I have a MTB beachrace-event planned in November, just trying to keep cycling fitness pretty stable. And because running volume is not that high I can still focus a bit on this discipline.
For now I totally try to focus on swimming because I need to improve my skills. Start freestyle at 2:15-2:25/100m so work to do to get faster step by step.
For the running part I use the BarryP approach. Also small steps…
That is my approach till December, and then start a TR Half-IM plan? That would be my intentions? That would be 6months following a plan? (After 3 months building swim and run).
Pretty tough even without the swim. I thought the bike course was harder than Coeur d’Alene, and that’s pretty hilly. Beautiful, though. Run course was fine, not my favorite I’ve done, but the first segment on the KVR trail was pretty. I finished 23rd in my age group; I might stick around for the award ceremony tomorrow on the off chance 22 people don’t want to go to Nice next year.
For me, a pretty solid month. Most important highlight is that I raced Ironman Canada, my A race of the year. Finished 23rd in my age group, my best place in an Ironman-branded race to date. Here’s my race report:
Lowlights… well, the swim got canceled, so I didn’t actually race a full Ironman, which is pretty unsatisfying since I had finally gotten consistent with my swim training, and I don’t have another full-distance race on the horizon, so the post-race blues are hitting hard right now. At least I have Ironman 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities this month, so I got that to distract myself, jumping straight into the specialty phase of a high-volume half-distance plan.
After the re-plan in July everything is going according to plan through August. Run volume up, lifting weekly at maintenance levels. Bike still feeling good and swim on a back seat.
Keeping an eye on stiff calves but all health markers relatively good. Creatine supplementing now, a dietary focus on protein and high energy availability, and a routine I pray I can keep together for the next three months through some self supported 70.3s and potentially a marathon.
Run has always been my weakness and the only negative in the last month, a very weak 5km parkrun race effort and all out mile. Nevertheless, they do line up using the main models with a massive marathon PB so long runs are my “thing” for this period.
I’m gonna have to disagree with you there. I know exactly what you mean, but Ironman is a race and you toed the line with other athletes and finished so in my book, you’re an Ironman.
You race the people, the weather and the course on the day as you find it.
I appreciate that, and I don’t disagree, but at the same time I have the goal of proving to myself that I can swim 3.8 km, bike 180 km, and run 26.2 km, and unfortunately that goal remains unaccomplished for now. Maybe next year!
Good month…numbers consistent with last month, slowly getting more comfortable. Into the build phase of the MV Masters 70.3 plan.
Total Time: 46:37:00
Swim: 6:33:00, 18000 m
Bike: 25:13:00, 684 km
Run: 12:06:00; 108 km
Weights: 2:40:23
TSS: 2538
Highlight of the month was an international distance triathlon where I felt and performed a bit stronger than numbers and expectations would indicate. Got 2nd in age group and happy with performance in each leg.
Congrats on putting in the time and effort to train for Ironman Canada even if they ended up canceling the swim. The full bike distance and marathon is definitely something to be proud of!
I’ll see you at Tri-Cities. I can’t believe it’s less than 3 weeks away already!
I ended up with:
Cycling - 233.73 miles (lots of mountain biking) over 24:16:09
Running - 82.65 miles over 12:20:42
Swimming - 21,902 yards (including a couple open water swims) over 7:58:54
The highlight of the month was doing the Portland Xterra race at the beginning of the month. I improved my time from last year even with making a couple wrong turns on the bike course after someone took down some course markings.
I much prefer mountain biking and gravel riding over road riding, but I’m looking forward to Ironman 70.3 Washington Tri-Cities in just 20 days from now.
Does anyone have any tips of preventing wetsuit chafing on the back of my neck? Bodyglide doesn’t prevent it for me. Maybe something thicker would last longer?
I’m not doing any tri’s but have been repeating the MV Full-Distance swim plan since March to add some variety to my training. I’m looking for something other than just 200 and 150/50 repeats. Are there any free swim plans that you recommend?
Overall good month. Really trying to get the swim time in, been tough with work.
Swim just under 8 hours, 23000 yds
Bike 20 hours, 333 miles
Run 16 hours, 96 miles
Raced the Lake Tahoe 70.3. The swim was terrible, my worst to date. Lots of fog, couldn’t site. Big waves due to wind. Finished in 45 minutes (my last lake 70.3 swim was 37 minutes). I almost pulled myself from the swim, couldn’t get air due to the waves crashing into me. I had to do a lot of breast stroke. Got through it. On the bike my PM wouldn’t wake up (it was 35* F outside when we started, should have had the bike in the truck for the 2 hour drive to the start). I think the batteries were cold, as the PM worked later that day when it warmed up. Raced with RPE. Had a great run. Finished the run in 2:01. Overall I was happy with how I did.
Less than 2 months out to IM California, it’s go time!
