# Advice on which plan to choose **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Tags:** choosing-a-plan\ **Created:** [May 18, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/advice-on-which-plan-to-choose/16002 "2019-05-18T00:27:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tonydurham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/tonydurham/32/12890_2.png) [@Tonydurham](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Tonydurham)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2019, 12:28am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/advice-on-which-plan-to-choose/16002/1 "2019-05-18T00:28:00Z")
Hi all, I 'm new here and am looking for advice on which plan to do. I am a first year triathlete and come from a background of competitive power lifting. I switched to triathlon training in november of 2018. My A race is a half ironman 70.3 just over 12 weeks away. The past 6 months I have been riding 3-4 times a week for a total of 4-6 hours a week. My total training has been between 10 and 14 hours a week. I would usually do two sessions a week on the trainer and 1-2 rides outdoors. The sessions on the trainer would be mainly zone 2 with intervals thrown in and the outside rides I would just ride- sometimes on TT bike and sometimes hill climbs on my road bike. I have a power meter on my TT bike but not my roadbike. The last time I did a test was in January and my FTP was 245 watts but I never used power for training- mainly RPE and heart rate. Two weeks ago I pulled a muscle in my lower back (non training related) so I haven’t been able to ride at all. I will be able to start training again next week. Should I just start with the traditional base since I am new to trainerroad way of training and my event is about 12 weeks away so not long enough to follow base/build/specialty. Thanks for any advice and I’m happy to be here. ---
**Author:** ![cartsman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/cartsman/32/18565_2.png) [@cartsman](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/cartsman)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2019, 1:26am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/advice-on-which-plan-to-choose/16002/2 "2019-05-18T01:26:08Z")
I would do sweet spot base 1 and 2. That’s what gets you most bang for your buck on limited time (and 3-4 rides per week is limited time). You’ll do a lot of work just above the intensity you need on race day for a 70.3, and you’ll build a solid aerobic base which is likely your weakness with a background of lifting and fairly unstructured riding. Would start with the low volume plans, if you stick to your current routine then do 2 of the sessions indoors, adapt one to do it outdoors, and then if you do another outdoor ride you can either pick a 4th SS workout if you’re feeling good, or just ride if you’re feeling fatigued from the 3 structured sessions. ---
**Author:** ![Tonydurham](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/tonydurham/32/12890_2.png) [@Tonydurham](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Tonydurham)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2019, 11:54pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/advice-on-which-plan-to-choose/16002/3 "2019-05-18T23:54:21Z")
Thanks for the response. Why would you choose sweet spot base over half distance base? ---
**Author:** ![Stive\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@Stive\_Rogers](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/Stive_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/advice-on-which-plan-to-choose/16002/4 "2020-10-24T18:38:07Z")
I believe you still need to start with a traditional foundation because you say that you are forever in the teaching method.