds good for how to build up to a marathon - build up to 40-50 miles per week, add no more than 10% per week, run at least 5x weekly, mostly easy but 10% of weekly mileage at a fast pace, weekly long run on Sunday @ 30% total weekly mileage, stay in zone 2, etc. All that sounds impressive, and the original poster comes back and says 'wow thats great advice, thanks!' without looking into the fact that the person making those suggestions has been dealing with achilles tendonitis for 6 months and won't be able to actually run the Boston Marathon (a lifetime goal to qualify for) in 2013 because he can no longer run more than a mile without pain.
If that sounds like a true story, it's because it is
My point is this - yes, EN costs money, but it saves hoards of research and training time by giving you a direct path to success - like Rich says, the plans work for 95% of the people, 95% of the time.
Best of luck, and don't be afraid to ask more questions as they come up!
I am a new trial member and finally spending some time going through the website! Wow, it's quite overwhelming. I am on the second week of the preseason plan but can't seem to find where I can record my workout results (time, pace, how I felt... etc). Can someone help me locate that piece? Thanks! So far, I am excited about EN has to offer!
Any members from the DFW area? 13 days to IM CZML! Are there any other team EN members going?
Check out the Ironman Coz group. A number of us going and crashing at the Coz Palace. Looking forward to meeting you!!! From Iowa here!!
Check under the Community Tab above, then go to Member Map to see a breakdown.
I'm a 'trial newbie' to EN but have done 5 IM around babies, toddlers and now teenagers
I'm 'down under' in New Zealand so will be on an opposite season clock to most of EN members. Are there many Southern Hemisphere ENers out there? I'm looking for the team support as all my training is by myself so keen to have some ENers to race with - long term goal is ironman New Zealand 2014 if any if you Northerners want to come over and 'play' :-)
Hi, I am a new member to the site and trying to see if anyone else has struggled with MAC compatibility. So far, I've just had to convert a few files to WMP format, but downloading items like the Swim Clinic PDF (which I assume have imbedded videos), I'm not able to see or view any videos to ensure I'm doing the right thing. Appreciate any insight/work-arounds. Mark
Hi! Trial member here and have some questions.
Firstly thanks Coach for the season plan.
I am sold on the training philosophy and I have posted on a running forum for years and realize how much values that sort of thing can add for self-coached people. But lately I have very limited time to post/read forums online, is it still worth it for me to join the team? Things will ease up late in the year.
I had already bought the out season plan last month, I can use that and then buy the IM plan for my A race in November Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Hi Anu -- a good question, and in the end there's no 'right' or 'wrong' answer, only what works best for you. I joined EN last October. My initial plan was to only buy a plan and keep on doing my self-coaching thing. I usually train on my own and am pretty disciplined in terms of getting my workouts done, so I didn't think I'd need a 'team' to motivate or support me. I can tell you I've done a complete 180 since then ... First off, I'm saving so much brain power by having the coaches help me prioritize races and plan the entire season for me. I used to just pick a race, figure a training plan for that race, recover and repeat. With the season plan, I feel like I'm training (and racing) smarter, and am preserving my body much better, which is important for me in the long-term. Ssecond, regarding the forums, you nailed it - they require you taking the time to get full valur out of them, and that's a decision only you can make. There are two components to the forums for me: first, the social/emotional support when I'm having a bad day or am tired, or on the other hand, want to share some goodness. Second, and for a MOP AGer, there's a lot of wisdomw flying around here, and to be able to ask specific quesitions and be able to draw on the collective wisdom of the more experience members has already helped me a lot. Even if you don't post, just browsing the forums or watching certain threads has value in and of itself. And then there's the wiki which provides all kinds of resources. So is there value? Definitely! But it's up to you to decide whether you can take the time to draw on it. I will say that when I first joined, the first two weeks or so were a bit overwhelming as I was learning how to navigate the site/forums/wiki, but that passes and I'm so much happier for it. Good luck with whatever you decide! Kate
@ Anu ... here are some non-forum things in EN which have continuing value:
There are probably MORE EN monthly members who don't cruise the forums regularly then there are those who do. Those folks must feel like they are getting something for their $.
Cheers,
DB
Thanks,
Steve A
Hey Steve -
I'll let others provide more detail if they are in a similar boat as you, but for the most part the idea is to pick one or two 'A' races, and focus on those. That does not mean other races cannot be fit in. In fact, sometimes it is beneficial. Case in point - I used a half marathon race before the OS to figure out my running VDOT, and I have another half scheduled after the end of the OS - so as long as weather and road conditions hold out for mid-February, it should be a good comparison as they are both very flat courses. I am doing it this way because I just can't push as much during a solo 5k test as I can during a race. So there is certainly a lot of wiggle room in the plans to put in other races (especially of the 5k or 10k, and sometimes a half marathon distance) - some of those races may be all-out efforts, others may be scaled back a bit in order to accommodate the larger goal of peak performance of the A race. But for the most part, RnP are going to coach with their triathlon coach hat on.
Three marathons in one month, however, will likely go straight across the grain simply due to the volume and recovery costs that will affect training for your 70.3 A race later on in the year. So that might be a place where you have to decide which you want more.
All that being said - there is nothing wrong with joining and seeing how things play out, and if you decide it's not a good fit - so be it. I don't want to dissuade you from giving it a shot, because believe you me, there are so many resources within the group that you may find benefits in places you never thought of. On the other hand, I want to be upfront and honest about the approach.
