Race/Program Selection Advice
**** RnP - have posted something similar in the macro thread.
RnP & all - looking for some advice on training and event selection - need to re-adjust a tad after recent changes - basically one of my A-races , 70.3 Timberman in August is off my agenda unfortunately - now 2nd A-race is IMCOZ in November.
So, plan was to do as much of my Adv OS plan as possible before switching to HIM plan to get me to first A-race on 20th June - UK70.3
Schedule is:
- 2nd May - local Olympic (C-race/train thru)
- 23rd May - local HIM (C with idea of doing part of run only - I need the Tri practice....)
- 20th June - UK 70.3 (hilly course, ideal for EN' ers!) A-race
- 28th Nov - IMCOZ (first IM event). A-race
My thoughts/queries:
- obviously UK70.3 & IMCOZ are miles apart ; what woudl you advise I do in-between? Option of a UK non-IM events (still full distance) at fraction of cost. UK IM is still aceepting entries, thats Aug 1st. Good idea to try and get a full distance under my belt?
- Finish OS plan - what should I transfer to next? guessing that i could still switch to HIM plan - have a mid-year transition (work on running/swim technique - my weaknesses) and start a new OS plan/ HIM plan up to IMCOZ??
Just to add, the 2nd May race will be my first Tri ever - I've completed 2 marathons but 10 years ago. Would like to do the very best possible at IMCOZ and will be a major goal for the season.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
Comments
No advice but just wondering why did you cancel timberman?
Good luck
@Steve - haven't actually cancelled the entry yet but it had started to become a logistical nightmare, first my sister-in-law screwed up dates when we could stay (in BOS) and due to a wedding has her house full -also my daughter receives her results that week and has to be here (in UK & within time zone) to negotiate college place (her school is now saying she could be disadvantaged by being on vacation), mum won't leave her and we both feel we should be around to offer advice/support.
I could go on my own but it was supposed to be a family vacation - sucks as I was really looking fowards to it as my A-race.
Still IMCOZ was a good fall-back!
David – nice to hear from a fellow brit - shame you aren't doing Timberman as it is a great event (I did it last year).
Doing two IM in a season is not easy and this is your first one so you want to be able to relax afterwards and bask in the glory! The long training days take their toll and you may find it mentally tough to bounce back between IMUK and IMCOZ – it would be a shame to spoil your A race and the holiday in COZ because you are mentally tired. If I was in your position this is what I'd do:
Whatever you do don't burn out before you get to your first IM! I seriously think if you did IMUK in August you would find it hard to motivate yourself to train for IMCOZ.
Others will chime in with their ideas too.
Chris
Thinking that I may use the July/Aug to work up to Vitruvian in early Sept (4th I think), ever done that, hear its a cracking race and I know the area quite well.
Luckily I have quite a few good events around me, live just outside Poole so have the New forest races (doing Swashbuckler) and also Bmth Oly - appears to be a good local scene.
Be good to meet up in the future - where's home?
Cheers,
Dave
@ David- the advice Chris gave you is spot on. For your first IM, ONE is enough in a year! Seriously.
That said, Fall races have the added stress of giving you a really loooooooong time to obsess about your IM. For that reason, R&P often advise folks with late season races to split up their year into 2 seasons. Let yourself just focus on an A race in the early summer timeframe for a while. Then take a break from all things Tri and re-energize. Then you can turn your efforts to hard core IM Training fresh and ready to go 12-16 weeks out from your IM. That 12-16 week date is your IM "ON" Date. Until then, you don't even think of yourself as training for an Ironman. After that ON date you are in IM training focus and we highly recommend you do NOT schedule any races within 12 weeks of your Ironman.
The layout Chris gave you would be a great way to make the above happen.
Dave - I moved to Boston last year. Let me know if you're ever in the area as it would be good to meet up and there's a room if you need somewhere to stay.
Chris
@Nemo - thanks again for your input- all makes sense; at the moment I'm focusing on booking everything up for IMCOZ then forgetting about it - I guess i then crack-on with my HIM program!
@ Chris - I certainly will let you know Chris & thanks so much for your kind offer!
Cheers all.
Dave