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tin pot
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 2592 Location: Bromley
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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2018 3:27 pm Post subject: Workouts per week |
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How many sessions per week is a question I’ve often asked in the past, as have others, for Ironman training.
Im just working on scorecards and dashboards for work, and decided to use my training stats from last year as raw data.
Bearing in mind I had a bad year, but nevertheless. From purely a workouts point of view, it’s not good viewing. From the three TR training plans I did only 52% of the workouts.
I’m just trying to convince myself to take on a 9 sessions per week plan. Last year I averaged only 5.8. Sometimes 0, sometimes 11. Huge variability.
This got me thinking - I had poor results, but with an average less than six workouts per week I still finished two halfs and a full.
Could I get away with 6, consistently, instead of the miserableness of failing to start sessions every week?
I’m only doing one half this year, so...
_________________ Iron ‘17 16h11, '16 14h30
Half Iron ‘18 DNF, '17 7h39, 6h28 '16 5h53
Olympic '16 3h18 '15 3h33, '13 3h36
Sprint '16 1h17, '14 1h40, '13 2h01
Half Mara '16 2h04, '14 2h07
10K ‘18 50:31 '16 54:01 '13 54:46
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tin pot
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 2592 Location: Bromley
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:43 am Post subject: |
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...to fit in with my expanded family and reduced training time, I’ll focus on what I averaged last year as a base.
Swim 1.4/wk
Ride 2.7/wk
Run 2.4/wk
I’m using TR plans, first I’ll do 2 swim, 2 bikes, 2 runs, then as swimming is my strongest, 1 (long) swim, 3 bikes, 3 runs. That’s Olympic, then Half (minus two swims) plan.
I think I can fit this all into pre-work, commute and lunch times. I may need some luck.
_________________ Iron ‘17 16h11, '16 14h30
Half Iron ‘18 DNF, '17 7h39, 6h28 '16 5h53
Olympic '16 3h18 '15 3h33, '13 3h36
Sprint '16 1h17, '14 1h40, '13 2h01
Half Mara '16 2h04, '14 2h07
10K ‘18 50:31 '16 54:01 '13 54:46
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Wheezy
Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 1861 Location: Sub 3 (elect)
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:56 am Post subject: |
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How about working on a two week cycle? Do your long run, bike and swim every week, but then be more flexible with your other sessions within the two weeks, depending o family and work stuff?
_________________ If it was easy, everyone would do it.
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t1mmy
Joined: 22 Oct 2014 Posts: 103
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 9:58 am Post subject: |
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It depends what your goals are?
Last year I did 3 sessions a week - 1 swim, 1 run and 1 bike. This was done around a balance with work and family.
In that time I did a race of some kind every month including a half IM, London Marathon, a 50 mile ultra and IM Wales. Was I as fast as I could have been?... No! I had fun doing it though, was injury free all year and at no point did I come come close to not finishing a race.
Once you have a certain level of base fitness it’s all mental and nutrition after that.
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tin pot
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 2592 Location: Bromley
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Wheezy wrote: | How about working on a two week cycle? Do your long run, bike and swim every week, but then be more flexible with your other sessions within the two weeks, depending o family and work stuff? |
The Half Plan doesn’t have anything really long in it, all the rides are under two hours, iirc only two long runs over two hours that don’t happen until April/May so I should good to go.
The idea is to become consistent above all else, and see if it reaps rewards. I’m already struggling as my car conked out yesterday growing my travel plans and swim session out of kilter...week one and I’m already in catch up mode (doh).
_________________ Iron ‘17 16h11, '16 14h30
Half Iron ‘18 DNF, '17 7h39, 6h28 '16 5h53
Olympic '16 3h18 '15 3h33, '13 3h36
Sprint '16 1h17, '14 1h40, '13 2h01
Half Mara '16 2h04, '14 2h07
10K ‘18 50:31 '16 54:01 '13 54:46
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tin pot
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 2592 Location: Bromley
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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t1mmy wrote: | It depends what your goals are?
Last year I did 3 sessions a week - 1 swim, 1 run and 1 bike. This was done around a balance with work and family.
In that time I did a race of some kind every month including a half IM, London Marathon, a 50 mile ultra and IM Wales. Was I as fast as I could have been?... No! I had fun doing it though, was injury free all year and at no point did I come come close to not finishing a race.
Once you have a certain level of base fitness it’s all mental and nutrition after that. |
That sounds amazing.
I think Hammerer is another one for the low volume approach.
I suspect I need high vol/Low intensity as it worked two years ago, but that’s not an option any more so ‘we are where we are’ etc.
Boy it was depressing looking at last year’s training. So many hopes and dreams, so much free time.
_________________ Iron ‘17 16h11, '16 14h30
Half Iron ‘18 DNF, '17 7h39, 6h28 '16 5h53
Olympic '16 3h18 '15 3h33, '13 3h36
Sprint '16 1h17, '14 1h40, '13 2h01
Half Mara '16 2h04, '14 2h07
10K ‘18 50:31 '16 54:01 '13 54:46
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explorerJC
Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 15953 Location: Farthingstone
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Tin Pot wrote: | Wheezy wrote: | How about working on a two week cycle? Do your long run, bike and swim every week, but then be more flexible with your other sessions within the two weeks, depending o family and work stuff? |
The Half Plan doesn’t have anything really long in it, all the rides are under two hours, iirc only two long runs over two hours that don’t happen until April/May so I should good to go.
The idea is to become consistent above all else, and see if it reaps rewards. I’m already struggling as my car conked out yesterday growing my travel plans and swim session out of kilter...week one and I’m already in catch up mode (doh). |
all the rides are under 2 hours???