@ Steve - there's racing, and there's training. When I tried to do some serious marathoning (Boston) followed two months later by an Ironman, I found I could not train well for both simultaneously. While I like to race, I like to perform well even more, and I was frustrated with the results of trying to mix the two sports. Doing well at a marathon for me means at least 55 miles a week running, and that much running doesn't leave enough energy for proper swim and bike training for an IM.
So I gave up stand alone marathons to focus on Ironman, and am happy running 20-30 miles a week. Now, if you see your marathons as something done without specific training, just something you can throw down on 4-5 hours a week max running, then you *might* be able to do both. But there are team members who have tried mixing marathons into the triathlon training mix at a high frequency rate, and found running injuries were the result.
Bottom line, for me: the EN plans are plenty tough as is, and adding extra credit training is quite risky and should be done with full knowledge of your own sporting history as well as your personal propensity to injury and overdoing things generally.
Thanks for the responses Brenda, Kate and Al. Appreciate the input.
I am a member of a tri group locally and there will be 16 of us at IMAZ which is my goal race, so I have some team support, people to kick me in the butt or sympathize etc. Where EN comes inf or me is the training philosophy that will work with a job that often grabs big chunks of time. But I do see having people using the same plan to bounce ideas of will be worthwhile.
Lots to think about. Thanks again for the responses.
Hi!
Trial member here and have some questions/concerns. Just trying to be sure EN is right for me to reach my goals this year. My A race is IMLP, very first IM for me. I am a relative newbie to racing at age 60; will be 61 for LP. My very 1st race EVER (since High School) was a very hilly with trails 15k in 2011 at age 58. Since then I have done about 20 different races that include a mx of sprint tris, olys, HIM, run races and Ocean Mile swims. I am slow, old and new. But I love this sport and to just finish IMLP will be a great accomplishment. What I really want at IMLP is to run the marathon and not walk 10+ miles.
Anyway my questions/concerns are:
1. I will likely just be doing heart rate training and it looks like EN really focuses on Power. I am probably not going to get a power meter and was wondering if the training will be just as effective doing HR?
2. I have been doing a Crossfit like group training class 2x a week for years now and love it. It beats the hell out of me but it really keeps me strong. I don't see any strength training in the EN plan. Do I need to give up my class? What about strength training?
3. I have done CF endurance training in the past (for Timberman in 2011) and the intensity seems similar to EN. My concern is that at times I could not recover quickly enough to effectively complete the next days training. This happened a bunch of times and made me wonder if it is an age thing or what and I am just not cut out for it? So will the higher intensity of EN training leave me feeling the same way?
4. Just also curious how many 60 - 64 age groupers in EN?
5. Will I be able to train with friends and my tri club or will I be training on my own 99% of the time? How much flexibility is there in the plans?
6. Given my profile do you guys think this is the best fit for me or should I continue to do what I have been doing ( a mix of self-coaching and 1 on 1 coaching) and wait till I get another season under my belt and try EN next year when I might be a little bit better of an athlete?
Thanks,
Ken
Hey Ken!!!
First, WELCOME! I see you're in NJ, and I just wanted to make sure you know that several of us are getting together at 5:30p on Saturday, January 19th at Molly Maguire's in Clark. This would be a perfect opportunity for you to meet some of the Jersey peeps and find out how/why EN works for us!
As for your questions above, I'll do my best to provide simple answers:
1. HR Training - yes, we love training with power here in the Haus, but the bike workouts are GREAT whether you use Power or HR. And depending on what equipment you have, TrainerRoad could be an excellent supplement to your indoor workouts, and the folks in EN are just the people you need to guide you through the process with ease.
2. Strength Training - no, not necessarily the norm in EN, and not in our plans. See the blog for some of Coach Rich's thoughts here: http://tinyurl.com/acvl98o
3. Was your CF training plan based on test specific values (ie, did you do a bike test, run test?)? Yes, the EN OutSeason plans are high intensity, BUT they shouldn't be out of reach given your tested values. I have to wonder if the weight training you were doing as part of your CF plan had a negative effect on your ability to perform on the bike and run. I've been in that position when I was training for a bodybuilding type competition - I saw a serious drop in my ability to bike and run. My body was thrashed from the weight training - it took me at least two weeks to recover to the point that I felt able to bike anywhere near my previous ability.
4. YES!!! See Wicked Smart Al right above your post! He's out there CRUSHING it!!! Carol DeFazio (60-64 AG) did her first IM at IMNYC this past season, took FIRST in her AG and went to Kona! We have plenty of Baby Boomers in here (heck, they even have their own forum - Boomers and Beyond!). And I'm sure they can give you better insight to your question #3, as well!
5. You can do whatever works for you! I occasionally go on group rides, and when I do, I make sure that they know I have specific intervals I need to hit - I'll separate from the group to do my intervals, and join them afterward. A group ride with some folks who are a little faster than you might be perfect for the Sunday ABP ("Always Be Pushing") ride. You are technically still a self-coached athlete, so you can do whatever is best for you, but ultimately you'll get the greatest value from doing the workouts as they're written regardless of whether you are alone or with a group. I prefer to train alone, and I think that there are definitely some instances when it's helpful - one being that, despite the volunteers and other participants, it'll just be you and your thoughts out there on the IM course, and it's good to "learn" to be inside your own head for hours at a time.
6. Personally, I've had nothing but a positive experience, and I think most folks will tell you the same. You'll find athletes of every level in EN. Regardless of where your fitness is, you only stand to gain - both fitness AND knowledge - by becoming a member.
Hope this was at least a little helpful - and again, it would be great if you could join us for dinner/drinks on the 19th!