Who knew that brick runs could be so controversial! 
Well I did one today on taper week too 
Haha! They definitely seem to be a pretty individual thing…don’t think I’ve ever seen a thread where there’s been a real agreement, other than it being nice to shower less.
@JustinDoesTriathlon @MK_2 How is the open water swimming on the pace 2? I’ve been looking at getting a multisport watch for a while now, but I already have run + bike data covered so it hasn’t been worth the price tag for most models. OWS tracking would be the big draw because that’s most of my swim training in the summer, but I’ve heard some brands are less accurate on that front.
That’s the one aspect I haven’t tested yet, but Ray seemed happy with it: Openwater Swim GPS Test Extravaganza Results | DC Rainmaker
To get away from the dreaded brick run discussion, what’s the consensus / science on alternating the weekly long ride and long run? Not to stoke another controversy, but even for my full IM program I like a fair bit of intensity. Having a 2hr+ run and 3-5hr ride in one week costs me too much recovery to have two intensity runs and rides. Also to reduce the impact in family time I’m considering an alternating approach, having a long run and a second extended intensity session one week and long ride and a second interval-tempo run the next. I remember Chad mentioning long slow endurance plateauing for about two weeks before going into decline, but is it enough to keep improving?
I do whatever time and family commitments allow.
I do LR/Rides on weekends…
usually saturday run (shorter in duration up to 12 miles)
and rides on Sundays (wife do school work).
If there is a commitment Sunday that kill my ride i switch them up and ride super early saturday (and probably shorter) and to LR sunday.
My IM training plan had long bike on Saturday and long run on Sunday. One weekend, the bike would be the higher mileage day. Next weekend it would be the Sunday run which was longer. Distances for each would continue increasing until it was time to de-load. Keep in mind, it was all relative. Both Saturday and Sunday were long days regardless. But my 20mi run wasn’t scheduled the same weekend as my 110mi bike.
I think it’s great if it meets your schedule, one weekend you do a lot of work the next weekend you can be more of a human being.
This year though I have done HV Olympic for most of the season and only HV FD Speciality so it’s only been six weeks or so where I’ve had to say “honey, I’m in the garage for the next five hours or so” which is manageable. A long brick or a long run at the weekend works for me. With so many years of TR and Ironman in my legs I don’t see the bike only sessions as so important - but we’ll see how right or wrong I am on Sunday 
I’m going to be an ass and say that this really doesn’t matter. Accuracy aside, with all the environmental conditions it’s just not something where day x is comparable to day y. Pool metrics are good because you have a consistent environment in which to measure performance. I know TR have expounded the value of outdoor training, but it is the same argument for indoor training - control, consistency, repeatability.
Thanks for the tip - i’ve been using my Apple Watch all year and it does a fine job
I don’t want to drop bid $$ on a watch that I would only wear training and racing
Looking for something more accurate for running pace and distance and I dislike using my AW for racing - it does okay but always feel like I am going to smash it or lose it racing
Fwiw I have had a F6X for almost 2 years now and love it for all training, hiking, etc. Has awesome battery life 21 days watch mode (14 with gps activities) and I think it looks good. Only take it off to charge. Not saying AW is bad just never been interested in 1. I know other people like the 945.
I hear you - I use my AW all day for work and family so not giving it up full time
I’ve heard great things on the 945, but too much for a watch I would wear for training/racing only
I’ve used it a few times in the Lido (outdoors) and once in open water during a race. I got lost in the race so can’t really comment too much, but overall I was happy with it - if you have any specifics you’d like details on then let me know
I’m with you. Never understood the appeal of the Apple Watch. I have a Fenix 6 Sapphire, and love it. Amazing battery life (one week minimum with heavy usage), best in class gps and activity tracking for training and racing, sleep and stress tracking, training load monitoring, navigation, etc. And it also has smartphone notifications if you want them.
Just an FYI for anyone registered for IM Arizona - Did y’all notice they changed the course from years past?
Looks like 3 loops on the run, and running the opposite way up the Papago Park Hill.
Also the bike route has some small changes, which don’t really make a huge difference, maybe a little easier, maybe the exact same.
I do. I wouldn’t buy one for myself, but my wife loves her AW.
As endurance athletes we need more than what AW gives us. But it doesn’t make it bad smart watch… Just not for most of us…
Yes, if one doesn’t do much endurance sports, the Apple Watch may be a good option.
Funnily enough that’s how I switched from AW which I used for years, from the moment the AW2 was issued in the UK. Despite popular opinion it was absolutely fine for training, the only awkward thing was getting apps that consumed the data without going via a multitude of apps. And TR’s refusal to support AW.
Then I dropped the AW on the pain cave floor and it shattered! It was time for a change so I tried the Forerunner 45 then got a good discount on a Fenix.
If the worst happens to you and you do feel like trying Garmin, I would get the 55 - much cheaper and covers pretty much everything in training except OW.
If you’re sticking with AW then you might want to do a trial of Swimsmooth’s app which gives out 3 swims and an analysis of your stroke with corrective drills. I thought it was excellent.
Thanks for the idea on the 55 - I will check it out as well
If there is one of the three sports that I am best at, its swimming, I was a junior national level swimmer. Today I am not the fastest at most races, but I am closer to the tip of the spear, I spend the rest of the day watching all the super fast racers pass me, its great for the morale 
Problem with AW is that battery will probably will not last a whole IM…
Then you have no way to switch activities while racing…
