Nov 10
2
How long do I train for a race?
You’ve just entered your first Ironman- its a year away
How far out do you start “training” ?
There are many people that will tell you start now
On the other end of the spectrum there is a widely held view that people can only focus on an event for so long
Typically this is between 10-16 weeks out from an key event. You’ll find that very experienced athletes will often advocate 10-12 weeks or less /depending on what other racing they are doing approaching the race
Again neither camp is right or wrong.
The most important ingredient for any endurance athlete is consistency. Time and time again when asked their secrets top age groupers will tell you “I just keep chipping away”
You’ll find these people have a “basic week” ,call it a routine, that they just do week after week- it fits around their job,family,friends and lifestyle
Unless you want to live like a monk then very few age groupers can consistently train more than about 10-15hrs a week- jobs and other committments come first
So if we take a basic routine and then add some additional time to incorporate event specific work as we approach the events then we have our 12-14 week “build” up to the Ironman or whatever
In the proceeding months you’ll be tidying up your bills at home,fixing the house,getting ahead at work so you can focus on the event for the 12-14 weeks.
If you have to focus for longer than that then chances are you will get bored or burned out
If its 12 months out set some other goals -half IM,bike races,ocean swims etc. You will still be “chipping away” without feeling like you are “training” for the race 12 months away
Work on equipment problems or swim technique, sign up for a 6 week pilates class, get your doctors checks done,get your home finances in order. This is all “training”. If you were a motor racing team this is the equivalent to time in the workshop or getting the sponsors sorted out.
Then when it comes to the “training” part you’ll be ready and able to focus
A word on “blitz kreig”….it does not work. Forget about taking this “off season” approach and then blasting away for 14 weeks hoping that a rainbow of talent is going to hit you on the arse- it wont unless you have amazing genetics(some guys do-we hate them 
)
You still need to be training your bike run and swim year round. When its holidays maybe you can be doing a few 5-7 hour rides that otherwise you may only do during the IM build. During your normal “basic” week there is no time or need to do this 12 months a year. You could be doing a 10 week block of run specific training for a marathon- so as to improve your overall running ability. You could be bike racing for a few months to improve your power on the bike when it comes to start triathlon training again
With the right guidance you can tie all these things together so as to be training for that race every day without feeling like its groundhog day for 12 months. This is what a quality training program is all about
http://3jc.com.au/forum/index.php?topic=5.0