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Mungo
Joined: 29 Sep 2016 Posts: 395 Location: Preston
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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The core of my training as of next week, calf willing is 2.5 hour bike straight into 1.5 hour run.
Ideally these would be bike and run times for my A race 70.3. That's probably a shade too far but I should get close.
Surely hours per week is more important than sessions....
12 half hour sessions is still only 6 hours.
_________________ Keep Triing
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Tri'ing Swimmer
Joined: 15 Nov 2016 Posts: 181
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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Tin Pot wrote: |
The idea is to become consistent above all else, and see if it reaps rewards. |
Thats the bigger issue! Also stops us kiddings ourselves thinking we're doing ok when we remember the big weeks.
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tin pot
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 2592 Location: Bromley
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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explorerJC wrote: | Tin Pot wrote: | Wheezy wrote: | How about working on a two week cycle? Do your long run, bike and swim every week, but then be more flexible with your other sessions within the two weeks, depending o family and work stuff? |
The Half Plan doesn’t have anything really long in it, all the rides are under two hours, iirc only two long runs over two hours that don’t happen until April/May so I should good to go.
The idea is to become consistent above all else, and see if it reaps rewards. I’m already struggling as my car conked out yesterday growing my travel plans and swim session out of kilter...week one and I’m already in catch up mode (doh). |
all the rides are under 2 hours??? |
All except one at 2.5hrs.
_________________ Iron ‘17 16h11, '16 14h30
Half Iron ‘18 DNF, '17 7h39, 6h28 '16 5h53
Olympic '16 3h18 '15 3h33, '13 3h36
Sprint '16 1h17, '14 1h40, '13 2h01
Half Mara '16 2h04, '14 2h07
10K ‘18 50:31 '16 54:01 '13 54:46
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tin pot
Joined: 08 Jul 2013 Posts: 2592 Location: Bromley
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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Tri'ing Swimmer wrote: | Tin Pot wrote: |
The idea is to become consistent above all else, and see if it reaps rewards. |
Thats the bigger issue! Also stops us kiddings ourselves thinking we're doing ok when we remember the big weeks. |
I get the impression that other people are organised and consistent, something I’ve never been, but would love to become. It sounds so stress-free(!)
_________________ Iron ‘17 16h11, '16 14h30
Half Iron ‘18 DNF, '17 7h39, 6h28 '16 5h53
Olympic '16 3h18 '15 3h33, '13 3h36
Sprint '16 1h17, '14 1h40, '13 2h01
Half Mara '16 2h04, '14 2h07
10K ‘18 50:31 '16 54:01 '13 54:46
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jibberjim
Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 8378 Location: Kingston
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:13 pm Post subject: |
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Mungo wrote: | Surely hours per week is more important than sessions....
12 half hour sessions is still only 6 hours. |
I would go miles better on 12 hour sessions than a 4 hour and a 2 hour, like absolutely miles better! Even for a HIM.
8 half hour and a 2 hour would almost certainly be even better.
The problem with few long efforts is you have too much rest in between, so there's no stimulus on many days to actually get your body to improve.
_________________ Jibbering Sports Stuff
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Mungo
Joined: 29 Sep 2016 Posts: 395 Location: Preston
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Jim
I get the science....
But how can you ask your body to race for 5 hours, or hopefully 4:45 this year if you only exercise for an hour at a time?
I get the intensity is higher on the hour bikes and runs.
If I only did hour sessions between now and June I would have doubts about finishing the Deva never mind going under 5.
Unlike others I don't cover myself in layers of clothing, in arctic temperatures, riding around on a carp bike for hours at a time, trying not to fall off or get killed, at 15 mph, as .... it's horrible.
Looking at the dreaded diary the vast majority of sessions are an hour or so, but I really do believe you need longer to replicate what you ask your body to do in a race.
_________________ Keep Triing
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jibberjim
Joined: 15 Aug 2008 Posts: 8378 Location: Kingston
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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Mungo wrote: | Jim
I get the science....
But how can you ask your body to race for 5 hours, or hopefully 4:45 this year if you only exercise for an hour at a time?
I get the intensity is higher on the hour bikes and runs.
If I only did hour sessions between now and June I would have doubts about finishing the Deva never mind going under 5. |
The problem of course would be in knowing and being able to control the intensity that you could sustain for those 4.5 hours - but of course that's the natural problem anyway, even if you're also riding longer.
So whilst I can say it - who has spent ages without doing anything but commute and the odd short (less than 50minute run, less than 90minute ride) and then have managed to go out and sustain 4-5 bike rides at intensities not that far from my best - my best would've been at 20 hour weeks though. And a lot of it is from having experience of those durations, and that volume.
So from a training perspective - multiple days off where there's no stimulus is going to be worse, I can understand that for many people it will massively increase the chance of mis-pacing or having an injury issue. So of course I wouldn't recommend doing it. If you only have the choice of a particular number of hours. Spreading them out through the week is going to be better - a single session can only drive so much adaptation - do what you need to do for confidence though.
_________________ Jibbering Sports Stuff
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Mungo
Joined: 29 Sep 2016 Posts: 395 Location: Preston
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Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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Jim
Bike 160 bpm strict.
Run 165 bpm
Last 5 k turn it off.
I'm part time and can train in work...
I could train 20 hours a week if I wanted.
I think 12 is optimum a few 15 hour weeks planned in March and see how I'm going after that.
I stated earlier I really felt that this session helped. 2.5-1.5.
Confidence is not an issue, you know when your ready and hour sessions only wouldn't get me there.
Going well apart from the top end stuff, held 200 watts for 4 hours last month but 250 feels like 300....!
_________________ Keep Triing
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