How Much Will Missing These Key Workouts Affect IMCDA?
Because of a job requirement I will be losing a full Saturday and Sunday 1X per month for the next year. The timing of this assignment couldn't be worse. There's no getting around it, and there's no way to squeeze stuff in early/late to make this work. Bottom line, a large & medium bike day per month will be lost. There *might* be 2-3 Fridays/Mondays I can *steal* to makeup the bike volume, but I can't count on that. Also, I'll make sure that I move/shift any RR or Big Day workouts so that those are NOT missed.
This will be my 5th IM in as many years and I'm coming into this IM build having had what I would rate an A+ 20 week Adv OS. My newly tested FTP is within 10 watts or less of where I was at peak last year before IMCDA.
I'm assuming that this will not affect me at all, but I need to hear it from the crowd. I've even considered that the rest 1X per month like this might help me and keep me from burnout or injury.
Comments
In 2010, training for IMWI, I had a similar issue.
I had made a commitment to myself that I would attend distant b-day and graduation parties. It took a total of 3 weekends from the 12 week build. I was FINE. Usually I did the work portion of Saturday on Friday afternoon/ evening- so maybe 1.5 hours. Sometimes I got up super early Saturday and did another hour of ABP before hitting the road for a long drive, but that sucked and I didn't continue. Then I did 1.5 hrs ABP on Sunday night.
These paces are still so much higher than what you will hold on race day.
And this year, as I deal with family issues, I am relegated to a similar adjustment. It can be done.
If you feel like you are not as strong as you want at IMCDA, then you should re-set your goal for the day so that you don't consider it a failure.
Jim - I've been a practicing Obstetrician throughout my entire IM career. I therefore work a 24 hour shift at the hospital on a regular basis. Up until year ago, that would mean a couple of weekend days a month unavailable for any training. It never affected my race performance. One thing I did try to do was get in a 1-1.5 hour run before I started work, so I at least would have that under my belt.
It is important to look at the training plan, and determine which are the key workouts and absolutely should be the last to drop off the plate, then juggle the training schedule to get those done, no matter how they fall into the schedule. Like - don't miss the race rehearsals!
Al - My thinking exactly. I will (on occasion) be able to insert a medium-longer run or even a 90 minute ABP bike on some of those work days. No chance I would miss an RR or Big Day session. We're essentially talking about missing out on 3X Sat 3-4 hour rides and a couple of ABP Sunday rides.
Sounds like some good advice here Jim. I'll add I take a full day off weekly on Mondays year round including during IM plans. I like the rest! Helps me mentally and physically.
Jeff - So do you skip the Monday Swim workout during IM Adv or do you just redistribute that Swim to another day/time during the week?