I think we can bookmark this past weekend as the weekend that I got my head in the game. Last week I had a minor freak out reviewing my entire training plan. I want to be prepared for the race but I also need a training plan that suits my life and allows me to get in my workouts, be at work and ya know, live my life.
The schedule I had just was not going to allow that. To give you a small glimpse, one of the Tuesday workouts was the following:
- 1.5 hour bike
- 45 minute weight Conditioning
- 2,800 yard swim (approx. 1.6 miles)
So basically on a Tuesday my workout would be around 3-3.5 hours. How on earth would I be able to do this with a full time job? And lets talk about weekend long workouts, here’s a sample Saturday workout:
- 3,000 yard swim
- 50 minute run
- 4 hour bike
- 45 minute run
Not sustainable. With this workout I was trying to figure out how I could make it work with my life but instead was paralyzed by it and did nothing. Great planning approach, right?
I’m thankful for the folks at Ironman who gave me this training plan via Training Peaks and I know there are people who want to commit their lives to training and this would for sure get them prepared for race day. For me, however, it just isn’t the right match.
I did some research for other online training plans and found Super Simple Ironman 70.3 Training. Anything with the words Super Simple will get my attention quickly. After reviewing the 16-week training plan, it sounds like something I can actually manage in my life. The plan may be lacking some things and I won’t be the most prepared person at the starting line, BUT I will have built up my stamina and strength and if I follow this, believe I will feel confident in my abilities come race weekend.
Two things I think are missing are extensive brick workouts (bike+run) and weight training. I’m going to add in 1 day of weights/conditioning and may make some of the recommended bricks a bit longer.
I missed the first week and most of the second of this training plan but I jumped in strong at the tail end of week 2. On Saturday I rode 25 miles and Sunday ran 7 miles then swam 1,000 yards. I feel ready to take on this manageable, yet still challenging and comprehensive training plan.
Here’s the plan this week:
- Monday: 40 minute bike
- Tuesday: 4.5 mile run, swim 900 yards
- Wednesday: 40 minute cycle, 40 minute cycle (doing 2 classes)
- Thursday: Swim 900 yards, EVF conditioning
- Friday: 40 minute bike, 4 mile run
- Saturday: Bike 30 miles
- Sunday: 8 mile run, 1,200 yard swim
I hope that you are also starting this week motivated and feeling good!
